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More measures at TFN to protect members

The Tsawwassen First Nation is implementing additional safety measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
TFN closures
The TFN states, ‘As indigenous populations have been disproportionately harmed by pandemics, both recent and historical, it is the intention of Executive Council to ensure no Members are unnecessarily put at risk.’

The Tsawwassen First Nation is implementing additional safety measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a news release, the First Nation notes despite measures already implemented under the Tsawwassen First Nation COVID-19 Safety Plan, the Tsawwassen Drive area continued to be a place of community congregation where safe physical distancing measures were not being observed.

“Despite orders from the provincial health officer Bonnie Henry, along with Premier John Horgan, for people to stay home and ‘shelter in place’, individuals continue to come onto Tsawwassen Lands for non-essential travel. In order to immediately curtail this risk, and in coordination with our emergency services partners and other essential services, TFN is in the process of restricting traffic flow at crucial points of access to the TFN Member Housing Area.”

The First Nation is asking residents to only go out of their homes for essentials like food and medical supplies.

The First Nation’s executive council notes the TFN website and social media will be updated as measures are implemented.

The executive council had already enacted a safety plan for roads and pedestrian access which granted people the right-of-way to occupy roadways on Tsawwassen Lands.

Pedestrians were given priority access to ensure they were able to practice safe social and physical distancing.

Tsawwassen Lands were only open for local traffic only.

All residents who live outside the TFN Member Community Housing Area were also requested not to access that area which extends largely along the waterfront corridor of Tsawwassen Drive.

The TFN also notes indigenous communities have disproportionately been impacted in previous historical pandemics.