A multi-million dollar announcement for COVID-19 support and outreach Friday morning is being supported by Indigenous leaders.

Standing in Winnipeg in Thunderbird House, a large group of leaders announce further expansions to urban Indigenous-led vaccine clinics and outreach as part of a $2,795,000 commitment from the Government of Manitoba.

The nearly $2.8 million announcement includes funds for:

  • $2.1 million to extend immunization clinics at the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre and Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre locations in Winnipeg until December 2021
  • nearly $250,000 for these organizations to operate a mobile immunization clinic over the next several months, which will provide vaccines to people in Winnipeg’s downtown and Point Douglas neighbourhoods including door-to-door outreach
  • $347,000 to extend immunization clinics at Portage la Prairie Renewal Corporation in Portage la Prairie, Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre in Thompson and Brandon Friendship Centre in Brandon until December 2021
  • $65,000 to support a new staff position at Ongomiizwin Health Services who will act as a liaison between the Vaccine Implementation Task Force, Indigenous governance organizations and vaccine service providers to help ensure co-ordinated and strategic outreach
  • $33,000 to support the immunization clinics held earlier this year by the Manitoba Inuit Association

Premier Kelvin Goertzen, Dr. Marcia Anderson, Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon, Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations Minister Alan Lagimodiere, Mayor Brian Bowman, and a very long list of others stood in the room, unified around the shared importance of Friday's announcement.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Vice-Chief David Monias says vaccines have saved lives in his community.

"A few months ago I said COVID does not discriminate. I am here to tell you I learned a lot from society; it does discriminate. It discriminates against the weak, against the people who have compromised immune systems, it discriminates against people who are not vaccinated," Monias says.

He says vaccination is a responsibility to families and the nation, seeing cases go down with vaccinations. Monias is asking for unity.

Both Grand Chief Arlen Duma and Monias note the significance of standing in the same room for the announcement. 

Dumas says in the press conference that people put "their best forward" to help during the pandemic. He says he heard from other Indigenous leaders across Canada that they were following the lead of Manitoba as they created their COVID-19 response plans.

"It is another example of if you follow First Nations acumen, First Nations expertise, and First Nations guidance everybody does better," Dumas says.

He says the collective effort on Mayor Brian Bowman and the province to help First Nations has saved countless lives, saying he can be counted on to return the favour.

Damon Johnston, the president and CEO of the Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg says there needs to be a commitment to address homelessness in Winnipeg as they all stand inside of Thunderbird, where many people who experience this visit each day. Monias was in Winnipeg for today's announcement, but he was also searching the streets of Winnipeg searching for a missing woman from his community, 22-year-old Jessie Alexia McKay.