Siksika Nation preparing for COVID-19

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Siksika Nation is not taking any chances when it comes to COVID-19, as a local state of emergency has been declared and preventative measures are being implemented.
Siksika chief and council declared a state of local emergency on March 16, as announced by Chief Ouray Crowfoot.
“Chief and council and all service areas are working closely together with health authorities to coordinate a response,” said Crowfoot in a video address.
“We are a resilient people here at Siksika – we’ve had to overcome a lot over the years.”
The state of local emergency provides the Siksika emergency response management team the authority to start to prepare and plan for the arrival of COVID-19, said Stacy Doore, Siksika Nation director of emergency management.
“The state of local emergency is just that next step so we can start focusing on how we can help and better prepare Siksika Nation,” said Doore.
Siksika’s emergency management team are working alongside Alberta Health Services personnel to develop and implement a response to the virus, said Doore.
“They will continue working on a plan with the incident management team and myself to give the best care and best preventive measures to Siksika Nation going forward,” he said.
On March 18, the Siksika emergency management team announced the implementation of their business continuity plan to ensure essential services remain operational. These include family services, EMS/fire, health services, housing service area, treasury administration, security, Siksika public works and administration human resources.
Staff requirements for each division are being left to the discretion of senior managers.
All non-essential services are to discuss their business continuity plans with the executive manager.
Siksika Nation administration building and public works, alongside all Siksika Nation recreation facilities, including the Deerfoot Sportsplex, the Piiksapi Powwow Arbour, the Sister Celine Parish Hall and the Siksika Nation Community Centre are now closed until further notice.
Family, residents and friends have been instructed to not visit residents of the Siksika Elders Lodge until further notice. Access to the facility is now restricted and all individuals are being screened prior to entry.
The Siksika emergency management team requires all community members and Nation staff to stay home, self-isolate, and practice “good hand hygiene” if they are sick with any symptoms. Social gatherings of more than five people are now prohibited.
As of March 24, no cases of COVID-19 have been identified within Siksika Nation.