Rick Garrick

Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler is calling for more communications with First Nation communities after six staff at the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre (SLMHC) tested positive for COVID-19 as of June 22.

“Obviously we’re concerned by these developments — not only are we concerned about the six or so positive cases that have been identified, we’re also concerned about the communication process from the hospital,” Fiddler says, “the fact that there have been delays to communicate the news of these troubling developments to our communities.”

Keewaytinook Internet High School (KiHS) valedictorian Kobe Potan-Benson spoke about how he and the other students persevered through the COVID-19 global pandemic during his valedictorian address at the KiHS virtual 2020 graduation ceremony.

The Aboriginal Business Professional Association (ABPA) held a webinar on Our Fair Share: Helping Indigenous Business Access COVID-19 Relief Funds featuring guest speaker Brian Davey.

“It went fantastic — great questions, people were very interested,” says Davey, executive director of NADF and board member with ABPA. “In a very short period of time we got out a lot of information. I hope it’s enough information that sticks (so) people take away what they need to know to move forward.”

A Flood Watch was issued for the Albany River on May 2 with Kashechewan and Fort Albany residents warned to keep a close watch on river conditions as ice break up may be occurring upriver. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry – Cochrane District and the Mushkegowuk Council Emergency Management Services advised area residents in a May 7 update that the Flood Watch remains in effect until May 14. The update indicated that the level of flood risk remained at moderate to high for the two James Bay communities.

Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler stressed the importance of keeping focused on flattening the curve of the COVID-19 global pandemic during his May 5 update on the Wawatay Radio Network.