Stay home!

Saugeen First Nation (SON) is taking proactive steps to protect the people of its community. Exits into leased land properties have been blocked off and cottagers have been denied access during this time of COVID-19. The only exceptions are for those who have no other Canadian home address.

Saugeen First Nation (the Chippewas of Saugeen) is located adjacent to Southampton (Saugeen Shores) and has a governing body of nine Councilors and Chief. There are approximately 800 who live on reserve and more than 1,000 who live off reserve.

The Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory (SON) is the name applied to the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and Saugeen First Nation together as a collective. SON are Ojibway peoples located on the eastern shores of Lake Huron and on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario.

Nawash at Cape Croker made the decision to close its lands off to visitors in late March.

A band councilor, who did not want his name used, said that “… we are trying to do our part to keep this virus out of our community because it could be devastating to our people.” The Band office will also now be closed until May 4th.

Meantime, like many smaller communities along Lake Huron in the Bruce area, nearby Sauble Beach is feeling the impact of COVID-19. The streets are quiet and the businesses are shuttered. While, for many, May 24th weekend is the major summer season opening of the town, Easter weekend can also be busy, but not so this year.

Signage everywhere attests to the closures, including one that asks cottagers to “pick a home and stay there”. In a recent interview, Mayor Janice Jackson urged cottagers not to travel to Sauble but, if they do, then plan on staying and not travel back and forth to their urban homes. It’s a stand being taken by many rural community mayors in the area.

Sauble Beach downtown core deserted

With thanks to the Saugeen Times