The Chief and Council extend their heartfelt gratitude to everyone who continues to work so hard to keep our community safe during these trying times. We particularly want to recognize our Health Centre staff, and Emergency Services personnel who organized and conducted our vaccine clinics over the last few weeks. They have done a fantastic job!
We thank you for your work, your caring and your commitment to our First Nation. Chi-miigwetch!
The Nawash Health Centre, assisted by the Grey Bruce Public Health Unit, held Neyaashiinigmiing’s first large-scale COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Neyaashiinigmiing on February 24. The clinic, held at the Kikendaasogamig Elementary School provided 150 older Neyaashiinigmiing residents with their first dose of the 2-dose Pfizer vaccine. The clinic ran smoothly with minimal waiting and line-ups, as each vaccination was scheduled by appointment with the Health Centre.
IMPORTANT: The next clinic will be held on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, again at the Kikendaasogamig Elementary School. Any adult resident, over 16 years old, who has not yet received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, is asked to make an appointment to be vaccinated at the upcoming clinic. Call the Nawash Health Centre at 519-534-0373 during business hours to schedule your vaccination.
The goal of our vaccination program is to immunize 75% of the adult population of the community. At 75%-80% immunization, we will achieve what is called “herd immunity”, when enough people are immune to avoid a dangerous outbreak spreading through the community. Herd immunity is the first step towards reclaiming our normal lives back from the pandemic. Herd immunity will not only protect those who are vaccinated, but also those that can’t get a vaccine for other health reasons. For your safety, for the community’s safety, for those who are vulnerable, schedule your vaccination today.
We will hold additional clinics to administer the second dose of vaccine once everyone who is going to be vaccinated has received the first dose. The second dose can be administered anytime between 28 days and 2 months after the first dose. We will ensure that everybody who receives the first dose will also receive the second dose within the recommended window.
We are concerned for our off-reserve members as well. The Nawash Health Centre is in the process of organizing a vaccination clinic specifically for off-reserve members, to be held in Owen Sound. We hope to have more information to share about the off-reserve vaccination clinic in the next few days.
Even if you have received a first COVID-19 vaccination, you do not have full immunity to COVID-19. All community members are asked to continue to observe pandemic protocols until further notice.
Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, assisted by the Grey Bruce Public Health Unit, will be holding a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Kikendaasogamig Elementary School this Wednesday. This will be the first of several large clinics we are planning in the weeks ahead. We are extremely fortunate to be receiving enough vaccine to inoculate the entire community in a relatively short span of time.
Vaccinations are being given according to priorities set by the federal and provincial health ministries. COVID-19 is highly contagious and requires significant care for those that become seriously ill. The virus threatens to overwhelm regional health care providers if it spreads too quickly. The goal of the vaccination priority order is to reduce the spread of the virus and protect the health system so that we can care for those that do get ill.
At this time, the Nawash Health Centre is pleased to invite Neyaashiinigmiing residents, who are 50 years of age or older, to make an appointment to receive their first dose of the life-saving COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule your vaccination, please call the Health Centre during business hours at: 519-534-0373.
For your families, neighbours, and community, schedule your vaccination as soon as possible. Call today!
Clinic Details
Priority Group: 50+ years old
Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Time: 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Location: Kikendaasogamig Elementary School gymnasium
We are pleased to announce that two more COVID-19 vaccination clinics have been scheduled for Wednesday, February 24th and Wednesday, March 3rd, 9:30 AM -2:30 PM.
The clinics will be held in the Kikendaasogamig Elementary School gymnasium. Our own Nawash Health Centre staff will be administering the vaccine and managing the clinic with the assistance of a nursing team from the Grey Bruce Public Health Unit. Each clinic will provide the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to 150 residents. The first dose is followed up with a second “booster” shot 4 to 6 weeks later to gain the full level of immunity offered by the vaccine.
In order to distribute the limited vaccine supply most effectively, vaccinations will be administered by appointment ONLY. The Nawash Health Centre will be calling community residents to make vaccination appointments, starting with the oldest age groups first, then working down through younger age groups. Younger adults may necessarily have to wait through one or more clinics before they receive their first shot, as priority will be given to older and more vulnerable residents.
If you are a Neyaashiinigmiing resident, born before 1960, and haven’t received a phone call from the Nawash Health Centre by Monday, February 22, we may not have your contact information. Please call the Health Centre immediately at: 519-534-0373.
Residents will be pre-screened at the vaccination clinic when they arrive for their appointments, to ensure that the the COVID-19 vaccine is right for each person. Residents will be asked to provide their health card number. If you have any questions about vaccination, you can call the Nawash Health Centre and speak to one of our health staff, or bring your questions to your vaccination appointment to have them answered in person.
The COVID-19 vaccines have been tested and administered around the world. They have been proven to be safe, reliable and effective. Note that with multi-dose vaccines, receiving the first dose does not mean that you have full immunity. Immunity takes weeks to build up after receiving your first dose, and the full effectiveness of the vaccine is not realized until several weeks after receiving your second dose.
For the safety of everyone around you, and for your own health, continue to follow COVID-19 safety protocols even after being vaccinated:
These clinics will provide the first vaccine dose to 300 adults in the community. We will announce the dates of the second dose clinics for vaccinated residents in the weeks ahead.
Chief Greg Nadjiwon and Dr. Ian Arra speak in this video recorded at the second COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Neyaashiinigmiing. The Chief and Dr. Arra discuss the success of our COVID-19 mitigations and upcoming steps in our vaccination plan.
The return to normalcy for the community begins with the safe, proven effective COVID-19 vaccine. If you have an pre-existing health condition, please check with your health care provider or the Nawash Health Centre about whether the vaccine is right for you. We urge every adult 18 years and older, who is recommended to receive the vaccine, to be vaccinated at one of our upcoming clinics.
We will be announcing the dates and locations for our next clinics in the days ahead.
We have been advised by Grey Bruce Public Health that approximately 7000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer will be delivered to Grey Bruce in the second half of February. Two doses of the Pfizer vaccine are required for full immunity, several weeks apart. These large vaccine shipments will be used to give the initial vaccination to residents and caregivers in long-term care homes, hospital staff, retirement homes and staff, and to vaccinate all residents of Neyaashiinigmiing and Saugeen First Nation.
Indigenous communities have been identified as high-priority communities for vaccinations by all levels of government. We know that everyone wants the potentially life-saving vaccination. With the planned shipments of the Pfizer vaccine to Grey Bruce, we are hopeful that we can have the great majority of the community vaccinated in the coming weeks.
Our next COVID-19 vaccination clinic is tentatively scheduled for February 11, 2021. This date is based on the best available information, but it may change before the day. We will update the public as soon as we receive more or different advice. If you live in Neyaashiinigmiing, the Health Centre will invite you to receive the vaccine when it is your turn. We will advise Neyaashiinigmiing residents if an open vaccination clinic for all residents is planned.
While we wait for a vaccination, and even after we are vaccinated, until full immunity is realized, we must be patient and stay safe. All residents must continue to follow the COVID-19 safety protocols:
This is a reminder to all members that the HelloFresh food support program is still open. If you haven’t taken advantage of this great benefit, apply today!
The COVID-19 pandemic has lasted longer than most of us expected and the Council understands that the crisis has increased the stress on all households. Whether members are struggling due to lack of employment, worry about the health risks of simply shopping for groceries, or have mobility limitations that are made more challenging by lockdown orders, we know it can be hard to put good food on the table.
The Council increased the resources of the Nawash Food Bank significantly when the COVID-19 pandemic began, so that it could better serve the Neyaashiinigmiing community. We are continuing to support our local food bank, but also know that our members outside Neyaashiinigmiing are working hard to feed their families too. To help, the Council is offering off-reserve member households meal boxes from HelloFresh Canada, the meal subscription service. HelloFresh packages meal ingredients and recipes into one convenient box and delivers them directly to your home.
We also want to specifically support our youth, who have been so greatly impacted by the pandemic. The Chippewas of Nawash Board of Education, Kikendaasogamig Elementary School, Journey Together and Healthy Living programs are collaborating with the Nawash HelloFresh Program to give our youth and scholar members the simple joy of good, healthy family meals, wherever they live.
Applicants to the new Nawash HelloFresh Program must be a Chippewas of Nawash Band Member, living in Canada. Under the new rules, your household is eligible if:
-OR-
Visit the Nawash HelloFresh page for more information on the program and application instructions.
