Saskatoon Tribal Council immunization clinic vaccinates Indigenous, non-Indigenous people

COVID-19 doesn’t see colour.

That was just one of the messages from Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) Tribal Chief Mark Arcand on Tuesday. His STC has facilitated a vaccine clinic of its own, located at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon.

Instead of pucks and ice on the rink surface, the facility has been transformed to meet the needs of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals looking for a COVID-19 vaccine.

Arcand said the partnership spans five organizations, which include Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs, Prince Albert Grand Council, the STC, the Saskatchewan Health Authority and Indigenous Services Canada.

“COVID-19 doesn’t know an age, a race, a colour. It affects everybody. So we have to do our part as a First Nations organization to be part of the solution,” he said.

“We’ve been very inclusive and very respectful of non-Indigenous people and making sure that we all get vaccinated and we’re doing our part.”

The facility opened for the STC on April 6. It is open to the general public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, but is by appointment only.

The doses offered are Pfizer-BioNTech for the month of April.

Arcand said there has been some hesitancy, but the STC does not force anyone to be vaccinated. A survey is also done following the vaccinations, which has brought back great reviews thus far, according to Arcand.

“At the end of the day, we’ve done things above and beyond a normal SHA clinic. So we have evaluations in regards to (a) number of questions. People have the option to fill them all,” he said.

“It’s been a win-win, all across the board.”

Those not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine at this time are still free to pre-register with the clinic, which is explained by Arcand.

“It doesn’t give you an opportunity to get in (early), or break the rules … We are following all the SHA rules and regulations,” he said.

“When your age group comes up, we’ll be calling you to book that appointment. It may mean our clinic has more room than the normal SHA clinic at Prairieland or Merlis Belsher, and I think that’s a good thing … If there’s any people that have cancellations, or didn’t show up for an appointment, we have a standby list and call people on an instant.”

Not only is it such an honour to work with and for the @StoonTribalCncl at their #COVID19 #Indigenous Immunization Centre, it was so special to be the person to vaccinate Tribal Chief Mark Arcand.

The smudge, people, & thoughtful take-home care packages created a sense of home. pic.twitter.com/WNp40epSGQ

— Jaris Swidrovich (@JarisSwidrovich) April 9, 2021

Arcand also rolled up his own sleeve at the clinic. He said he is considered a frontline worker with his work at the facility, and, on Friday, a lone extra dose was there.

“I didn’t want to break the rules, but being in this position, it was granted and so I supported that,” he said.

“I recommend it to everybody. I wasn’t nervous, it was good … At the end of the day, all we can be is positive role models and making sure we’re giving the right message.”

He said he was very proud to receive his first dose and had zero side effects.

“It’s about working together … We all have to do our part,” he said. “We are making a difference, and it’s really sustainable.

“I feel proud that we’re an Indigenous organization that’s producing some good, quality work here in the city of Saskatoon … People are understanding, and moving forward in a positive direction.”

The STC also was able to vaccinate multiple frontline police officers on the first day the clinic opened, April 6.

Arcand said there was around a dozen available, extra doses that night, so he made a call.

“I phoned Chief Cooper and said, ‘Hey, we have an opportunity here,’ and I said, ‘Can you send 10 people over?’ And he did,” Arcand said.

“(They’re) frontline workers. They’re going through some tough things. There’s people not treating them with respect … At the end of the day, we’re trying to support everybody.

“We didn’t want to waste doses and I’m proud to say, we haven’t wasted a dose yet.”