Grand Chief Billy Morin of the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations speaks at a press conference Saturday morning after the media heard from Rick Wilson, the Minister of Indigenous Affairs. (Government of Alberta)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

indigenous safety

Province working with Indigenous government to ensure protection from COVID-19

Mar 28, 2020 | 1:57 PM

The Government of Alberta says it continues to do everything possible to ensure Indigenous people in Alberta are included in pandemic planning and response.

Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations, and Grand Chief Billy Morin of the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations, spoke Saturday about the coordinated effort.

The work will see to it that all Indigenous people in the province have access to supplies and quality care throughout the course of the pandemic.

“I have been communicating regularly with First Nations and Métis leadership about the needs and unique challenges facing them during the COVID-19 crisis,” said Wilson. “As well, I have been relaying our conversations to the federal government to advocate for and press the concerns that have been raised.”

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Morin acknowledged that Wilson has acted in the spirit of the intent of Treaty 6, which is one of unity.

“First Nations on reserve are doing what they can to uphold their sovereignty and protect their borders in a good way,” he said. “We have such a high urban Indigenous population in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie, and other municipalities, that we do have to rely on friendships with the Government of Alberta to help us protect those people.”

Morin added that recently announced shelter funding was a very positive step as many Indigenous people had anxiety over where or how they’d self-isolate if they didn’t have a roof over their heads.

Alberta previously announced $30 million in funding for homeless shelters and women’s emergency shelters to address social distancing, sanitation and other health guidelines, according to a media release.

The funding includes the Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association which has 21 locations in the province.