Response

Greetings Gambler First Nation Members:

We have recently received some questions from certain members on

COVID-19 relief. The Indigenous Community Support Fund (ICSF) was a

component of Canada's response to COVID-19, designed to ensure that all

Indigenous governments were/are/will be properly supported through this

difficult time.

Gambler First Nation has, and will continue to monitor the development

of the situation on our First Nation and adjust our responses as needed;

however, the funding currently provided to support Gambler First

Nation's government is being budgeted for measures such as:

     * Supporting our Elders;

   * Combatting Food insecurity;

   * Education and other support for children; and

   * Financial assistance and emergency response services.

To date we have provided hampers, advances in Social and ordering much

needed supplies to sustain our community should the COVID-19 crisis

continue.

Some people have asked how much funding Gambler First Nation has

received, where the money is going, who received money already and

thinking whatever money comes to the First Nation should end up in their

pockets. First Nation funding is distributed to communities and

programs which is all based on the number of members who live ON/IN the

community.

These dollars are not for per capita distribution! They are meant to

assist Gambler First Nation to prepare for a potential outbreak of the

pandemic and take necessary steps to ensure we can assist our members

who become ill with COVID-19. These funds are currently budgeted to be

used to purchase supplies of various nature such as: bulk food should

the pandemic continue for an extended period of time, hand sanitizer,

masks, isolation facility should someone need to be isolated.

The responsibility of Chief and Council is to prepare for what could

happen not just to give everyone pocket money. The world, not just

Gambler First Nation, is in crisis preparation and those members who

wish to better understand the use of these funds, will, as always, have

the opportunity to review our annually audited financial statements.

Those Gambler First Nation members who live off reserve are eligible for

help in their communities and can apply for assistance from the Canada

Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). For more information on whether you

qualify for the program, please visit the Government of Canada website

at: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html

[1]

As a First Nation we have mandates to follow just as the CERB indicated

above which the government has placed on non-first nation communities.

We encourage all members to stay home and practice social distancing, we

must also protect those in the front lines that are volunteering to

serve our communities as essential workers. Let's all work together in

helping our community stay safe.

Links:

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[1] https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html