The federal government is injecting $2.3 million into northwest Saskatchewan communities to help them deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The money was announced Wednesday by the Meadow Lake Tribal Council, Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations.

The funding is part of the North West Saskatchewan Pandemic Response Plan.

Partners say the money will go toward supporting security checkpoints, enhancing food security and homecare supplies.

A press release also says ISC will continue to work with the North West Communities Incident Command Centre to increase access to COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, infection prevention and other control measures.

Funding will also help northwest communities purchase personal protective equipment.

(PHOTO: Indigenous Services Canada Minister Marc Miller. File photo.)