Northern B.C. First Nations impose lockdown to prevent spread of COVID-19 – APTN News
March 30, 2020
Dozens of First Nations in northern British Columbia have imposed a lockdown system as a preventative measure to stop the chance of the COVID-19 virus from getting into their communities or declared a state of emergency.
The Heiltsuk Nation has stopped access to non-community members and others are allowed out for essential travel only.
Heiltsuk Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett said it’s a challenging time but the community is doing its part to protect elders who are most at risk.
“We know the most vulnerable to COVID-19 are our elders. Our elders in all of our communities are our knowledge holders, our matriarchs, our traditional chiefs and people that transmit our traditional knowledge to the next generation,” she said
“We have to do everything we can to protect them and make sure they are safe.”
