THUNDER BAY — Some more help is on its way to Bearskin Lake First Nation, a remote Northwestern Ontario community that's struggled to cope with COVID-19 since it began spreading rapidly at the end of December.
Close to half its 480 on-reserve members have tested positive for the virus at various times.
According to a spokesperson, the active case count had fallen to 12 on Wednesday, involving seven households.
The Anglican Church of Canada has now purchased $10,000 worth of food for delivery to Bearskin Lake on the ice road network.
The food will be distributed to residents free of charge.
"They've been having a really hard time. I'm so thankful the Anglican Church has been able to assist them. This has all happened very quickly," said Archdeacon Deborah Kraft of the church's Thunder Bay - North Shore Deanery.
The money comes from the church's World Relief and Development Fund.
Bearskin Lake's leadership and a First Nation parishioner at St. Paul's Anglican Church provided a list of required food items, "so we know this is food that they need and that they want," Kraft said.
"It means a lot...our people are thankful," said Bearskin Lake band member Charles Fox on behalf of the chief and council.
The truck that brings the food will also carry $5,000 worth of building supplies that were donated to the community by Home Depot.
Fox expressed the First Nation's gratitude to the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, other non-governmental organizations, and neighbouring First Nations that delivered firewood and other supplies by snowmobile to Bearskin Lake.
"The non-governmental organizations that I'm referring to, they're the ones that have responded tremendously in terms of the crisis," he said.
According to Kraft, the Anglican Church is also purchasing and delivering $5,000 worth of personal protective equipment to Kingfisher Lake First Nation.
