The 35th Annual Northern Bands Hockey Tournament has been cancelled due to concerns over the Coronavirus.
It was scheduled for next week in the City of Dryden.
The announcement was made last night on the Tournament Facebook page after days of talks between event organizers and participating First Nations communities.
Organizers say it wasn’t an easy decision but after talking with Chiefs and Elders they decided to make the move.
The move follows a call by Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler and Grand Council Treaty #3 Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh to postpone the tournament which was expected to bring more than 40 teams to the community.
Fiddler says “The threat posed by COVID-19 is causing great concern in our First Nations and there is a growing fear of sending community members to mass gatherings.”
He adds “Our priority is the health and well-being of our members.”
Kavanaugh says “The risks associated with large gatherings like Northern Bands leading to the transmission of infectious diseases to the most remote and vulnerable communities of our regions is simply too great”.
He adds “We acknowledge all of the hard work of the organizers and all of the players’ training and preparation, however the risk of COVID-19 requires all of us to exercise caution and make difficult decisions in the best interests of our most vulnerable citizens.”
Both leaders note prior to the COVID-19 pandemic declaration by the World Health Organization, First Nations from NAN and Grand Council Treaty #3 have taken precautionary measures by not attending mass gatherings.
They are also calling for the postponement of the Little Native Hockey League Hockey Tournament scheduled to start March 15th in Nipissing First Nation.
That event is scheduled to attract some 228 teams from across Canada.
