At a news conference yesterday in Winnipeg, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Chief Angela Levasseur addressed the critical nursing shortage on the First Nation.

Levasseur said that since last September, NCN’s nursing station has been open for emergencies only.

She puts the blame on a lack of nurses, which is created by a lack of funding.

“Our average league have had two to three nurses to serve our community with such a large population and it results in our people, including infants and elders being denied critical medical care and being told to go to Thompson.”

Levasseur added that rampant poverty in the community of 35-hundred has lead to addictions and violence.

She said the nurses are often kept busy looking after victims of violence while those who are ill often cannot receive medical care.

Levasseur, along with Chief David Monias of Pimicikimak Cree Nation and MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee, are calling on the federal and provincial governments to increase health care funding to First Nations to address what they call “two-tier health care.”