The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) is looking to help more people get vaccinated.

To do this the First Nation owned gaming authority is hosting pop up vaccine clinics at their casinos in North Battleford, Yorkton and LIoydminster Friday.

Alanna Adamko, director of communications and media relations for SIGA said helping people get vaccinated is something they want to be a part of.

“SIGA senior management strongly believe in COVID vaccination and strive to provide a healthy safe environment for our patrons and staff,” she said.

To put on the vaccine clinics Adamko explained SIGA has teamed up with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and Battlefords Agency Tribal Council to do the clinic at the Gold Horse. The clinic at the Painted Hand is a collaboration involving SIGA and the SHA. She explained the three locations were picked due to the availability of vaccines in those areas.

Adamko added with provincial regulations now requiring people to be fully vaccinated to enter a casino, SIGA wanted to help make inoculations more accessible.

“That in part I guess triggered us to try to host a few community clinics at our casinos to help encourage people to get vaccinated and provide more ease of access for both our patrons and staff,” she said.

The Friday pop up clinics are not the first time the gaming authority has hosted vaccine clinics at one of their properties. Adamko said this past summer the Dakota Dunes Casino near Saskatoon hosted a clinic, which she said were well received by the community.

“Dakota Dunes Casino has had some recent clinics in the past, we’ve previously partnered with Whitecap Health Centre operating clinics in the summer,” she said.

Looking into the future Adamko said they are looking to put more clinics on at some of their other properties including the Northern Lights Casino in Prince Albert and the Living Sky Casino in Swift Current.

“This (today) will be the beginning of several pop up clinics in several communities,” she said.

The pop up clinic at all three locations were set to open 10 a.m. this morning and go until 4 p.m. at the Gold Eagle and Gold Horse. The Painted Hand clinic is set to go until 3:30 p.m. The Gold Horse Casino is also set to host another clinic later this month on October 29.

(File Photo)