Tahltan Nation COVID-19 Emergency Management Update 06/03

The following measures remain in place in Tahltan Territory:

1. Non-territory residents are asked to assist the Tahltan Nation in our efforts to stay at home and to not travel to Tahltan Territory;
2. No hunting, camping, or recreational activity in Tahltan Territory;
3. Essential travel only;

The following personal measures remain in place in Tahltan Territory:

1. Stay Home: Unless you must go to work, or you are going onto the land to exercise with those in your household (people you live with);
2. Avoid ALL Non-Essential Trips In Your Community: Stop going to other communities. Limit the number of times you go to high traffic areas such as the store or post office;
3. Physical Distancing: Do not gather in groups. Ensure you stay a minimum of 6 feet away from other people;
4. Wash Hands Regularly: Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds or more. Soap is the best-known remedy for killing this virus so wash frequently;
5. Couch or Sneeze Into Your Elbow or a Tissue: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Put your tissue in a waste basket. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze int your upper sleave, not your hands;
6. Don’t Touch Your Face: Don’t transfer the virus into your body by touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Self Isolation: Anyone returning to the Tahltan Territory must go directly to their home and self-isolate for no less than 14 days – so bring supplies with you. YOU MUST avoid any and all situations where you can accidently or unknowingly pass the virus to our community members. Importantly, anyone can be a carrier, not have symptoms, and pass the virus to others. It is strongly recommended that those at higher risk, with compromised immunity including Elders, self-isolate. IMPORTANT: Brucejack and Red Chris employees are not required to self isolate upon returning home, if they return home directly and do not stop anywhere.

EVENT CANCELLATIONS

Tahltan Leadership would like to announce the following cancellations due to COVID-19:

May:

Healthy Active Tahltan School Events – Dease Lake, Iskut and Telegraph Creek
Iskut Baby Welcoming
TCG Update Meetings

June:

Tahltan Band Chief and Council Election Postponed until end of November June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day June 22: Tour de Telegraph
School and Headstart Sports/Awards/Grad Day
TCG Update Meetings

July:

Annual General Assembly – Now Zoom Webinar on July 4th
Dease Lake Fishing Derby
Iskut Music Festival
Iskut Literacy Camp
Glenora Literacy Camp
Telegraph Creek Grad

August:

Tahltan Music Fest
Iskut Cultural Camp Kawdy

October:

110^th Declaration Celebration

Dease Lake Update

The Dease Lake Emergency Management Committee continues to meet weekly as we know this pandemic is far from over. The community cleanup, organized the by People’s Haven this past weekend, went well and our community looks much better. Thank you to the People’s Haven and all that participated.

Super A gift cards, for the month of June, have been sent out to the community as of June 3rd. Dease Lake School, People’s Haven and the EMC pooled together resources to provide meat to families in the community. If you have a mask, please wear it when you go into public spaces within our community. If you do not have a mask and would like to wear one, please contact the Haven to arrange to pick one up. Please be responsible in your decision-making process and remember we are all in this together.

Iskut Update

The Iskut Emergency Management Committee would like to thank Pretivm (Brucejack) for their assistance in helping us purchase groceries for our community. We are very grateful for your assistance and it resulted in a lot of happy people in our community.

Iskut has moved our gate back from the Kluachon store entrances. The public can now purchase fuel at the pumps and tobacco. We will have people working at the entrance of the store to assist the public with payments and shopping as we still ask for them to not enter the store. Please be polite as this is still a new adjustment for everyone at our store. The summer hours are 7 am to 9 pm. I want to acknowledge the store staff for all of their hard work. Thank you to Una Nole, June Dennis, Roberta Dennis, Alana Tashoots, Gabrielle Louie, Francis Louie, Stacey Hawkins, Charles Dennis, Nick Jr Dennis, and to our Café staff Susan Carlick, Markitta Quock, Jayson Vance, Charlayne Walker, and Destiny Henyu for all of your hard work!

The gate has been moved but we are asking that people choose to not visit Iskut if its not necessary. COVID-19 is still alive and well and is not going away at this time. When you leave and come home from down south please self isolate to help protect others from the virus. If you have any questions please contact Natasha Callbreath or any of our Emergency Team members: Terri Lynn Mroch, Annabel Nole, Maggie Dennis or Peggy Abou.

Telegraph Creek

Education is a priority for us, to minimize the risk of a second wave and becoming sick with COVID-19. Our Nurses have put together an information sheet regarding symptoms and screening. The earlier we detect COVID-19, the quicker we can minimize the chance of the virus spreading and the better chance we have of tracking and containing the virus. The information sheet is posted, and our team is communicating to members through our network. The notice states:

Have you been experiencing any of the following symptoms for 24 hours or more? Low-grade fever, Cough, New Tiredness, Muscle Aches, Runny Nose, Nasal Congestion, Loss of Smell or Taste, Painful Swallowing, Loss of Appetite, Sore Throat, Nausea or Vomiting, Diarrhea.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you are eligible for a Covid-19 screening test. Please call the Nursing Station, and speak to a Nurse, 250-235-3211.

Our social team remains active; for example, they provided a picnic package to all households this past Friday. They asked for families to submit pictures to be posted on our local community site. A rock painting initiative is planned and is offered to children and adults – this is a great way to relax as well as using these rocks to decorate your garden or flower boxes.

Home-made masks are in demand and are continually being made and distributed. If you require one, please call the Rec Center at 250-235-3100. Adult bingo is active with a 3-burner stove and camping chairs as prizes this week.

Tahltan Center continues to remain well stocked with meat, veggies, and dairy. They will be backing off on the amount ordered as we have had a surplus of veggies and dairy these past two weeks.

The Rec Center Gym is open with restrictions. Hours are 9am-4pm & 7pm-9pm. Bring your own water bottle, towel, five participants and any one time, disinfect equipment prior and after use, sign in/out with each use.

MST (Mobile Support Team) continues to provide mental health support for our three communities. They have been providing virtual, phone, facetime, & email services to our communities during Covid-19. They have an MSTCOVID-19 ONSITE POLICY and will be scheduling back in community when safe to return.

Please call Sheila at the Band office, 250-235-3151, to inform her of your travel plans outside our community/Territory. Your participation is appreciated as this will increase our safety and help track contact of COVID-19 if we should have a case in Telegraph Creek.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, please stay home until your test results are back and you are cleared to be in the public and back to work. Do not attend the local store, we have staff that can help with shopping, mail, etc. and deliver to your door.

NT5