After weeks of careful consideration and contemplation, we have made the precautionary decision to cancel the Piapot Traditional Powwow set to take place on August 14-16, 2020.
The health and well-being of our friends, families, volunteers, partners and the community we call home is always our highest priority. There are simply too many unknowns at the moment and the impacts of COVID-19 remain a risk for all large-scale community events in 2020.
On behalf of the Powwow Committee, leadership and the community of Piapot First Nation, we would like to thank you for your continued support in helping to make this event possible every year.
We look forward to the 2021 Piapot Traditional Powwow next summer.
The chosen committee will continue their fundraising efforts as soon as it is safe and reasonable to do so.
The following updates are meant for our Piapot residents and staff. The information presented are a result of the questions and concerns from our community. We would like to keep everyone updated on our response to-date. Ongoing planning will continue to take place and the situation and procedures will be assessed and revised as necessary.
ATTENTION: Because the COVID 19 virus is making its way slowly into Saskatchewan, and although we have no cases of any Piapot members or staff to have the COVID 19 virus, we feel it is in the best interests of the community health to suspend school and daycare until further notice. The Health Centre will remain in operation, Band Office, Security and Water Treatment Plant staff will remain in operation with a small number of staff for essential reasons. On reserve services such was water delivery, septic & garbage pick-up will remain in operation as usual.
Despite the Saskatchewan medical officer advising to not close schools at this time, we have decided to proceed with this as a precaution because First Nation communities are more vulnerable because of limited access to healthcare.
Due to how quickly COVID 19 moves through populations and how quickly it can change circumstances, we feel this is the best decision at the present time, and will continue to assess the situation on a daily basis. To keep yourself updated and informed, please continue to check the website and Piapot’s Facebook page for updates.
Health Services:
Rotating schedule will be implemented.
Implementation of pandemic plan including forming the pandemic planning committee. This includes meeting with partners (e.g. First Nations Inuit Health, ISC and Tribal Council) for pandemic planning consultation.
Assessing community buildings for infection control. Once assessment is complete, recommendations will be made.
Audit on immunization on HeadStart and Daycare.
Hand hygiene training for students and staff.
Process on entering homes. Health will use colored and laminated paper to distinguish members health status.
Chief Payepot School:
Closed until further notice.
Daycare & HeadStart
Closed until further notice.
Band Office Services:
Will remain in operation with a small number of staff for essential reasons.
Soap and hand sanitizers will be stocked up for facility use.
Band Office will be thoroughly sanitized on a frequent basis (offices and common areas).
To minimize risk to exposure, we will be limiting the amount of traffic to the band office. This will include introducing new security protocols (e.g. by appointment only, sign-in/out sheets, etc.).
Social Development – No walk-ins will be accepted; visits will be by appointment only.
Water Services:
Business as usual.
Water pail fill controls will be disinfected frequently.
Members will be required to sanitize their water jugs with bleach regularly.
Communication notices will be posted.
Back-up drivers available in the event drivers get sick.
Septic Services:
Business as usual.
Back-up drivers available in the event drivers get sick.
Housing Services:
Business as usual.
Communications on proper hygiene and sanitation will be delivered door-to-door.
Large Gatherings:
Effective immediately, large gatherings will be discontinued. This includes bingos, Cree classes and round dances, etc.
Care Packages:
Planning the availability of proper supplies for the most vulnerable (seniors and elders 65+) is pending due to the availability of supplies.
Loitering:
To minimize exposure, we are discouraging our members from loitering at community buildings and other public facilities.
Non-Essential Travel:
To minimize exposure, we are discouraging staff and members from unnecessary travel.
As of March 19th, Piapot has coordinated the following initiatives in relation to the COVID-19 crisis:
Financial Assistance
One-time financial assistance of $155 is available to all on and off-reserve Piapot band members (18 years & older).
Band members are required to apply online.
Elders will automatically be registered and are not required to apply. This goes for on and off-reserve members.
Home Learning Packages (for Chief Payepot School students and Daycare & HeadStart Children):
The teachers of the school provided home learning packages to all on-reserve students and Daycare & HeadStart students. Packages were picked up on March 19th.
Supplies included were educational materials, games, snacks, etc.
Lunch Program(for Chief Payepot School students and Daycare & HeadStart Children):
On Thursday, March 26 between 9am-12pm, Chief Payepot School have provided food packages for families who usually would been offered lunch while at Chief Payepot School and Daycare & HeadStart.
Please bring a reusable bag.
School Spirit Week
School continues to conduct social media interactions with students; for example: Spirit Week, Elder Prayers and Songs and is posted on the School Facebook page.
Elder Cleaning Care Packages (For Elders 65+):
Cleaning care packages were prepared and were delivered to all the elders on the reserve.
Elder Assistance (For Elders 65+):
Assistance is available for on and off-reserve elders.
This includes assistance with grocery shopping and prescription/medical supply pick-up, drinking water jug pick-up and delivery. Only essential errands will be considered.
If you require assistance, please call George (Delbert) Toto at (306) 530-7332. He will dispatch assistance out to the elders.
Curfew (For those 18 years and under):
A Notice of Curfew was implemented and began March 24th.
This is to decrease the amount of travel amongst residents in order to decrease community transmission of infection.
Limited Travel Advisory (For everyone):
Everyone is advised to limit their travel to and from the city in order to decrease community transmission of infection.
Please only consider travel for essential errands (groceries, medication, doctor appts.).
WTP change of hours:
Hours have been changed to 8:30 am – 4:30 pm every day of the week.
Water Treatment Plant Security – Implemented March 22, 2020
Security personnel (1) will be stationed at the entrance driveway of the WTP
Keep track of traffic and deter off-reserve residents from coming to get water
Purpose is to mitigate the risk/or spread of the virus from outside carriers and decrease community transmission of infection.
Border Patrol Task Plan
Border Patrol Task 1 was implemented beginning evening of March 26th.
Patrol to deny entry of non-residents & non-band members with the exception of essential staff and providers.
Monitor traffic flow & remind residents of risks, to mitigate the risk of infection spread, promote non-essential travel, promote social distancing and flatten the “curve”.
Elder 65+ Food Boxes for on-reserve
Provided by Health & School
Piapot First Nation Health:
Information packages were developed and provided to Elders 65+, this includes the color-coded signage to use to indicate communication and to be viewed externally.
Health is currently working on a system for chronically ill.
Dr. Robertson is offering a virtual clinic on Facebook and regular clinic will occur April 3
Communications
Continually provide communications
Video updates from Chief Jeremy Fourhorns, currently at 3 video updates.
Work from home plans for most staff
Staff have their equipment and necessary supplies to work from home
Virtual Video Conferencing set-up in place
On-going Medicals processed early and distributed.
Elder 65+ Utility Assistance was provided early and distributed.
Work & Planning is continuous.
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in this matter.
Piapot Band Staff will be helping eligible students (those who attended Payepot School between May 17, 1949 and November 1, 1997 AND experienced harm) with filling out and submitting claim forms for the Indian Day School Settlement. Click here to see Claim Form: https://indiandayschools.com/en/wp-content/uploads/indian-day-schools-claim-form-en.pdf
Off-Reserve Claim Form Assistance: Tuesday, January 21, 2020 Piapot Urban Office – 1661 Park St. 9am-3pm*
On-Reserve Claim Form Assistance: Wednesday, January 22, 2020 Piapot Band Office 9am-3pm*
*A member of Chief and Council will be available during those times to sign Sworn Declarations. Note – Sworn Declarations are only required if an applicant is missing ID or does not have supporting documentation.
What You Need to Bring:
Level 1 – This is the base level and requires no supporting documentation. However, you will need one piece of government-issued identification (Treaty Card, Driver’s License, SIN card, etc.). The ID is required to submit the claim. If you have no ID, a Sworn Declaration can be filled out and signed off by a member of Chief and Council who will be onsite during those times listed.
Level 2, 3, 4 & 5 – These levels require certain documentation, see below. If you have the appropriate documentation, Band Staff can help with submitting your claim.
If you are unable to obtain your required documentation for Levels 2, 3, 4 & 5, a Sworn Declaration can be filled out and signed off by a member of Chief and Council who will be onsite during those times listed.
Please Note – For those of you that have made arrangements with Allery Carrier to obtain your school records from the National Library and Archives Canada, the records have not yet been received. Communication will be made once these are received. If you want to make arrangements with Allery, he can be reached at (306) 781-4848 ext. 241 or by email at allery.carrier@piapotfirstnation.com
Applying on Behalf of Other People or Deceased Family Members:
If you are applying on behalf of a person or a deceased family member (who is deceased on or after July 31, 2007), you must either be a:
Power of Attorney
Executor/ Administrator of their estate; or
Appointed by a Court or by INAC
What You Need to Bring:
Powers of Attorney:
Court Order;
Documentation that shows you have Power of Attorney over the Claimants finances
Executors/ Administrators
Death Certificate and a Will
Order of Grant of Administration from a Court; or
Letters of Administration from INAC/CIRNAC
How to Become an Executor/Administrator of an Estate:
Step 1: Determine if there is a Will or an Executor/ Administrator already. Step 2: If there is no Will or Executor, obtain Death Certificate. Step 3: Determine if the deceased resided on or off-reserve.
If Class member resided on-reserve, contact ISC to be appointed as the Administrator/Executor. Contact Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) at 1-306-780-5392.
If class member resided off-reserve, contact the Province and apply for a Grant of Administration with the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee at 1-877-787-5424.
