White Bear resort off limits to some cottage owners until June

The Saskatchewan government doesn’t want people travelling to cabins to practise physical distancing during COVID-19 and neither does the White Bear First Nation.

The First Nation east of Weyburn has restricted access to the lake resort until May 30.

On March 31, chief and council passed a resolution to limit access to the lake resort — which sits on the reserve — to permanent residents only. Non-year-round residents or seasonal cottage owners are not allowed in during this period.

“We’ve instructed our lake resort manager to essentially set up screening positions. So we have security personnel stationed at those points,” said Chief Nathan Pasap, who added the First Nation has staff working 24/7 enforcing the measure.

“Obviously we had snowbirds come back from warmer places. If they come back, they have to notify us and then they have to self-quarantine for 14 days.”

The lake resort can be accessed between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. only, and a safety curfew is in effect at night. The campground is also closed until the end of May.

The measures were taken to reduce traffic to prevent the reserve from potential exposure to the coronavirus. That’s something Pasap said is a concern for many First Nations communities.

“It’s a scary thought,” he said. “We don’t have the same medical services that an urban centre has.

“The only way this virus spreads is through us. By limiting (exposure), we limit the ability for this virus to spread.”

The White Bear Cottage Owners Association said in a Facebook message that reaction online has been positive, but noted it has not held a meeting with owners since the fall.

“We’ve had a little bit of backlash, but overall everyone has been pretty good,” said Pasap.

Pasap said the measure would be extended if needed.