How First Nations are finding ways to keep COVID-19—and outsiders—at bay – Macleans.ca
While local and provincial governments loosen lockdowns, vulnerable Indigenous communities across the country say they’re fighting an uphill battle to safeguard their residents
June 9, 2020
On April 27, the Nuxalk First Nation, nestled in British Columbia’s Bella Coola Valley, simply stopped asking. Five weeks earlier, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the chief and council had declared a local state of emergency and set up a checkpoint on the only highway into the valley to restrict non-essential traffic. Like many remote and coastal communities in the province, and as one known for its salmon fishing, the Nuxalk are wary of the risk of infection that comes with tourists visiting their territory.
They had no idea that over the next few days the B.C. government would declare fishing and hunting essential services in the province, effectively opening the door to travel in their territory. While B.C.’s Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation insists that the province respects First Nations’ states of emergency and travel bans, it would not issue orders affecting travel in and out of these communities.
