The Hatchet Lake Dene Nation has canceled the Keepers of the Water IV conference due to concerns over the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu..

The conference was due to be held August 20-24 at Wollaston Lake in northern Saskatchewan, where a child has contracted the virus. Eight other families have reported flu-like symptoms.

"It's more of a precaution thing," council member Edward Benoanie told CBC News. "We just didn't want to take anymore risk to bring other people in. That's why our conference was postponed to the following year."

The conference will be held in September 2010.

Get the Story:
Sask. Dene band postpones water conference over flu concerns (CBC 8/17)

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