b'also see other pandemics happening,While dealing with the pandemicWhile Fort William has had zero posi-like an addictions pandemic. You see thehasnt been easy for Fort Williams,tive cases, other First Nations, unfortu-real health of our community becausePelletier says, We were reallynately, found themselves with COVID-19 when you shut down the community,successful, and the zero cases in thecase clusters. At the time of writing, Six the people who are still wanting to movecommunity is a real shining point.Nations of the Grand River has reported about are the people with addictions,Chief Collins wants to commendthe highest case count among First says Pelletier.all of the staff for their hard workNations in Ontario with 16 cases, 15 of This addictions pandemic is some- and determination to ensure thatwhich have recovered. thing that has been an ongoing discus- they provided the community withSix Nations of the Grand River has sion with the Chief and Council. Theadequate resources. Additionally,the largest First Nations population health and safety of the community isChief Collins would also like to thankin Canada, with 12,000 community paramount, and you see other thingsall of the industries that donated tomembers living on-reserve and a total that came out, not just COVID-19. Anour community to ensure that wepopulation of approximately 28,000. It addictions working group came out ofhad adequate supplies. Our staff andis also the only First Nation where all this, and weve been meeting bi-weeklyindustries worked well to make sure weSix Nations from the Haudenosaunee to deal with the addictions pandemic,stayed safe in our community. Confederacy live in one territory.adds Pelletier.Fort William did not officially declare a state of emergency but wentBECOME THE ENTREPRENEUR with the provinces state of emergency when called. They developed a planYOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS with stages of reopening that coincided with the provinces phase system andFINANCING. MENTORING. RESOURCES. tried to follow the provinces recom-mendations as much as possible. At the time of writing, their reopening plan focuses on getting employees back to the office. Businesses are now open to the public and arenas have opened under strict guidelines. Fort William has been following the directives from the Thunder Bay District Health unit, in addition to the provincial guidelines. futurpreneur.ca/COODevon Fiddler-SheNativeELGIN BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTRE 300 S. Edgeware Road,St. Thomas, ON N5P 4L1KEVIN JACKSON, General ManagerPhone: 519-633-7597ext. 337|www.elgincfdc.caI ssue1 2020C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne l 25'