First Nations sisters in remote border community given quarantine order despite exemption

Two First Nations women in Ontario say they've been harassed by public health staff after being wrongfully flagged under the federal Quarantine Act for crossing the Canada-United States border despite their community being exempt due to its unique geographical situation.

Jessica Kempenich, 31, and her sister Brittany Powassin, 30, are members of Animakee Wa Zhing #37 and live on a portion of the reserve known as Windigo Island, located 52 kilometres south of Kenora, Ont.

Residents must boat from the island to a nearby shoreline in Angle Inlet, Minn., and travel by road back into Canada for necessities like groceries, prescriptions and medical appointments.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/northwest-angle-border-quarantine-order-1.5676751