Wikwemikong Community Drive-By for Elders and essential workers

On April 9, 2020, Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, under the authority of chief and council,  went into lock-down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  A security checkpoint was set up on the road coming into the reserve, filtering the traffic flowing in and out of the community, and facilities such as the Wikwemikong Nursing Home went under strict lock-down orders, preventing all but the essential workers from entering the building.  Unfortunately, this has been keeping nursing home residents from being able to visit their family and loved ones during this time.  

In response to this, on Friday April 17, 2020, Wikwemikong rallied together for a "community drive-by" to show their support and love to emergency workers and elders who have been in quarantine ever since.  Residents decorated their vehicles with banners and slogans of encouragement, as they paraded past the Wikwemikong Nursing Home, honking their horns and waving as residents cheerfully waved and cheered back. 

Cheryl Osawabine-Peltier and Shereen Khan, administrators at the Wiky Nursing Home, explained how thankful they all are for this show of support and love, and how Chief and Council made the right decision in locking down the reserve and nursing home when they did.  Protecting the vulnerable has been a top priority, especially our elders, but the community can rest assured that they are being well taken care of.  Being locked in won't keep these elders down!