b'HEALTHWords from Aapooyaki(Bonnie Healy),Registered Nurse from the Kainai NationH i! My (Blackfoot) name Albertas Ministry of Health, the Albertaof the virus in the community. The one is Aapooyaki.First Nations Information GovernanceBlackfoot Confederacy Nation in the I am a trained RegisteredCentre (AFNIGC) and IndigenousUnited States, Amskapi Piikani, is still Nurse from the KainaiServices Canada (ISC) to launch theexperiencing positive cases. All Blackfoot Nation, actively involved in ourAlberta First Nations COVID-19 DataConfederacy Nations support one another Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) ways of knowing.Dashboard in April 2020, available to allin their learned lessons and protocols.My professional background is multi- First Nations in Alberta. The Blackfoot Confederacy Nations faceted, as I have worked in numerousAll Blackfoot Confederacy Nations haveutilized mixed media methods to deliver health capacities at the local, nationalexperienced positive COVID-19 cases.evidence-based information to their and international levels. As the currentWe have lost two Elders in total: anmembers. This includes leadership Blackfoot Confederacy Health Director,Elder from the Kainai Nation (my uncle)providing video updates in Blackfoot I have been fortunate to present Firstand another prominent Elder from theon a regular basis, social media updates Nations research and community successPiikani/Siksika Nation. to members, posters put up and LED stories to governments, institutions, The Blackfoot Confederacy Nationssigns are visible in the communities. The First Nations communities and were very quick to put protocols inBlackfoot Confederacy was fortunate at non-profit organizations. place and quickly respond to cases oncethe beginning of the pandemic. In early At the beginning of the COVID-19they developed in the communities. AllMarch, the Blackfoot Confederacy held pandemic, the Blackfoot ConfederacyBlackfoot Confederacy Nations quicklyan impromptu COVID-19 panel with team quickly developed a position papermobilized to train their health teamsHealth Directors from Siksika, Kainai, with current data on all three Blackfootto conduct their own testing, with thethe Blackfoot Confederacy and the ISC Confederacy Nations (Siksika, Piikani andKainai Nation completing two rounds ofMOH. This panel addressed members in Kainai Nation) in Canada and quicklyhousehold testing. The Siksika Nationattendance at the Blackfoot Confederacy mobilized and reached out to providesupported off-reserve members by quicklyHealth Symposium with oversupport to our off-reserve members.containing a large outbreak of over 25300 attendees.Essential supply gift cards were mailedcases and 250 households in quarantine,All Blackfoot Confederacy Nations out in early April 2020 and June 2020.which included off-reserve households.provided all levels of health care during Personal protective equipment (PPE)The Piikani Nation was the last of thethe pandemic. Mental wellness programs supplies were ordered and providedthree nations to develop a small numberwere partly available. The closure of to members during Kainais annualof positive cases. Piikani put strict visitortreatment centres heavily impacted ceremonies and for students returningprotocols in place, tested its membersBlackfoot Confederacy Nations duringto school. I worked in partnership withand was able to quickly stop the spreadthe pandemic.www.afn.ca 55'