The Canadian Rangers are in the Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation assisting local COVID-19 relief efforts.
Federal Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan, said Thursday that the Northern Sask. community requested assistance from the military.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said in a tweet that he approved the deployment.
According to Operation LASER, the Armed Forces response to a worldwide pandemic, approximately 20 Canadian Rangers from the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (4 CRPG) were sent to the First Nation Saturday to “support to the local community in the production and distribution of real-life-support requirements such as food, firewood and care packages,” stated Operation LASER.
“And with the dissemination of information from community, provincial, and federal entities related to personal protective health measures and layered risk mitigation strategies for the community.”
In an email to MBC News, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense said military assistance has been requested for 30 days. The spokesperson added the deployment will be reassessed after the 30 days has passed.
This is not the first time the Canadian Rangers have been deployed to Saskatchewan’s north to assist in COVID-19. In April, patrols were dispatched to Wollaston Lake, Fond-du-Lac and Île-à-la-Crosse.
As of Sunday, the Far North has 336 active COVID-19 cases.