INTERESTING NEWS Canada’s Oldest First Nations Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product Vol. 47 - No. 08—April 23, 2020 haas^i>sa Sales Agreement No. 40047776
Mom makes masks to order as coronavirus spreads Homemade facial protection is gaining in popularity after health officials shift recommendations on its benefits By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter Campbell River, BC – A Campbell River mother of four has found a great way to fill her time while helping others during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic: she is making reusable masks. “I saw lots of posts from people wanting to buy homemade masks so I looked online for patterns,” said 35-year-old Anna Dick. She attempted a couple of patterns and settled on the third one she tried, which includes a metal strip that fits over the bridge of the nose. Anna and her family faced a difficult time last year when her toddler son Andre was diagnosed with cancer in February. The very sick but brave little boy went through months of grueling chemotherapy rounds at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. With adoring family by his side, Andre won his battle. “He has been in remission since last October and he is happy as ever,” said Dick. According to Anna, Andre’s immune system is in the normal range and still climbing after his cancer treatment, but still, she does not take chances with her children and keeps them away from the public. They are being home schooled with the local district delivering both learning materials and food for the kids. Anna began making masks last week with material she purchased from Walmart. She gave one to her mother and one to her uncle for his birthday and soon, orders started coming in. She made 15 masks, mostly for family, and now she’s working to fill an order of 13. Dick charges $10 -$12 for each mask, which is well worth the materials and the
Submitted photo
Although material is getting scarce, Anna Dick, left, has begun producing made-to-order masks to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus. 90 minutes it takes to make each one. but I’m limited to the material I have,” erly, these masks can offer some protecBut the Walmart in Campbell River she said. tion when physical distancing is difficult quickly sold out of fabric. Although health authorities in Canada to maintain, e.g., in grocery stores or “I found out the Fabricland in Courtehave stated there is no evidence that on public transit. It’s important to note, nay is still open and I found some cheap homemade masks can protect a person however, that homemade masks have not bandannas at the dollar store,” said Dick, from becoming infected with the corobeen proven to protect the person wearing adding that she made several bandanna navirus, facial protection in public is the mask. They can offer some protection masks in different colours. becoming more popular. to others around you.” The busy mom has been taking requests “With the need to reserve medical masks To order a mask in the Campbell River through Facebook and is willing to do for health care workers, people are turnarea, contact Anna on Facebook by her custom orders. ing to home-made masks,” states the First user name, Chiihaich Anna Dick. “I’ll ask people what colour they want, Nations Health Authority. “Used prop-
Remote communities still closed, but recoveries grow By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor Victoria, BC - Lockdowns are continuing to spread through remote Nuu-chahnulth communities, but provincial health authorities are hinting that restrictions imposed over the last month are working, and that some measures could be lifted in May. This week the Ehattesaht First Nation announced that a gate had been closed in their reserve next to Zeballos to anyone but local residents and essential services. This blocks road access to the Nuu-chahnulth communities of Ehatis, Oclujce and Kyuquot. This measure follows a
local state of emergency declared for the Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations village of Houpsitas on Vancouver Island’s northwest coast, restricting access to residents only, while limiting trips outside to essential ventures. Meanwhile similar measures are in place in southern Nuu-chah-nulth communities. Anacla now has a checkpoint that only permits access to residents of the village. “If they’re not a resident they’re turned around,” said Robert Dennis Sr., chief councillor of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations. In nearby Bamfield, a general store owned by the Huu-ay-aht has introduced
Inside this issue... Turning the kitchen table into a classroom.................Page 3 Outsiders barred from Kyuquot..................................Page 5 Apartment fire leaves family homeless......................Page 7 Mental health supports for First Nations....................Page 9 Dead humpback whale found in crab traps..............Page 11
a self-checkout system, thereby eliminating direct contact with staff and following the provincial health officer’s directive to maintain a six-foot distance from others while out in public. “You don’t even get within 10 feet of the storekeeper,” said Dennis. For over a month now people across British Columbia have been opting to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the medically incurable respiratory disease that has gripped the world in a pandemic. On April 17 Dr. Bonny Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Minister of Health Adrian Dix presented models indicating that the public’s response to the coronavirus has avoided
disastrous scenarios playing out in Italy, Spain and New York City. As of April 21, there have been 1,724 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in B.C., including 25 additional infections registered on Tuesday. Eighty-seven of these have ended in death. But 1,041 of cases have fully recovered, and the rate of infection has slowed to less than 50 a day since April 2. This aligns with models the province presented on March 27, showing B.C.’s rate of infection being close to that of South Korea, and under the severity of China’s Hubei province, where the new coronavirus first emerged in late 2019. Continues on Page 3.
If undeliverable, please return to: Ha-Shilth-Sa P.O. Box 1383, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M2