LLRIB Chief Tammy Cook-Searson is encouraging residents to continue following public health orders. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

looking back

Cook-Searson reflects on pandemic after first 12 months

Mar 12, 2021 | 5:25 PM

On the one-year anniversary of the first coronavirus case being identified in Saskatchewan, Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said there is much that comes to mind looking back.

The lives of Saskatchewan residents abruptly changed around this time last year after the province’s first case of the virus appeared March 12, 2020. Six days later on March 18, a provincial state of emergency was declared, leading to widescale shutdowns, restrictions and orders to stay home.

Reflecting on that time, Cook-Searson noted there was chaos as the pandemic became a reality and people were worried about the unknown.

“I think everyone was in a panic mode because we didn’t know anything about the COVID-19 virus, we just knew more and more people were getting infected with it,” she said. “Everyone locked down, the schools all closed, the church all closed, and everything just shut down.”

On April 29, a formal check stop was erected at the intersection of Highway 2 and 165 south of La Ronge. It became a source of controversy after town council at the time voted to keep the highway open, while Air Ronge and LLRIB leadership wanted it closed.

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Cook-Searson explained one of the reasons for closing the highway was to slow the spread of COVID-19 into northern communities. She added some LLRIB communities continue to have road monitoring or check stops to this day.

This check stop was located about 50 kilometres south of La Ronge in April and May 2020. (submitted photo/Jim Searson)

“We didn’t really know what to do or how to handle the coronavirus,” Cook-Searson said about the closure. “We weren’t sure how we were going to handle it and how we would best try keep the virus out of community.”

As of March 11, there have been 470 positive cases of coronavirus in the tri-communities. The LLRIB has had 463 cases in six communities including Grandmother’s Bay (56), Hall Lake (three), La Ronge on-reserve (261), Little Red River (33), Stanley Mission (88) and Sucker River (22). There has also been two deaths.

Cook-Searson also expressed gratitude to those who were employed as essential workers including those on the frontline such as health care professionals. She said health care professionals will continue to play an important role as vaccines are delivered.

Rhoda Wood was the first in the tri-communities to receive the vaccine. (submitted photo/Jim Searson)

It was Jan. 8 when the first shots of the Moderna vaccine were given to frontline workers in La Ronge. Another shipment of vaccine is expected to arrive March 18.

“Spring is in the air,” Cook-Searson said. “Change is coming, so I’m really hopeful people will take the vaccine. We know that it’s a choice but we strongly recommend it and we hope people will take the vaccine when the call comes.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno