Hello my name is Ambrose Williams and I am from the Gitxsan nation. I have been a community organizer in Vancouver. I have worked with many organizations and grassroots groups, advocating for off reserve first nations over the years. My focus is turned to my home reservations in the north as the Covid 19. We are planning for minimal government intervention at this point. Our community is very isolated
I am looking to build a community action group that can work with on reserve leadership to educate and advocate around the Covid-19 virus.
The
Our communities are spread out over a large area. Due to over crowding with many generations living under the same roof. Many community members living well under the poverty line and people who work out in camps. Your donations will Kickstart an awareness campaign that blindsided us like the rest of the world.
The first steps would be to compile up to date medical reccomendations from FNHA, WHO and Northern Health. This could be distributed on a door to door or through social media channels.
Build sanitizer kits with soap, bleach, no touch thermometers, spray bottles and tool kit on how to self monitor for symptoms within their households.
Work with local leadership to identify potential elders that could be affected the worst and work with the families on how to prevent the spread.
Identify potential isolation zones within the community and work on a line of resupplying food, water and medical supplies.
These are only the first steps that would be taken. There is a measured approach being made on a daily basis by a group of health professionals,community leaders, and hereditary leaders.
My plan is to update daily on the progress of our outreach and communication. We are planning for minimal government intermination at this point. There was 100 million alloted for emergency preparedness but that amounts to less than 20k per village.
Please donate what you can and I will update as needed.
We have a community meeting planned for this evening
and will start this campaign off in a good way.
SIMI'MGITM Gitwangak (Gitwangak Hereditary Chiefs)
250 849 5016
PO Box 516
Gitwangak
V0J 2A0
