Saskatchewan’s under-resourced northwestern communities were hit hard and disproportionately by the novel coronavirus. This was one of the first major outbreaks in our sparsely populated province. While I was not able to be there on the ground, I was able to help community members and local leaders raise their voices and tell stories of death, fear, love, health, discrimination and accountability.
Here is a sampling of my work published during the crisis:
Sask. sisters mourn mother Nelda Maurice, who died after COVID diagnosis
Nelda Maurice's daughters said letting their mom go is the hardest thing they will ever do.
"She was up and happy, lively, always dancing and singing, and then just suddenly we were forced to live without her…”
Travel restrictions reveal double-standard, says Canoe Lake Cree First Nation resident
Rose Durocher longs to see her family.
Her home community of Canoe Lake Cree First Nation is under government travel restrictions, even though there are zero known local active COVID-19 cases.
"I really miss seeing my kids…”
Experts say Sask. could be more transparent with COVID-19 data without sacrificing privacy
Eleanor Widdowson made a pointed call for transparency from the Saskatchewan government after her sister died from the novel coronavirus in March. "Don't hide shit."
Saskatchewan refuses to reveal communities where COVID-19 has been detected unless there is an outbreak declared. Widdowson said that more knowledge might have protected her sister, who died after testing positive.
Sask. psychiatrist says La Loche outbreak harm compounded by inadequate mental health resources
Dr. Sara Dungavell says the COVID-19 outbreak in La Loche is causing more stress and anxiety in the northwest while programs are put on hold. She also says that even if mental health services were business as usual — it wouldn't be enough.
'They gambled': Northern crisis worker says Sask. too slow on travel restrictions
Clarence Natomagan said the governments' restrictions on travel to northern Saskatchewan are too little, too late, as at least two dozen people are infected with COVID-19. "They gambled," he said, adding if nothing did happen in the north the province would have been"off the hook. "But if something does happen then they're going to react."
'Saskatchewan is not two provinces': Calls for more northern COVID-19 support continue
Percy Kenny said the people infected by COVID-19 in his small Saskatchewan community felt as if there was a "black mark" upon their home.
"We keep reassuring them that they're not alone in this," he said. "They're starting to feel better they're starting to tell themselves 'the community is backing us.'"
'We cannot open our communities': COVID-19 cases rise in northern Sask.
Now is not the time to reopen communities in northern Saskatchewan, says one official, as the number of COVID-19 cases spread in the area. "The outbreak is real, it's very dangerous.”