(CKOM News Staff)

By CKOM News

FSIN want more measures for healthcare professionals after COVID-19 case in Northern Sask.

Apr 13, 2020 | 1:19 PM

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) is calling on the province to put better measures in place for healthcare professionals servicing First Nations.

The FSIN said in a news release Saturday a COVID-19 case has been confirmed up north in Saskatchewan’s most isolated communities. On April 10, the Athabasca Health Authority indicated a person in Stony Rapids was in self-quarantine after testing positive for the virus.

The FSIN said it believes the spread of the virus came from a nurse who came up to treat patients and wasn’t tested before coming to the community.

“We have done all that we can do at the First Nations level to keep our people safe, including putting self-isolation measures on those flying or driving into our communities. However, the Provincial Government’s health care employees are not abiding by those measures,” Fond du Lac First Nation Chief Louie Mercredi said in a news release.

Mercredi said a nurse drove up to Stony Rapids on Sunday and was treating people by Monday which included a number of the community’s long-term care patients, elderly and vulnerable members at the hospital.

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“We are demanding that more PPE (personal protective equipment) immediately be shipped to our communities to protect our people. This infection was caused by provincial health care staff that were not tested before coming into our nations, they must ensure that our people are protected at all costs, as they will be held liable if this infection is not contained and continues to spread,” Mercredi said.

Black Lake First Nation Chief Coreen Sayazie said they have been told the nurse came from Saskatoon prior to coming to Northern Saskatchewan.

“Why wasn’t this nurse tested before they were exposed to our patients? We now have four to five patients in our long-term care and palliative care in isolation awaiting test results. If this worsens or spreads in our communities, we, the Dene people of the Far North, will hold the Provincial Government responsible and will seek legal action,” Sayazie said in the release.

The call for more PPE and measures for healthcare officials coming into the communities comes from the FSIN along with Fond du Lac and Black Lake First Nations.

FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said they need to be at the table along with Premier Scott Moe and the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

“We are a part of Saskatchewan. We contribute millions to the economy every year, but we are not at these meetings. We must work together to stop the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve,” Cameron said.

The FSIN represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan.