The Haisla Nation in British Columbia is donating $300,000 to the Kitimat General Hospital Foundation to help in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hospital serves the communities of Kitimat and Kitamaat Village.
Cynthia Medeiros, office coordinator for the foundation, said she was surprised by news of the donation.
“It means so much for the foundation but especially for the community of Kitimat and the Kitamaat Village as well,” said Medeiros. “This extremely generation donation from the Haisla Nation is an example of how committed they are to the health and well-being of this community.”
The Haisla Nation has been proactive in taking measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 into their community.
According to Chief Councillor Crystal Smith, they are taking their lead from health professionals.
“We have been doing our background work and talking to professionals around the province for ways to reduce the impacts and reduce the spread in a manner that protects our people, ” said Smith.
Smith says the donation will help the community keep their culture.
“Most First Nations’ communities we are in a space where we are losing our fluent speakers at a high rate, in terms of protection of our cultural and language holders, we felt it necessary we are doing our part as a nation with the resources that we have,” said Smith.
