ABOVE: Grand Chief Garrison Settee (center) is pictured with Dr. Brent Roussin (left) and Dr. Joss Reimer (right). Dr. Reimer provided both Grand Chief Settee and Dr. Roussin with the first dose of their COVID-19 vaccines on Friday, March 19, 2021.
For immediate release
March 19, 2021
Treaty Five Territory, Thompson, MB – Today Grand Chief Garrison Settee of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Inc. received his vaccine alongside Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s Chief Provincial Public Health Officer. The first dose of the Astra Zeneca/COVIDshield vaccine was administered by Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead for Manitoba’s Vaccine Implementation Task Force.
Grand Chief Garrison Settee states:
“I am extremely pleased to have received my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine today. I have been waiting for my turn to receive the vaccine and now that the time has arrived, I thank both Dr. Joss Reimer and Dr. Brent Roussin for the work they have been doing to help the Province of Manitoba respond to the pandemic. I was pleased to receive my vaccine alongside Dr. Roussin this morning in Winnipeg.
The Province of Manitoba has been working extremely closely with representatives from MKO, who are part of Manitoba’s Vaccine Implementation Task Force. Yesterday I met with Manitoba’s Minister of Health and Seniors Care, Heather Stefanson, who agreed that it’s important for us to continue meeting and working together. The ongoing distribution and prioritization of COVID-19 vaccines to First Nations throughout the province is a clear demonstration of success for MKO’s relationship with the province.
I chose to receive my COVID-19 vaccine because I want to help protect both myself as well as my loved ones and colleagues. I want to protect the wider community. If many of us choose to take the vaccine, the virus will have less paces where it can travel and thrive. This means the virus will spread less easily.
Another reason I chose to get the COVID-19 vaccine is because I know many of us have lost loved ones due to complications from COVID-19.
We have lived with the pandemic for more than one year now. Getting my vaccine provides me with a sense of hope that soon we will be able to move on and work towards a new normal where we can resume some of the activities we have been missing over the last year. I look forward to seeing all MKO citizens ages 18 plus have the opportunity to get vaccinated in the near future.
Everyone who is 18 and older and living in an MKO First Nation will soon get the opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. I encourage you to learn as much as you can about it. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions. Let’s work together to protect our communities.”
