An Indigenous group in Saskatchewan is criticizing the province’s management of checkpoints that are meant to protect northern communities experiencing outbreaks of COVID-19.
Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron says residents are calling with concerns they are being stopped from travelling south to get groceries.
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says travel within the northern region is allowed for residents, but that people should not travel for food or medical care.

As pandemic-related stress and anxiety continues to take its toll, some doctors say what’s needed is a system that will address the long-term psychological impact on Canadians.
An Angus Reid report published this week found half of all people surveyed said their mental health has worsened over the past month a half.
Eaton said it can take up to two years for someone who’s experienced a tragedy to resume their normal life, and bolstering existing community programs that provide cognitive behavioural therapy, for example, could be one way to meet the long-term need for services.

Federal officials say the next two weeks will be crucial in trying to determine the scope and severity of the spread of COVID-19 in First Nations communities.
Dr. Tom Wong, chief medical officer of public health at Indigenous Services Canada, says it’s too early to determine the severity of these outbreaks and whether the situation will worsen.
As of April 30, there were 131 active cases of COVID-19 in a total of 23 Indigenous communities across Canada.

The elected chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en Nations say they don’t support the proposed memorandum of understanding on rights and title reached with the federal and British Columbia governments.
Details of the memorandum haven’t been released but Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and the federal and provincial governments agree it commits them to implementing the rights and title of the First Nation.
Elected chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation say they will not sign the deal