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Ermineskin Newsletter July 16, 2020 Neyâskweyâhk Acimowin Opaskowipîsim Nikotwâsosâp Akimaw Anohc ᓀᔮᐢᑫᐧᔮᐦᐠ ᐊᒋᒧᐊᐧᐣ ᐅᐸᐢᑯᐃᐧᐲᓯᒼ ᓂᑯᑖᐧᓱᓵᑊ ᐊᑭᒪᐤ ᐊᓄᐦᐨ Positive COVID-19 Case Confirmed in On Wednesday July 15th, 2020, Chief Vernon Saddle- call the back of Samson Nation addressed Nation Mem- Community bers on the via live update on Health De- Facebook. He was also joined by the Samson Incident partment at Commander Harper Potts with information surrounding Maskwacis the case and the Nation’s response. Soon after an offi- Health Ser- cial press release was made available. vices at “Samson Cree Nation has officially been informed by 780-585- Public Health, Inuit Health Branch, Indige- 2020. nous Services Canada (FNIHB-ISC) that one of our members residing on the Sam- son Cree Nation IR# 137, who was in self -isolation due to contact tracing, has test- ed positive for COVID-19. Contact tracing is underway to identify any other persons who may have contracted COVID-19 due to in-person contact with a positive COVID-19 case. We have been anticipating the spread of COVID-19 into the community and have been taking every precaution to detect, trace and limit the spread of infection locally. We are working closely with the Directors of Emergency Management for the respective First Nations in Maskwacis, including IR # 138A, Commu- nity Health, Maskwacis Health Services and the regional FNIHB-ISC to ensure that appropriate containment procedures, in- cluding contact tracing, testing and isolat- ing known contacts of any COVID-19 positive cases, are implemented immedi- ately. Please get tested Testing is available Monday to Friday at various sites throughout Maskwacis, Ab. For more information on testing,

Neyâskweyâhk Acimowin Opaskowipîsim Nikotwâsosâp Akimaw Anohc Chief & Council Updates

On July 14, 2020, Chief and Council gave updates via video, which can be viewed on the website and Facebook pages and groups. Below is a summary of the updates: Chief Craig Makinaw As of July 14, no positive cases (this was updated on the 15th to 1 posi- tive case). Due to risk of exposure, changes are being made in Ermine- skin. 1. Security checkpoints are back to 24 hours a day. 2. Curfew rein- stated to 10PM-6PM. 3. All non-essential ser- Bear with us while we conquer this unknown vices closed for 2 weeks. 4. Essential services territory. If you’re experiencing stress, mental doing emergency only work. (Ermineskin Prop- health issues, please find ways to be active erty Management, Public Works, Security, Fire while staying home. Keep lines of communica- Department, Tech Services, NHS, Tribal Ser- tion open to supports in the community. vices, Finance, Communications, Administrator— Nina Makinaw contact via email and phone) 5. All Ermineskin Mobile testing is open to Four Nations through buildings closed to public, effective immediate- MHS. If you have any symptoms, be tested. ly. There’s no shame in being tested. Take care of Take all precautions to keep each other safe. each other and love one another. Wear a mask in public, wash and sanitize Tyler Makinaw hands, practice physical distancing. Urge all na- Please show kindness and understanding to the tion members to get tested. MHS testing. affected family and individual affected by Public will be notified of further announce- COVID-19. Bullying and threats online and on ments as this situation develops. social media are against our cultural teachings. Ryan Ermineskin This individual needs our help, not shame and Please respect the decisions to reinstate securi- threats. Offer support to help them get ty checkpoints, closures, and curfew. These de- through this. This sickness is very hard on peo- cisions have been made to protect the Four ple, symptoms are serious. Our cultural teach- Nations and our community. ings will get us through this. Avoid large gath- erings, follow guidelines, love each other. Brian Lee Dennis Whitebear, Sr. Addresses Cree speakers. It’s not a sign of be- ing a coward, it’s a sign of courage to take Keep following safety guidelines. Since the be- the test. It’s not only you that you’re protect- ginning of this pandemic we’ve worked to keep this off reserve. Be safe when you go out ing. You are also protecting everyone you meet, your children, your elders, and loved to buy essentials. Be wary, keep safe. ones. You don’t know who you might encoun- Collin Wildcat ter who may be infected. Wear a mask, wash This is a scary time, a different time. We must hands. Stay safe, we’re all in this together. The change the way we do things. Stay home, more precautions we take, the better our don’t let your children visit around, everyone chance of handling this situation. should wear masks in public. Be kind to those Jason Makinaw affected with the virus. Let’s not take this sick- Thanks everyone for their patience, it’s a learn- ness home to our elders. We need to find out ing experience moving through this situation. a balance between service and safety, it’s stressful for everyone. Stay home, stay safe.

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EETF Announcement High School Graduates Applications can be faxed to 780 application cannot be processed Applications are open for the 585 2630 or emailed to: coordi- without them. Chief Dan Minde Award. (High [email protected] You may email or fax the com- School Completion Incentive) Post-Secondary Completion pleted application to: Recent High School Graduates Award [email protected] 780 585 can apply for the Incentive. How to Apply: 2630. Documents Required: Fill out an application and pro- I can be reached at 780 585 Completed Application vide a copy of your Parchment. 2135 to set up an appointment. Tuesday and Thursday 10 am - Copy of Diploma or Certificate Currently, the Verification Letter 3 pm. issued from the Province of Al- from the Registrar's Office is berta. NOT sufficient to process the Thank you, Katharine Allison EETF application. Coordinator Phone 780 585 Detailed Academic Report for 2135 Fax 780 585 2630 High School Credit Incentive It is understood there is a delay in receiving Parchments, however

4 Neyâskweyâhk Acimowin Opaskowipîsim Nikotwâsosâp Akimaw Anohc The 1st Annual ECN Yard and Garden Contest 2020

he 1st Annual Ermineskin Cree Nation Yard & Elders Category: Garden Contest was organized for the fist time T 1st Place - Linda Wolfe this year. The purpose of this contest was to lift the spirits of the Ermineskin Citizens with a friendly 2nd Place - Rita Wolfe competition, and for a chance to show off their 3rd Place - Maurice Wolfe amazing horticultural skills. There was a total of 40 beautiful yards and gardens that entered into the Best Garden Category: contest. The Yard Contest was divided into 4 cate- 1st Place - Jerry Rattlesnake gories; Elders, Subdivision, Country/Corporate Lands/Buck Lake/Pigeon Lake and Best Garden. 2nd Place - Inez & Rick Lightning There were 4 judges that took on the difficult task 3rd Place - Andrea Mackinaw of visiting each home while it rained and seeing first hand the efforts that the homeowners made. ECN Administrator Geraldine Hill would like to Upon visiting each home, you can really see the thank "Al Wolfe for organizing, Cheryl Montour at hard work, efforts and pride that each homeowner NEST for the use of their van, Patricia Wolfe for poured into the beautification of their yards. "It is driving the judges to each home, Junior Coyote for really awesome to see the parents and grandpar- Volunteering, the judges Taylor Bull from Louis Bull, ents making an effort to have a clean yard for Ruby Potts from Pigeon Lake, Bodo Sumimoto from their children to play in. I really loved seeing that." Ponoka and Janine Wildcat from Ermineskin and to Stated Ruby Potts. After the scores were tallied, the everyone who entered." This contest will NOW be winners were notified for a special winners ceremo- an annual event. If you did not win this year, don't ny at the Ermineskin Administration Office on Thurs- fret, you have another chance next year. day, July 11 for photo ops and to receive their ~article/photos by Janine Wildcat~ winnings. Congratulations to the following Winners of the 1st Annual Ermineskin Cree Nation Yard & Garden Contest. Subdivision Category: 1st Place - Stella Listener 2nd Place - Connie Bull-Roan 3rd Place - Sherilynn Roan Country/Corporate Lands/Buck Lake/Pigeon Lake Category: 1st Place - Esther Crane (Corporate Lands) 2nd Place - Cur- tis & Janet Littlechild (Country) 3rd Place - Bobby & Sharon Mackinaw (Buck Lake)

5 Neyâskweyâhk Acimowin Opaskowipîsim Nikotwâsosâp Akimaw Anohc Security Staff Hard at Work A big Thank You to all Security workers! All Security Workers from March – June 2020

Permanent Staff Karoyle Weinhandl Preston Wildcat Korianne Roasting Jacob Wilder Madelyn Littlechild David Crane Garret Saddleback Rebecca Keenatch Koraley Roasteing Michelle Small Jessie Smallboy Temporary Staff Tyson Ward Daelynn Roasting Town-site Crew Derek Rattlesnake Mark Yellowbird Marcel Soosay James Smallboy Mall Security Preston Buffalo ECN Security who successfully passed their Training Course receiving Certificates of Acknowledg- ment from the RCMP. Emergency Shelter Harvey Applegarth Leslie Saddleback Dreyton Ermineskin Warren Ermineskin Dexter Giroux Jr Trey Littlechild Justice Ermineskin Chance White Carolyn White Quills Tyshawn Raine Preston Whitebear Trina Morin Tracey Smallboy Bryson Small-Buffalo Jordie Ermineskin Kendall Omeasoo Dan Horvath Brian Small-Buffalo Stanleigh Ward-Cardinal Zander Minde Francesco Lionetti Lisa Littlechild William Littlechild- Marlene Crate Corbin Roan-Littlechild Ellis Rattlesnake Patenaude Tyson Cattleman Cindy Roasting Jerry Roasting John D.F Morin Zane Wildcat Lisa Roasting Joseph Stoney Travis Greene Roman Small Kacie Roasting Kara Ward Darien Cutarm Grayson Wildcat Brayden Omeasoo- Anthony Morin Bryan Ermineskin Mall/Admin Parking Se- Steinhauer Delayne Okeymow Jonathan W Morin curity Barricade Security Dennis Whitebear Jr Katey Omeasoo Keith Esperance Lorenzo Ermineskin Darien Smallboy- Denzel Rattlesnake Carolyn Omeasoo- David Cutarm Ermineskin Aiden Whitebear Steinhauer Mason Saddleback Clesson Omeasoo Toni Whitebear ~provided by Security Dept.~

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Tech Services Update Ermineskin Technical Services would like uled service date. It is imperative that to remind those who receive water haul- the service area is made to be accessi- ing and solid waste pick up services of ble at all times. the following: Please ensure that all children and/or Heavy rain fall has resulted in many im- animals are kept away from the service passable road conditions for the service area when the truck is on site perform- trucks. Due to these conditions, water ing the service delivery. hauling and solid waste pick up services Any household waste that is not placed may be delayed. in the metal bin will not be picked up During this time please remember to due to safety precautions. conserve water as much as possible. Waste materials such as furniture, car Please ensure that road access ways and parts, bicycles, electronics, appliances, the surrounding areas for the cisterns etc.., that surround the metal bin leads and solid waste bins remain clear of any to the inability for the operator to obstruction. dump the bin. If the area is found to be If the service trucks cannot access these in this condition then the bin cannot be areas to perform the service then the dumped until the area is made clear to operator may have no choice but to de- do so. lay these services until the next sched- ~provided by Tech Services Dept.~

7 Neyâskweyâhk Acimowin Opaskowipîsim Nikotwâsosâp Akimaw Anohc Job Opportunities 1. Manager with the KANAWEMAHWASOWIN KAMIK: Program for Children & Families Department CLOSING: July 22, 2020 2. Water Truck Operator with the Ermineskin Technical Services & Capital Management Department CLOSING: July 22, 2020 3. Two (2) Committee positions (1) Youth Member Ages 15 - 25 and (1) Community Member Ages 25 and Up with the KANAWEMAHWASOWIN KAMIK: Program for Chil- dren & Families CLOSING: July 22, 2020 4. Executive Director with the KANAWEMAHWASOWIN KAMIK: Program for Children & Families CLOSING: July 31, 2020 Contact: Personnel Department 780-585-3741 ext. 241 or 311 [email protected]

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