Member of Squamish Nation questions COVID-19 education from council

WEST VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – At least one member of the Squamish Nation has doubts about how the leadership is handling a COVID-19 outbreak in that community.

‘Tanya,’ who prefers we not use her last name, tells NEWS 1130 she believes there has been a lack of consistent health protocols for all members.

“Lack of information and education and financial help. My concern is for the rest of the people. There’s supposed to be self-isolating. Nobody’s monitoring and they’re out in a public.”

She adds several businesses have remained open after members have tested positive.

“A set of rules for all members, guidelines, health education, and financial help that the government handed over — why aren’t the members seeing it?”

The nation posted an alert Friday saying multiple people are infected with the virus — all linked to a case on the Capilano Reserve in West Vancouver.

Offices in the nation will be closed for two weeks because some employees have been in contacted with the positive cases, and now have to self-isolate.

The warning told members to keep social bubbles small, to stay home as much as possible, and to maintain physical distance.

RELATED: COVID-19 cases confirmed, offices closed in Squamish Nation

Tanya says she was only informed about the situation because she came across an update on the news.

“It’s almost prejudiced among our own people,” she says. “The people that are employed by the reserve are getting the help and the education, but we have received none of that. They sent out a newsletter and they sent out a cheque, automatically deposited $318 and that was the extent of the coronavirus. Now that it is directly affecting our nation where do we turn to?”

NEWS 1130 has reached out to the nation for comment.

Meanwhile, Tanya says she’s planning a socially distant rally to draw attention to the situation as no one in council has returned her calls.

– With files from Kareem Gouda 

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