NATIVE leaders in Canada said they were “horrified” after receiving body bags from health officials as part of Canada’s swine flu preparedness kits.

Aboriginal communities in Canada’s Manitoba province were hard-hit by the deadly A(H1N1) outbreak some months ago and since then had asked Ottawa for medical supplies to prepare for a second wave likely to strike soon.

Leaders of more than 30 First Nations communities said they received “dozens of body bags from Health Canada as part of Canada’s preparedness plan on H1N1”.

The body bags arrived in kits containing hand sanitisers and face masks.

“We had asked for funding so we can get organised and to ensure medicines, hand sanitisers and other preventative kits were in place, but instead we are shocked to receive body bags,” Jerry Knott, chief of the Wasagamack First Nation, said.

“This is an ominous sign that the Government is predicting a grim outcome,” Chief David McDougall of the Saint Theresa Point band added.

Canada’s Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said she had asked officials for an explanation.