In Manitoba, based on our current case rates, even though indigenous people make up about 10% of the provincial population, they are representing about 20% of the provincial cases and almost 68% of ICU bed occupancy. Indigenous people are experiencing a much more severe outcome associated with exposure to COVID-19.
Many of our first nations communities—not all of them but some of them—have been able to successfully close their borders because they don't have provincial roads going through them. That same effort does not exist for Métis communities, because they don't have any control over any of the land other than their own personal property. Métis citizens don't have access to any kinds of housing programs that exist for first nations and Inuit communities.
There are equally similar problems associated with overcrowding, poor ventilation, poverty and other socio-economic circumstances that affect those communities in the same way they affect our first nations relatives.