Skip to Main content

16.87°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Jan 12, 2021 10:32 PM -

B.C. First Nation faces COVID-19 outbreak; community leaders issue racism warnings

Share On

b-c-first-nation-faces-covid-19-outbreak-community-leaders-issue-racism-warnings

Specimens to be tested for COVID-19 are seen at LifeLabs after being logged upon receipt at the company's lab, in Surrey, B.C., on March 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

A First Nations community on Vancouver Island is fighting to contain a COVID-19 outbreak while facing intolerance from some members of the surrounding community.

Cowichan Tribes general manager Derek Thompson says some members of his Duncan-area First Nation have faced discrimination in the community since COVID-19 cases were first reported this month.

Thompson says there were no COVID-19 cases among their members for the first 10 months of the pandemic, but that has increased to 73 people since Jan. 1.

The First Nation has issued a stay-at-home order for tribal members until Jan. 22 in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Duncan-area politicians, including Green Leader Sonia Furstenau and North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring, have denounced what they say are recent disappointing and racist behaviours of some people toward the Cowichan Tribes.

The First Nation is the largest single band in B.C. with about 4,900 members and Thompson says it will begin administering 600 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to elders on Wednesday.

Latest news

Sandy Dosanjh Withdraws as Surrey Council Candidate

The Conservative Party of Surrey has confirmed that Sandy Dosanjh has withdrawn her candidacy for the upcoming Surrey city council elections. The decision comes after her husband, Vancouver Police Constable Kalwinder Dosanjh, was named in fraud cases involving approximately $3 million. Sandy Dosanjh was recently introduced as a star candidate on the team led by Surrey mayoral candidate Honveer Singh Randhawa. However, she has now stepped aside, citing a family legal crisis. The Conservative Party of Surrey is campaigning on promises to lower taxes, improve public safety and put families first.

B.C. Unemployment Rate Rises to 6.5% as Province Loses 5,500 Jobs in August

British Columbia’s unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points to 6.5% in August, while the province recorded a net loss of about 5,500 jobs, according to Statistics Canada. The province lost approximately 26,000 full-time jobs during the month. However, this was partly offset by an increase of about 20,600 part-time positions, bringing the overall net job loss to roughly 5,500. B.C. Conservatives blamed the job losses directly on the NDP government, saying the province continues to lose full-time jobs and accusing the government of failing to protect traditional industries such as fores

dr-gurpreet-kaur-sends-legal-notices-to-sukhpal-khaira-and-bikram-majithia

IndiaSep 04, 2026

Dr. Gurpreet Kaur Sends Legal Notices to Sukhpal Khaira and Bikram Majithia

Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Majithia have been served legal notices by Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, wife of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. In the notice, Dr. Gurpreet Kaur alleged that Khaira had published and circulated allegedly false, defamatory and objectionable content, including graphic posters and videos related to her, across social media platforms. Khaira has been given 24 hours to remove and withdraw the alleged content from his social media accounts. The notice also demands that he refrain from creating or circulating similar material i

vancouver-police-officer-kal-dosanjh-suspended-after-fraud-theft-charges

Vancouver Police Officer Kal Dosanjh Suspended After Fraud, Theft Charges

Vancouver Police Officer Kal Dosanjh has been suspended with immediate effect after being charged with multiple counts of fraud and theft. Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai announced the suspension during a news conference on Friday. He said the 50-year-old officer has been charged with four counts each of fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000, along with one count of breach of trust. Rai said the investigation began in December 2023. So far, 19 victims have come forward, although police believe there may be additional victims. A 51-year-old Surrey man, Sarabjit Singh Gill, has also been char

fourth-accused-in-ryan-nagy-murder-case-sentenced-to-7-years-in-prison

Fourth Accused in Ryan Nagy Murder Case Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison

A 23-year-old woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison for her role in the 2023 killing of 19-year-old Ryan Nagy during a home invasion in Burnaby, B.C. Rhoda Diabikulu, the fourth and final accused in the case, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in March. She was sentenced Tuesday and also received a lifetime ban on possessing firearms. The sentence takes into account the 18 months Diabikulu had already spent in custody, leaving her with about five and a half years to serve. The incident happened on June 29, 2023, when four people entered Nagy’s home on 17th Avenue in Burnaby around 7

Related News

Sandy Dosanjh Withdraws as Surrey Council Candidate

Sandy Dosanjh Withdraws as Surrey Council Candidate

The Conservative Party of Surrey has confirmed that Sandy Dosanjh has withdrawn her candidacy for the upcoming Surrey city council elections. The decision comes after her husband, Vancouver Police Constable Kalwinder Dosanjh, was named in fraud cases involving approximately $3 million. Sandy Dosanjh was recently introduced as a star candidate on the team led by Surrey mayoral candidate Honveer Singh Randhawa. However, she has now stepped aside, citing a family legal crisis. The Conservative Party of Surrey is campaigning on promises to lower taxes, improve public safety and put families first.

B.C. Unemployment Rate Rises to 6.5% as Province Loses 5,500 Jobs in August

B.C. Unemployment Rate Rises to 6.5% as Province Loses 5,500 Jobs in August

British Columbia’s unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points to 6.5% in August, while the province recorded a net loss of about 5,500 jobs, according to Statistics Canada. The province lost approximately 26,000 full-time jobs during the month. However, this was partly offset by an increase of about 20,600 part-time positions, bringing the overall net job loss to roughly 5,500. B.C. Conservatives blamed the job losses directly on the NDP government, saying the province continues to lose full-time jobs and accusing the government of failing to protect traditional industries such as fores

Vancouver Police Officer Kal Dosanjh Suspended After Fraud, Theft Charges

Vancouver Police Officer Kal Dosanjh Suspended After Fraud, Theft Charges

Vancouver Police Officer Kal Dosanjh has been suspended with immediate effect after being charged with multiple counts of fraud and theft. Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai announced the suspension during a news conference on Friday. He said the 50-year-old officer has been charged with four counts each of fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000, along with one count of breach of trust. Rai said the investigation began in December 2023. So far, 19 victims have come forward, although police believe there may be additional victims. A 51-year-old Surrey man, Sarabjit Singh Gill, has also been char

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

Broadcasting Notice of Consultation

BC Children's Hospital