One northern Chief is calling for an end to the public health order prohibiting northern travel and for the government to dismantle conservation officer staffed check-stops as it is causing more harm than good.
The province established the travel restrictions in the entire north to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 following a massive outbreak in La Loche and on the consultation of northern leaders but has not said who they consulted.
Chief Francis Iron said he was not called by the province to discuss the check-stops or the travel restriction.
“I think so,” Iron said on ending the restrictions. “Each community has its own precautions. We’ve got our own roadblock. We’ve been as safe as we can. We’re on complete lockdown. It’s like the government is not putting trust in the northwest and that’s where it becomes a big problem where they are creating a gap.”
Iron detailed a recent experience he had going through a check-stop, where he was denied because the conservation officer disputed his essential service reasoning.
“I was denied access through the checkpoint while trying to drive to Flying Dust First Nation near Meadow Lake. Our First Nation primary cheque signatory lives in Flying Dust and our families on social assistance and the First Nation payroll depend on those cheques and we need to pay our bills. These officers also have no regard of what an essential service for northerners is,” explained Iron.
Instead of arguing, Iron returned home, only later finishing his intended business.
Iron said he has heard stories from citizens that conservation officers are too heavy-handed, even threatening to confiscate goods from motorists.
“A few band members have tried to go through and the conservation officers told them you go to your appointment, you don’t bring back groceries, don’t bring back nothing at all and don’t go into any store. And that if they came back with any groceries, they [CO’s] were going to take them away. That’s where it’s getting to be a little too much,” said Iron.
Iron explained that he has written to Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Saqib Shahab about his concerns Tuesday, but that health officials told him it would be a few days and that the public health order as it is written will stand.
“We strongly believe that shopping for groceries in Meadow Lake is essential for our communities because there are shortages of goods and services all over the North and we are being forced into positions that make our communities even more vulnerable. My community members are being threatened to be charged by officers if on their ‘essential trip,’ they try to bring groceries back through the security checkpoints,” stated English River First Nation Chief Jerry Bernard.
“We recognize that these travel restrictions represent a substantial disruption to the lives of residents in the North or others that are seeking to access property. However, these restrictions were imposed to restrict the spread of COVID-19 stemming from the outbreak in Northwest Saskatchewan by restricting travel with limited exceptions, and are being upheld to fulfill that purpose,” said Cabinet Communications Director Jim Billington.
“The Government of Saskatchewan will continue to work with Indigenous and community leaders throughout the North to address concerns that are raised while ensuring that travel restrictions are upheld to limit the spread of COVID-19.”