SAUGEEN FIRST NATION COVID UPDATE FOR JULY 13TH, 2021
SAUGEEN FIRST NATION COVID UPDATE FOR JULY 13TH, 2021
Our community continues supporting our SFN members who either have had to be hospitalized in ICU due to COVID or have tested positive for COVID. Many of our community members are still having to self-isolate and stay in their homes.
The following update contains updated information for dates and times for vaccinations, swab testing, COVID isolation sites and site details.
Daily COVID Statistics for SFN community members:
As of 2PM on July 12, 2021: 111 cases reported to date – 51 are active – 57 are recovered – 6 are in hospital – 1 death – 1 death is pending post-mortem.
Traditional Healing Supports been coordinated through SOAHAC:
For Traditional Healing support for clients, staff can reach out to the SOAHAC Traditional Healing Liaisons. Kelly & Charmaine are available to assist with coordinating virtual appointments, medicines etc.:
Healing / Conversations re Vaccine Hesitancy
Traditional Healing Liaison: Charmaine Jenner @ 519-379-1520
Grief Counselling / Healing / Conversations re: Vaccine Hesitancy
Traditional Healing Liaison: Kelly Doxtator @ 519-317-8888
Community Sites:
Over the last 3 weeks and weekends, we have been working daily to get 3 COVID site locations set up. They have been set up and will be used as outlined in the following:
- James Mason Recreation Centre:
- Will be used to service our transient/special needs population who have tested positive for COVID and need medical supervision, while in isolation.
- This site became fully operational on Saturday, July 10th, 2021.
- Transition House:
- We Will service our SFN members who have COVID and are not able to isolate for whatever reason in their own homes.
- Women’s Shelter:
- Will service our elders who are double vaccinated and living with adult children who have tested positive and have not been exposed.
Food Donations/Volunteers:
Please be advised that Cathy Banks has been designated as our SFN contact for all volunteers, financial and food donations. Cathy has been categorizing and inventorying with her staff, all items and monies that have been donated to date.
We are asking all SFN members who hear about volunteers, food, and financial donations, to please have them contact Cathy Banks at (519) 374-3963.
All donations being given need to come through the food bank, in order to get receipts to our donors. We also again ask that families that are isolating, to be patient and kind to the volunteers and staff that are assisting with delivery.
Financial Donations:
For On-line:
Saugeen First Nation (SFN) has been working with the United Way in the processing of financial donations. We are asking those people who want to donate online, to please click here, and you will be taken to a site where you can have a receipt generated with your donation.
For Mail-In or Drop Off:
For those donors who want to mail in a cheque, we ask that you address it to:
Finance Department (Attention: Lisa Bender)
Saugeen First Nation
6 Cameron Dr,
Southampton, Ontario NOH 2L0
Or, please call Lisa Bender at (519) 797 – 2781 EXT. #1111
Please be aware that these are the only two (2) SFN leadership endorsed processes for giving a donation. All monies are then better able to be quickly processed and put directly towards to funding our critically identified COVID community needs.
Again, SFN is extremely grateful to all those people who have made financial donations to date! Chi-Miigwetch!
Who are the SFN essential staff?
We have been fortunate to have many of our Health Department staff assisting daily along with our essential band staff identified as:
- The Mino Bimaadsawin Health Centre for vaccinations, testing and other core programs;
- Essential staff at the band office, such as; Maintenance, Finance, Band Administrator and Communications;
- Social Services;
- Food Bank;
- And Works Department.
Vaccination Schedule:
Please be aware that via our Bimaadsawin Health Centre, to battle the COVID outbreak in our community, will be offering the following services during the month of July:
- Swabbing services (for COVID testing) Mon-Fri., 9-11AM @ the Fisheries Bldg;
- A Mobile Unit for door-to-door servicing – will have an SFN elder for support, physician, community health nurse, and paramedic. It will be travelling around our community from 1PM – 4PM. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday;
- As well, the RAAM clinic will be open Tuesday and Thursday from 11AM – 3PM.
- Vaccination Clinic has been running every Tuesday – please call the Health Centre to book an appointment.
Security:
- Cancom and the OPP have and will continue to be available during the lockdown. We are currently in discussions with Red Cross as to how this will look and blend with our community shutdown process.
Regarding local SFN businesses:
- If business owners need financial support to keep their business running, Tecumseh and Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business, will be able to provide information for loans and grants.
What does “State of Emergency” mean?
- It means: Stay home. If you have been swabbed/tested for COVID, you must isolate until results are provided. For individuals who have tested positive – they must stay in quarantine for 14 days, and NO household gatherings.
Red Cross:
- The Red Cross have left our community as of Monday, July 12, 2021. We were pleased and fortunate to have had their assistance, guidance and direction over the last 2 weeks. Their work is now completed – Chi-Miigwetch for all their hard work!
COVID Co-ordinator position has been reposted:
We have decided to hire a COVID Co-ordinator for the next 3-6 months. We had no applicants since we first posted, so we are reposting the position again, and have significantly increased the wages in the hopes of attracting new candidates. This position will be reviewed at the end of the 3-6 months contract.
SFN Facebook and Website Updates:
- Information is being shared daily via our SFN Facebook and website – it is changing daily, but we are doing our best. Please refer to either of these for the most accurate and correct community updates.
Finally, I would like to share that our SFN Chief and Council, with senior band staff, have worked non-stop the past 3 weeks and weekends, working long hours to get things into place – this is a monumental task we have undertaken for the primary safety of our community members and staff.
It is through community cooperation, perseverance, and respect, that we will get through this challenge of eradicating the COVID virus from our community. This temporary closure is a difficult step for all of us, but we are confident that we will get through this together. Please stay home, travel only unless it’s absolutely necessary, and strictly observe the following pandemic protocols:
- Wear a mask outside your home.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Watch your distance and remain at least 2 meters from people you don’t live with.
Miigwetch,
Saugeen First Nation Chief and Council