While northern First Nations are setting up checkstops to maintain control of traffic in and out of their communities in order to help their members self-isolate, it’s important for supplies to still make it through.

Garrison Settee, Grand Chief of MKO reports they’ve been in contact with the corporations that work with their First Nations communities to make sure they’re inventory is getting through and that’s been happening but with the medical supplies there’s a shortage everywhere in Canada like masks and hand sanitizer and so forth so those things are a bit of a challenge still..”

Settee says hunters and medicine people have been encouraged to go out to stock up on the traditional foods and medicines that they rely on to promote good health.

He adds another main challenge facing first nations during this pandemic is the lacknof reliable phone and internet services.     This impedes MKO’s efforts to reach their leadership and will also impact education for students on first nations with educational packages having to be dropped at their homes.