The Indian Reservation on which I live and work (Long post, sorry)

[GusBob]

Fortunately we have been lucky, no cases of CV. Only one in the entire county and that was back in March. We are small and remote which helps

To protect our fragile population, the Tribal Council has been strict. There was a stay at home order for awhile. There are still checkpoints at all entrances and a curfew at night.

But then they loosened the restrictions on out of area visitors . Previously if you came from out of the county on non essential travel, you had to self q-tine for 14 days. Then they changed it to 4

Now this week is the Sundance ceremony and they dropped the travel restriction q-tine. People are coming in from all over. A lot from Canada but some from the Dakota's and the SW. They are meeting friends and family and going to stores in town. I talked to my friend at the checkpoint and she said it's nuts like they flipped a switch from tight rules to whatever. They don't ask the screening questions anymore just check temperature.

There is a longer story about how I came into contact with 2 out of state visitors in the clinic where I work. We found out afterwards. They should have not gotten into the clinic but got thru security screenings somehow. Long story short I developed a sore throat Mon nite and a weird rash. My initial test for COVID was negative and I have no other symptoms. But I will be in self q-tine for awhile until I get tested again on Monday which will have been 14 days from contact.
Previously I had been so careful. No travel no visitors mask gloves etc, only go into town once a week.
My colleague who took care of me in the clinic feels we will have our first cases soon. Some folks had been visiting Browning and now that Rez is on lockdown

I apologize for the lengthy post but as you can reckon I am bored with too much time on my hands
I advise my friends here to be diligent at stores and gas stations this summer. We don't have a lot of cases but we were dead last in states and now we jumped 2 spots

EDIT TO ADD: the reason they dropped the restrictions for the Sundance is because it is an important tribal ceremony I think they are handing out masks and yesterday they had drive thru testing near the ceremony.

[sagetea]

1. oh dear....

My mother is from the Browning Res. I have family there.

sage

[GusBob]

2. Oh I hope I didn't alarm you

I hope your family is fine

Personally I think one of the reasons for the lockdown was the proximity to GNP and all the visitors there. The Tribe closed the access to the park as well

I can't recall the number of active cases there I think maybe a couple dozen

[sagetea]

8. You didn't alarm me...

just reminded that I should call them.


sage


Edited to add: I'm sorry I didn't mention that I pray that you continue to be in good health. It's scary out there and I hope you are safe.

sage

[GusBob]

3. Before anyone accuses me of being a crappy healthcare provider implying denial of care

Their visits to the clinic were completely routine neither had a problem of medical complaint

Many Tribal members who live elsewhere come to the clinic in the summer for their benefits which is fine. If they had waited 14 days they could come in no problem

[GemDigger]

4. They have done well up there and I hope they can continue to be safe.

I am in the SW corner of the state and as soon as they opened up we exploded with active cases. I have been wanting to go for a visit in one of the counties in the NW corner that have not had any cases but because they have not had a single case I will stay put even though I have only been out of the house 3 times in 3 months. I know I am safe but I will stay home because I will need a gas station between here and there.

I respect my fellow Montanans enough to stay freaking put.

[GusBob]

11. I had taken to calling myself the most q-tined person

I live alone, have had no visitors , and have not left the county since Feb. Go into Havre once a week early early in the am to avoid crowds. I am leery of the gas pump handles at the town pump I wear gloves for that for sure

I need a haircut bad

[MontanaMama]

5. I really hope you continue to test negative GusBob.

You’re 100% right about the folks coming to MT from other places...they’re bringing infection with them. I didn’t know people could still come across the border from Canada! I thought that was a no-no.

I have felt relatively safe traveling around MT until the last week or so. My kiddo plays travel baseball and I’ve followed him around the state and it has been fun to watch baseball and forget about our national troubles if only for a little while. The host cities / ball clubs have been very vigilant about keeping facilities and dugouts clean and sanitized. Hand washing / sanitizer stations available. I pack our food from home and we stay in our camper instead of motels. This weekend has me nervous however. The boy plays in Kalispell...so close to GNP that is boiling with out of state visitors now. I’m not taking this trip...my son will go with his dad and again, they’re staying in the camper and taking their own food but this feels riskier to me. It’s the last scheduled tournament for the summer.

There are parts of Flathead lake still closed by the Salish/Kootenai Tribal Council in an effort to keep people away. While that’s the usual weekend getaway spot for my family to boat and fish, I respect their decision to keep people out. They are taking a lot of heat for doing it but it’s the right thing to do.

I drive 20 miles round trip on the the interstate Monday through Thursday to take my son to ball practice and most of the traffic is from out of state...it’s really worrying.

Hope you get to feeling better and that the Sundance comes and goes without anybody getting sick. Fingers crossed.

[GusBob]

9. My Co-worker saw friends of hers from Canada at WalMart

It's Cree first nation which is a Canadian based Tribe

Perhaps the Sundance is considered essential travel ? Or maybe they flew in?

You are right about the out of state plates I noticed that too last week

[Bayard]

6. Stay well, GusBob

[2naSalit]

7. Do take care!

I hope there is not a spreading event at the Sundance... seems so sketchy but I understand the intent.

I would love to, and had planned to, go for a long drive up along the highline and the northern mountains this summer but that's not going to happen now. I live in a high tourist area and it's suddenly scary now that they have come. Some of my summer friends have come to their hang outs from hot spots and are already having house guests, I will visit with them some time next month after they have isolated for a few weeks. I have been home since early March and I suspect I'll still be doing this next year at this time.

[GusBob]

10. I was gonna take a road trip this weekend

Check out the American Prairie Preserve and Russell wildlife refuge

Some other time. Too bad looks like nice weather