Many of Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 outbreaks have been in northern communities.
A group of 15 sewers called the Masked Makers have been making masks to protect northern residents and help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. They were provided with new sewing machines and equipment to continue their services.
Métis lawyer Angela Bishop is from the Green Lake community. Despite not being the most experienced seamstress, Bishop began making masks in preparation of COVID-19 spreading across vulnerable Indigenous communities.
Bishop then formed Masked Makers to meet the needs of PPE across Saskatchewan as the virus began spreading.
The group has distributed nearly 5,000 masks for free across the province, but it wasn’t an easy feat.
Many of the Masked Makers didn’t have adequate equipment, but were trying their best to make what they have work.
“They were there for our communities because an individual at risk is a family at risk, is a community at risk, is our nations at risk.”
Métis Nation Saskatchewan said the new equipment could help make over $30,000 worth of masks.