Rock the Talk
SEASON 4 / EPISODE 7
March 27, 2020
COVID-19: March Madness
Grand Chief Peter Johnston hosts a special COVID-19: March Madness edition of Rock the Talk, and is honoured to welcome leaders from across the territory who have been working around the clock to keep their communities safe. Grand Chief checks in with Kwanlin Dün First Nation Chief Doris Bill, Selkirk First Nation Chief Sharon Nelson, Chief Dana Tizya-Tramm of the Vuntut Gwitch'in First Nation, Liard First Nation Chief George Morgan, and welcomes a special COVID-19 update from Premier Sandy Silver.
Part I: Chief Bill: "We Need to Take This Seriously"
Grand Chief checks in with Kwanlin Dün First Nation Chief Doris Bill says she is proud to see her community is taking the COVID-19 threat very seriously. "It's not a good time to be visiting, and it's not a good time to be partying," she says. Chief Bill believes this situation is teaching us about how important it is to work together, as well as where the gaps are, and areas that we can improve going forward.
Part II: Chief Nelson: SFN Election Postponed
Selkirk First Nation Chief Sharon Nelson provides an update on how the First Nation is responding to the current COVID-19 emergency. "It's important that we all react quickly and that we work together," says Chief Nelson. "This is serious and we need to follow the Chief Medical Officer's advice." With a mine nearby, Selkirk First Nation citizens are raising additional concerns, but Chief Nelson says the community was relieved to hear the territory now requires all miners who are entering the Yukon to self-isolate for 14 days. The community is now working on a coronavirus-specific emergency plan and has opted to postpone the election planned for later this week. Chief says the SFN Election Committee made the decision to postpone and to switch to a mail-in ballot, measures that will help keep everyone safe during the public health emergency.
Part III: Luke Campbell: Speaking of Perspectives
Yukon is now in the midst of a public health emergency, with multiple confirmed cases of COVID-19 and social distancing in full effect. Grand Chief Peter Johnston connects with Luke Campbell, Language and Culture educator for Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, shares his comments about the changes that may be ahead for the community. "Now that we can't travel, this is like we're stepping back into the 1930s," he says. "I work with elders and now I have been constantly thinking of stuff that they have taught me about the land, like how to read the land and how to sustain where you are." As a tribute to his work as a champion for the preservation of the Southern Tutchone language, Luke takes the opportunity to share some positive messages, as well as the important messages, including favourites such as "Wash your hands;" and "Don't touch your face!"
Part IV: Chief Morgan: Highway Traffic A Concern
Grand Chief Peter Johnston connects with George Morgan, Chief of Liard First Nation, about the latest on how the community is doing and how local partners are responding to the rapidly changing situation. Liard First Nation is located along the highway in close proximity to the British Columbia border, and with regular traffic to and from Alaska, Chief Morgan believes an extra effort is needed to help keep the community safe and protect those who are the most vulnerable. "The traffic is significantly reduced," says Chief Morgan. "We're not embracing strangers right now."
Part V: COVID-19 Update: Premier Sandy Silver
Grand Chief Peter Johnston welcomes Yukon Premier Sandy Silver to the show for an update on the COVID-19 situation. Premier Silver is encouraged by the hard work and leadership at the community level right now as individuals are taking important steps to help their community and help flatten the curve. "We're all in this together," says Silver. "Everybody is really coming together and I'm seeing leaders everywhere I look. People who are keeping our elders safe, you are a leader right now. People who are getting information out to those who don't have it, you also are being a leader right now." The Premier is encouraging everyone to follow the guidelines and the advice of Dr. Brendan Hanley, Yukon's Chief Medical Officer of Health. He also advises the best way to stay informed is to go the the Government of Yukon website at www.yukon.ca for the latest COVID-19 updates, and important phone numbers (like dialing 8-1-1 if you are feeling sick and may need a test). Washing hands, practising social distancing, staying connected with one another and following the experts online will all help us limit the impact of COVID-19 on Yukon communities in these early days.
Part VI: Chief Tizya-Tramm: Staying Calm is Key
Grand Chief Peter Johnston connects with the Chief of Vuntut Gwitch'in First Nation, Dana Tizya-Tramm, to learn about how the community of Old Crow, Yukon's most remote community, is responding to this rapidly changing situation. Chief Tizya-Tramm talks about VGFN's decision to pursue and enact emergency measures provisions under their Self-Government Agreement, a move that will allow the First Nation to "exercise laws of general application to relieve the emergency if any VGFN citizens are experiencing an emergency." New travel restrictions are going to be a big part of the response, however just before VGFN could enact the legislation, Leadership and Air North were faced with a major test. "We just had a couple get off the plane today, right before we could enact our legislation, and we found out that they sold everything in Quebec, drove across the country to Whitehorse, parked their car and flew to our community." With no rooms available and no warning, it was a worst case scenario. Sending the couple back to Whitehorse was the only option. Chief believes it will everyone's commitment to staying calm and following the guidelines that will go a long way to keeping everyone safe.
S4E7 Quick Links
A CBC story about a Quebec couple that drove across Canada and flew to Old Crow but was turned back.
Learn more about Selkirk First Nation by visiting the official home of SFN on the web.
The Government of Yukon website is an essential resource for the latest COVID-19 information.
Check out the Yukon Native Language Centre for more information about YFN languages.
Wanna learn Southern Tutchone? Check out these awesome vids posted by CAFN's Luke Campbell.
The latest from the Liard First Nation Facebook page, an important tool for COVID-19 updates.