Reservations limiting access to residents

The Passamaquoddy tribal governments at Sipayik and Indian Township are restricting access to the reservations to residents only in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and non-tribal members who bring someone onto the reservations without approval will be subject to banishment.
At Sipayik, four unmanned traffic control gates were set up on April 21 at the entrances off Route 190 to Passamaquoddy Road, Indian Road, Koluskap Road and Wapap Road. The swing gates were closed on April 23, allowing for only one-way access to Wabanaki Place and both sides of the reservation's housing along Route 190. No through traffic is allowed, and at each access point there are signs indicating that only residents are allowed onto the reservation. Residents include anyone who lives at Pleasant Point, whether or not they are tribal members.
In a letter to the community, Chief Marla Dana wrote, "We are asking that non-residents respect our wishes during the emergency COVID-19 crisis. Our main priority is to keep our community safe." In an interview she adds, "I'm totally against opening anything at this point. I know people's jobs are on the line" and people have to wait to get through on the unemployment claims line, but she doesn't want to see an outbreak of the coronavirus in this area. "We won't open until the crisis team and I decide it's OK." That will be when it's clear that the threat from the virus has subsided.
Any non-tribal member who brings someone onto the reservation without prior approval from the tribal government may be subject to banishment.
In her letter, Chief Dana writes, "Residents allowing visits will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days within your home, so as not to possibly infect others." She states that anyone who frequents the reservation is asked to limit their contact with tribal residents until the tribal government's emergency declaration is lifted. The tribal government, though, is allowing delivery vehicles such as for heating fuel, food or FedEx on the reservation.
Dana adds, "If you are coming from another area and returning to the community, we are strongly suggesting that you self-quarantine for 14 days to ensure that you are not infecting other tribal members."
On March 14 Chief Dana and the Sipayik Tribal Council had issued a tribal public health emergency declaration for COVID-19 to ensure that the tribe has the resources and flexibility to respond to the crisis. Reports by the tribe's emergency operations center are being disseminated regularly, with notices released by the public information officer. The tribal government has hired an emergency management consultant and has a Facebook page where updates are posted. Flyers have also been distributed through the community.
In other actions to prevent the spread of the virus, the tribal government is not allowing non-employees to enter tribal buildings. Places that remain open include the ambulance base, police department, public works department, wastewater treatment plant and health center. The health center, though, has cancelled all routine and preventive care medical and dental appointments, with public entrance being by appointment only. Appointments will be assigned to those patients with medical conditions that cannot or should not wait. The dental department is on-call for emergency services only, and behavioral health services are providing crisis counseling through phone support only. The pharmacy is open, and prescriptions can be picked up between 11 a.m. and 12 noon and 2 and 3 p.m. Staff will bring medications to the front entrance.

Indian Township restrictions
Indian Township has implemented similar measures to not allow non-residents on the reservation. On April 8 security checkpoints were set up at three locations: Dana Point Road, Wolf Avenue and Hawk Lane. In a letter to the community, Chief William Nicholas wrote, "With the continued rise of coronavirus/COVID-19 cases across the state, it's important for us to take extreme measures to protect our elders, youth and those who are the most vulnerable to catching this virus."
He added, "It's important for our community members to be cooperative, courteous and respectful when stopping at the entrances. Security officers will only be making sure, upon your stopping, that no non-residents are in your vehicles."
Essential personnel working for food delivery, oil and propane delivery services, UPS, FedEx, health workers, teachers, mail carriers and other business-related personnel that deliver and work in the community are being allowed to conduct business at Indian Township.
For tribal members who do not reside on the reservation, they must go to the police department to acquire a permit to visit family on the reservation. Before acquiring a permit, the household being visited must agree to quarantine in their home for 14 days after the visit. Non-tribal members are not allowed to bring anyone on the reservation, and if caught doing so they will be banished immediately.
Chief Nicholas notes that the tribe's "inherent right to banish a non-tribal member will be strictly enforced by my office and law enforcement. This will be enforced on resident non-tribal members who refuse to comply with the emergency order as well."