WIIKWEMKOONG, MANITOULIN ISLAND (April 7, 2020) – On Monday, April 6, 2020 Ogimaa Duke Peltier and Council declared a State of Emergency for Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.
Under the State of Emergency, a Travel Order was also passed restricting all non-essential travel by Wiikwemkoong Anishinabek and residents coming in and out of the community. All non-residents who are not providing essential services will also be banned from entering Wiikwemkoong Unceded.
In a statement today, Ogimaa Duke Peltier, remarked: “After reviewing the seriousness of the current state of affairs concerning the Covid-19 virus, Council decided unanimously to restrict access in order to protect our community from the Pandemic and its dire consequences. We must protect our elders, knowledge and language keepers, children and families and take the necessary measures to ensure their safety. We ask all residents to comply with the Order and as much as possible to please stay home. Our future depends on this.”
The Travel Order will go into effect and will be enforced by the Wiikwemkoong Tribal Police Services with the assistance of HEAT security officers at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2020.
The restricted checkpoint will be at Wiikwemkoong Way as you come in from Cardwell Street, Manitowaning, Manitoulin Island.
