b'COMMUNITY PROFILEWiikwemkoongUnceded Territory BY ASHLEY ALBERTKeeping friends and family safe during COVID-19T he vibrant community ofWiikwemkoong has focused onthis approach and have provided regular Wiikwemkoong Uncededseveral different initiatives to helpupdates to the community to help put Territory is located on thesupport the community throughout thethem at ease. eastern peninsula of Mani- pandemic. One such initiative focusedAs a result of the first positive case toulin Islandor Odawa Mnisinon educating their members aboutin May, Indigenous Services Canada Northern Ontario, on the largest bodythe risks of COVID-19 and how bestprovided Wiikwemkoong with funding of fresh water in the world. Wiikwem- to protect themselves individually. Tosupport and allocated them with a koong has a total population of 8,200,help achieve this, they put together anBLU-MED facility, which allowed the with approximately 3,500 membersonline program within their educationcommunity to set up an asymptomatic living in the community full-time.program. Another initiative was a foodtesting site. Since the second COVID-19 Wiikwemkoong is a unique First Nationsecurity program to help members staycase was confirmed, the BLU-MED community as they have not signed anyin the community rather than travellingfacility also geared up for symptomatic treaties with the Crown or Canada. Thisout of the community for their basictesting, complementing two hospital gives Wiikwemkoong an Unceded statusneeds. During April and May, the foodtesting centres as well as the mobile para-over their lands, meaning that whilesecurity program was serving 800 homesmedicine unit that goes around directly treaties did take place in their area, theywith weekly and biweekly food baskets.to homes. are not signatories to it.Leaders in First Nations commun- Ogimaa Peltier reports thatEarly on in the pandemic, many ities across Ontario had to act quicklyWiikwemkoong has had two confirmedcommunity members supported the travel to protect their members once thecases of COVID-19. The first case wasrestrictions and checkpoints. Like with COVID-19 pandemic was declared inconfirmed in early May in their long- any decision, there wasnt 100-per-cent late March, and Wiikwemkoong was noterm care home. Once they receivedagreement on the approach, but a majority exception. Ogimaa Duke Peltier explainsword of the positive case, they advisedof the community were very supportive that the first thing they did was pull allthe community through live mediaof all of the measures that the Council of their youth hockey teams from theupdates and immediately requested Elderhad approved based on recommendations Little Native Hockey League tourna- support to do a ceremony at the home.put forward by their health professionals. ment that takes place in Mississauga overWhen a second case was confirmedTheir approach has always focused on March break. After making this decision,in early December, the Council waseducating community members using they held community discussions onquestioned and called on to reinstatedifferent platforms. The support for how best to prevent COVID-19 fromthe checkpoint. Since they had gainedour approach has been second to none, entering their community. They ultim- more experience and information aboutbecause the community adherence to it is ately decided to call a state of emergency,COVID-19, it was determined that theirstill maintained, says Ogimaa Peltier. issue a travel restriction and set up aapproach would be a more robust testingThe messaging to community checkpoint for people coming in and outregime through a full contact-tracingmembers continues to be that the best of the community.program. They have been successful inapproach to protecting themselves, their 16l I ssue2 2020/21C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'