With the first doses of COVID-19 vaccine arriving in Manitoba last week, MKO has not been informed on what the province’s plan is for distribution for its citizens.

This comes after MKO sent a letter to Premier Brian Pallister earlier this month to advise him that First Nations expertise should have a seat at the table when it comes to Manitoba’s Task Force on COVID-19.

Grand Chief Garrison Settee expressed in a statement that the province has yet to reach out to the organization with any information on who is making these decisions and how they’re being made.

Settee also shared that MKO spoke with Canada’s top physician Doctor Teresa Tam recently about the lack of involvement from Manitoba first Nations experts at the national level.

He says that since MKO citizens are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, it’s important for all political leaders to work together and maintain transparency as lives are at stake.