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Emergency Operations Newsletter

M’ C h i ge e ng F ir s t N a t i o n Volume 1, Issue 3

July 9, 2020

HEALTH SERVICES

The M’Chigeeng

Health Centre have

conducted a COVID

test for ALL staff as

part of the initiative

to prevent the spread. We are very proud to

announce that all of our results have come

back NEGATIVE! We are very happy that the

results came back negative and we want to

thank all of our staff for

willingly participating in

the testing and for taking

all precautions to make

sure that our community

members are safe and

healthy! The Band Office

Staff will be soon tested,

in the upcoming weeks.

NURSING

COMMUNITY UPDATES

As of July 8th, 2020 Sudbury & District

Public Health have made it mandatory to

wear masks in commercial businesses and

all public transportation. “Wearing a face

covering is about mutual respect: I cover

my mouth and nose to protect you, you

cover your mouth and nose to protect me.”

Public Health Sudbury & Districts has is-

sued one of the following Heat

Warnings. Please see below.

For your convenience, Level

Descriptions are as follows:

Level 1 - Heat Warning

Level 2 - Extended Heat Warn-

ing/Heat Alert

Level 3 - Extreme Heat Alert

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Chief and Council Updates

The Chief and Council met on July 7, 2020 which was a special meeting of Council to discuss the reopening of M’Chigeeng as it re-lates to the current pandemic. A summary of decisions made are as follows:

Chief Medical Officer of Health Instructions on face coverings

The Council was provided with correspondence from the Chief Medi-cal Officer of Health that contained implementation instructions as it relates to face coverings in public places (offices, businesses, any place where there is contact with the public etc.). The Council made the decision to implement the instructions of the Chief Medical Officer of Health within M’Chigeeng First Nation effective July 14, 2020; Some businesses and offices have chosen to implement this as of July 8, 2020 and we ask that you to kindly respect their proto-cols. What this means is that you will be required to wear a mask when you attend the Health Centre, Administration Office, business-es, etc. in M’Chigeeng. Towns and Cities in the District of Sudbury and Manitoulin will have this in place effective today. We are asking you to kindly respect this as wearing a mask is being respectful of others.

Updated Organization Levels of Activation—CHART ON PAGE 3

The Council has approved the Organization Levels of Activation doc-ument as it relates to the COVID19 Pandemic. This document will be the master guide for MFN Organization to guide the Departmental Levels of Activation detailed documents which will now be updat-ed. The Organization Levels of Activation document is included in this newsletter. For Department Specific information please contact the Department Manager responsible for the Department.

Community Survey – Reopening _ RESULTS ON PAGE 5

Miigwech to everyone who participated in the Community Sur-vey. The Council was presented with the data that was received from the Community Survey. The results are included in this news-letter, without the comments. 111 M’Chigeeng First Nation Citizens participated. The Emergency Operations Group will work on a final report to be presented to the Council in the coming weeks that will outline the comments received in the survey. Once this final report is completed and approved by Council, it will be available to M’Chigeeng First Nation Citizens. The draw for the gift cards was also held at the Council Meeting and the winners are:

Jacob Genereux; Rhonda Meadus; Sheila Paul; Andrew Corbiere; Nelson Debassige; Brittany Addison;

Giovanna Debassige; Travis Bayer; Corrina Debassige; Joanne Debassige.

Please contact the Office Administrator, Marlene Debassige to obtain your gift card.

BCR 4447 – Seasonal Residents, Ogaa Park,

M’Chigeeng Dock

The Council passed BCR 4447 which is summarized as follows:

- BCR 4435 and BCR 4436 are rescinded (Border Closure BCR and Supplementary Border Closure BCR).

- Allows seasonal residents to return to the commu-nity under strict protocols as developed by the CP Land Lessors that was reviewed by both the Emer-gency Operations Group and Doctors. The high-lights of the Protocol document created by the CP Lessors is as follows: only allows for the Lessee and their immediate family (who live in the same household of the Lessee) to attend their seasonal residence; Does not allow social gatherings; Land lessees will be required to submit a covid19 test to the CP Land Lessor; CP Land Lessors take respon-sibility in ensuring compliance of the protocol.

- Opens Ogaa Park effective July 10, 2020 for band

members only;

- Opens M’Chigeeng Docks effective July 10, 2020 for band members only; Allows for enforcement measures.

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Chief and Council Updates

BCR 4448 – COVID19 Community Measures

The Council passed BCR 4448 which is summarized as follows:

BCR 4437 is rescinded (original community Covid19

Measures) and replaced with BCR 4448

Addresses and upholds the Organization Levels of Activation

Document which provides details on the number of gatherings

Allows for gatherings up to 20 people for funerals, ceremo-

nies and church service;

Mandates the wearing of masks in public in M’Chigeeng First

Nation;

Upholds Provincial Public Health and Provincial Guidance;

Allows for enforcement measures.

BY-ELECTION – POSITION OF COUNCILLOR

Based on the feed back received from the Community Survey, M’Chigeeng First Nation will now proceed with the By-Election to fill the Councillor vacancy. The Council has recommended that the Election Appeal Committee (Once established) to establish procedures in relation to COVID19 Safety Measures. If you wish to serve on the Election Appeal Committee, please submit a letter of interest to the Office Administrator, Marlene Debassige at the

Band Office.

COVID 19 GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS AND COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST

The Council approved the Guidance Documents presented as follows: Re-tail Sector, Vehicle Sales and Service, Restaurant, Grocery Store, RV Parks and Campgrounds, Construction, Place of Worship, Tourism and Hospitality, CP Land Lessor Pandemic Operation Reopening Protocol and compliance

checklist. These will be uploaded to the MFN Website.

These documents will help guide businesses in M’Chigeeng to implement COVID19 safety measures in their businesses. A compliance checklist has

been developed to allow for reviews to occur from time to time by M’Chigeeng First Nation staff to ensure that businesses who have approved

protocols are in compliance with COVID19 safety precautions.

BUSINESS PROTOCOL APPROVALS

Some businesses within M’Chigeeng have provided their business protocol documents as requested by the First Nation. The docu-ments were reviewed by Health Services and Emergency Operations Group. There were some additional recommendations as it relates to safety measures that have been approved by Council. Businesses who have approved safety protocols will receive a Cer-tificate of Compliance to hang in their establishment as well as an outdoor sign indicating that their business is compliant and compli-

ance is approved by Council. The following are the list of businesses who received approvals and conditional approvals:

BJ and Addison’s & BAMM – Approved with minor additional recommendations; Manitoulin Physio – Approved with minor additional recommendations; Corbiere Lumber – Approved with minor additional recommendations; Lloyd’s and Son Trucking – Approved with minor additional recommendations; Paul’s Corner Store – Conditional Approval with additional recommendations; Finn’s Gas Bar –

Gas Bar Only. Approved with minor additional recommendations.

We are asking that all businesses within M’Chigeeng First Nation submit their protocols for review.

The By-Election date is October 24, 2020.

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Emergency Response Plan and Communicable Disease Plan

The Council has reviewed and approved amended versions of the Emergency Response Plan which includes the Communicable Disease Plan. This document will be posted to the MFN Website.

Chief and Council wish to remind everyone that we still need to remain vigilant and practice all COVID19 Safety Precautions. As

the Province has been opening up we have seen an increase in traffic coming to Manitoulin Island. Manitoulin Municipal Leader-

ship have indicated that they are seeing a growing number of individuals coming from Southern Ontario as well as the United

States. We know that Toronto and area remain hotspots for COVID19. So far we all are doing a great job and must continue to do

so. There is still no vaccine for the virus and we will remain a vulnerable community to this virus. Stay safe and be kind

to one another!

CONGRADUATION ON WINNING GIFT CARDS! Jacob Genereux; Rhonda Meadus; Sheila Paul; Andrew Corbiere; Nelson Debassige; Brittany Addison; Giovanna Debassige;

Travis Bayer; Corrina Debassige; Joanne Debassige.

Thank you to everyone that participated in the survey.

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HIAH/FreshMart Updates

M ’ C h i g e e n g F i r s t N a t i o n

HIAH Corp Economic Development is an independent corporate body set up as a for profit corpo-ration that was established in 2012 by the M’Chigeeng First Nation Chief and Council. HIAH Corp is a wholly owned and controlled entity of the M’Chigeeng First Nation given the mandate of the following economic development responsibilities: 1) investment and ownership of business lines and economic projects, 2) operational governance of active projects, 3) providing staff resources to active projects, 4) management of expenditures and cash flow from economic projects and fa-cilitation of local business development.

The current other corporate organizations HIAH Corp works with in economic Development for management and advisory services are:

1. MERE General Partner Inc. – M’Chigeeng Windfarm Operations

2. M’Chigeeng Freshmart Grocery Store GP. – M’Chigeeng Community owned Grocery Store

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Education

M’CHIGEENG FIRST NATION

I hope everyone is staying cool in these hot days of Summer. We have been working very hard in our Education office to have our plans in place for the Daycare, Lakeview School, MSS students and our Post-Secondary students. We appreciate your patience and understand there are many questions that you may all have. We will be doing our best to ensure the

proper information goes out to the community in the upcoming weeks.

Daycare has currently completed the Re Entry plan for opening the facility. There are strict guidelines that have been put in place by the Ministry. Debbie Ense has worked tirelessly in having these guidelines put in place. We will need to complete a few more of the pieces in the ministerial guidelines, and then we must receive Chief and Council approval. Once, we have completed these items, we then can work on reintegrating the staff, providing training and then notices to parents.

These are important health and safety guidelines, so again we appreciate your patience and understanding.

Lakeview school is now closed for the summer, and we are busy preparing for the upcoming 2020/2021 academic school year. We are very proud of our students, families and teachers who were so wonderful in assisting us in our transition to our online learning model. Our Lakeview teachers worked very hard with the students and we applaud their incredible les-sons they created with students online. We appreciate the consistent communication that they offered our parents and guardians. But it is our students and parents who we must send out a sincere Miigwetch for the tireless support they pro-

vided for their children at home.

We would like to acknowledge our Grade Eight grads who will be moving on into grade 9 this fall and wish them the best of

luck in their future endeavors.

Ethan Armstrong , Destiny Migwans, Zhaabidiis Cooper- Corbiere, Madison Panamick, Adrian Debassige, Eria Panamick-Kastoff, Ashton Fogal, Jacob Panamick Taibossigai, Cameron Johns, Tessa Paul, Lucy Joshua-Matthews, Rylee Purcer, Maren Kasunich, Davin Wassegijig.

We are immensely proud of Manitoulin Secondary School Grade 12 graduates who have completed their schooling and are moving onto bigger and brighter futures. I know that all of our community members in M’Chigeeng will be exceptionally

elated at the achievement these 6 have achieved.

Manitoulin Secondary School Grade 12 Graduates

Alexandria Lewis, Randi Lynn Lovelace, Aryanna Recollet-Pitawanakwat, Shania Roy, Rachel Tompkins. A special celebratory acknowledgement to our adult graduate, Anna Migwans

We will be receiving our list of Post-Secondary graduates in the next few weeks and will be sharing them with the commu-

nity as well. Please ensure that all of our Post-Secondary students have reached out to Terri Lynn Debassige regarding

your sponsorships, so that we can ensure your fall enrollment is properly in place.

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ONTARIO WORKS

M’Chigeeng Ontario Works/LDM Covid-19 Update

The M’Chigeeng Ontario Works/LDM Department will be continuing to implement Covid -19 measures at the M’Chigeeng First Nation Administration Office. The timeframe for limited access is indefinite due to the uncertainty relating to the Covid-19 pandemic. The OW/LDM Office will continue to be closed to the general public with direct contact, all communication is

by telephone, email, mail, etc.

The Ontario Works Department has been assisting with air conditioners for the vulnerable people in M’Chigeeng. We are continuing to assist with Covid-19 measures for food, sanitizing measures, shelter and any other measures that will assist. Ontario Works is moving forward with the Employment Experience (SATF) wage subsidy program for Ontario Works clien-tele, all Businesses will be required to implement Covid-19 measures to access the program for the safety of our partici-pants. The ASI is continuing to assist clients during Covid -19 measures, the caseworker is working with other agencies to

maintain services for clients dealing with addictions.

The LDM Program is moving forward with the Youth Employment Program (YEP) for the 2020 summer. All Businesses must follow Covid-19 measures for the safety of the students. Students will be required to take Covid-19 training for their own safety. All documentation has been revised to include Covid-19 pandemic measures. The LDM Program is further

examining new training methods such as online with our training institutions on how to proceed.

Miigwetch

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Capital Projects/Public Works

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Community

Garden Updates!

Our Health Centre Staff and Volunteers have been working hard tending to

each of our Community Gardens. The Gardens have been FLOURISHING!

We are hoping for a very good harvest. We would like to thank Storm

Beboning and Valerie Beaudin for spearheading the Garden initiative and

for making our Gardens the beautiful places they are now! We also would

like to thank all the volunteers that are assisting them in making sure the

garden is thriving thank you volunteers for all

your hard work!!

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The BI weekly Community Newsletter is produced by Colin Corbiere and Marlene

Debassige. For feedback, suggestions or inquiries, please email:

collinc@mchigeeng.ca. Miigwetch!

CONTACT TRACING!

Date Time Where did you go? Who did you see?

May 30th, 2020 6:35pm Paul’s

June 5th, 2020 4:00pm Parents House Supper w/ Mom

June 11th, 2020 9:00am Foodland Ran into Uncle Tom

In order to keep yourself and everyone around you safe we want you to start “Journaling” where you have

gone and who you have seen. This way you know and can remember where you have gone and if you have

come into contact with anyone who is vulnerable or showing symptoms. Here is an example below!

INFECTION PREVENTION

• The best way to protect yourself from a respiratory illness, including COVID-19, is to wash your hands and keep

your hands away from your face.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place,

or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

• If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth and cover your sneeze or cough in your elbow

• Wear a face covering when in public.

• Physical distancing: Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and others.

PLEASE REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE TO LEAVE; SHOPPING TIPS

HAVE A LIST

WEAR A MASK

SHOP WITH YOUR EYES, ONLY TOUCH WHAT YOU ARE BUYING

STAY 6FT AWAY FROM PEOPLE

DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE, PHONE

CARRY DISINFECTANT WIPES AND SANI-

TIZER

SANITIZE YOUR ITEMS WHEN YOU GET

HOME

SANITIzE AND TOUCH ITEMS (CAR,HOUSE)