A Canadian flag patch is shown on a soldier's shoulder in Trenton, Ont., on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. The Canadian Armed Forces has issued new orders to military personnel as senior commanders seek to address allegations of having been soft on hate in the ranks. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg)

By Brent Bosker

Canadian Rangers deployed to northern First Nation for COVID relief

Dec 1, 2020 | 11:49 AM

Canadian Rangers are lending a hand with COVID-19 relief efforts in northern Saskatchewan.

About 20 men and women from the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (4 CRPG) have been deployed to the Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation.

For the next 30 days, the Rangers will deliver care packages of food and firewood, and will help communicate local and provincial health orders.

Chief Bart Tsannie says having the Rangers on the ground is another layer of support for the community of 1,500 residents.

“A lot of people utilize wood here in the winter,” Tsannie said. “(The Rangers will provide assistance) for elders and delivering stuff — any way they can help out.”

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As of Sunday, the far northeast region of Saskatchewan — the area in which Hatchet Lake is located — has 141 active cases of the virus. Tsannie credits the efforts of frontline workers for keeping the virus out of his community since the pandemic began.

“There’s no trace at all,” he said. “We have people (who are) very committed working for us. We have two command centre co-ordinators that are overseeing stuff since Day 1 in March.

“(The deployment of the Rangers) is just a precaution that we need extra help, just in case there’s outbreak in the community.”

The need for assistance will be reassessed after 30 days.

Hatchet Lake is located approximately 800 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.