INTERESTING NEWS Canada’s Oldest First Nations Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product Vol. 47 - No. 07—April 9, 2020 haas^i>sa Sales Agreement No. 40047776
Ahousaht starts emergency measures Decline in Preparations underway for worst-case scenario amidst the COVID-19 pandemic cases offers ‘glimmers of hope’ By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter
Maaqtusiis, BC – With its population of about 1,000, Maaqtusiis, the name of Ahousaht’s main village on Flores Island, is the largest First Nations community on the coast of Vancouver Island. It is remote, accessible only by boat or float plane. On a normal day, it is teeming with activity. Residents travel around the village in vehicles that have been barged in; they can be seen criss-crossing the settlement most days. The elementary and high schools are usually filled with children and staff while workers in the village carry on with their day-to-day tasks. But in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic Ahousaht has grown quiet as people heed the warnings to stay at home and avoid contact with others. The Ahousaht Emergency Operations Team has jumped into action, initiating protocols to protect residents and developing new measures where needed. Curtis Dick is Ahousaht’s EOC Director. He began coordinating community meetings and dispensing information about COVID-19 in early March, before the ban on large gatherings was imposed on British Columbians by the provincial health officer. But with dire news coming in from China and Spain about the spread of COVID-19 there, and the provincial government declaring a state of emergency, Ahousaht was in a position to activate their Emergency Operations Team. According to Elected Chief Greg Louie, this means that Ahousaht could reach out to Emergency Management British Columbia for resources to help get through the crisis. Dick’s team works from a command centre located in the village fire hall. They’ve inventoried the residents, making note of those suffering with health issues, including cold or flu symptoms. “We started with 19 people that selfisolated; today there are nine with seven of those isolating due to compromised immune systems,” said Dick on April 6. The team has requested that all residents and boat owners check in when they enter or leave the village, noting the places that they went. No non-residents are permitted to come to the village unless they are essential workers, and this includes visiting family. Dick says that sanitizing products are placed at each dock so that the boat skippers can do the required cleaning of their boats after each trip. Because there is no hospital in Ahousaht, the village has a roster of first
responders who are trained in first aid and often assess patients, deciding if they need a trip to Tofino General Hospital. But now there are only four volunteer first responders willing to take the risk of home visits when needed. Dick says they are working with Tofino General Hospital, the First Nations Health Authority and the NTC nurses to develop protocols for people dealing with those exhibiting symptoms of contagious illnesses. “They go in with full PPE,” said Dick, meaning Personal Protective Equipment – they wear full gown, gloves and masks. In one case, Dick said that the first responder went to the house and stood at the door while talking to the patient. “She made a call to 811 (B.C.’s nurse help hotline) for advice,” said Dick, adding that they have received instruction from TGH that only life and death cases should be transported there. “If the patient must go to Tofino then everyone wears full PPE, even the boat driver.” He explained that we all must do our part not to overwhelm the health care system at this time. Most people are abiding by health professional’s advice to stay home and Dick believes that because they are proactive early on to protect the village, they are having success. “But, like anywhere else there are one or two that don’t follow the rules,” he said. The EOC heard reports of some people that had been partying and mingling with others, raising the risk of COVID spread. “We are in uncharted waters and we’re scared of what could happen if this came to our community,” said Dick. He noted that it was unfair to the rest of the community when there’s one or two putting them at risk. “We have a place to send them if it continues,” said Dick, adding that they haven’t had to use that facility yet. Chief Louie continues to seek support for his people. “Two weeks ago the Prime Minister announced $305 million would be going out to First Nations across Canada; we are reaching out to Indigenous Services Canada to determine how much of that will be coming to Ahousaht.” Louie noted that his council has faced challenges in finding support for its offreserve population due to government funding conditions. Ahousaht has been bringing groceries into the community in an effort to keep people at home. In addition, residents have been fishing and harvesting other resources to feed people. They have sent out food vouchers to members living in Port Alberni, Victoria and Nanaimo.
Inside this issue... Highway 4 update.......................................................Page 3 Serving the less fortunate...........................................Page 4 NAIG cancellation.....................................................Page 5 Do masks protect you from COVID-19...................Page 11 Progress at Big Bar landslide...................................Page 12
By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor
Curtis Dick “We hope that we can help our people both on and off reserve once a week,” said Louie. Louie said his nation is hoping to secure federal funding for its off-reserve people, but were told by the Indigenous Services regional director that funding for offreserve members goes to urban organizations like Friendship Centres. “But some Friendship Centres are closed (due to COVID-19 pandemic), so we are asking that funding for urban members come to the nations so we can take care of our own,” said Louie. As Ahousaht leadership continues to navigate its way through uncertain waters, Dick said his team is preparing for worst case scenarios. “We are preparing our lodge to put people there in isolation if it comes here,” he told Ha-Shilth-Sa. They also plan to use the elementary school for the same purpose if necessary. One thing that Ahousaht’s EOC cannot do is meet the emotional needs of the community. Prolonged isolation is especially difficult for a community, a culture, that revolves around togetherness. “We’ve noticed that people are starting to display anxiety,” said Louie, adding that people are struggling after being confined to their homes for several weeks. “We are a social community, there’s always something going on the beach or at the hall; now we can’t do that.” Dick said that they make an effort to knock on the windows of the elders sitting there in their homes. “It’s tough for the little ones that can’t go out to play together,” he said. “I tell everyone to take care of themselves, be safe and if you’re feeling stress or anxiety, give us a call,” said Louie. “We’re strong and we will get through this.”
Victoria, BC - The number of new coronavirus cases in British Columbia remains stable, indicating to health authorities that the province’s models for spread are on track and that social distancing measures are working. On Tuesday, April 7 Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonny Henry announced 25 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the previous 24-hour period, a daily total that has gradually declined over the previous two weeks. B.C. has not reported over 70 new cases of the respiratory disease since March 24. These new cases bring the province’s total to 1,291, including 79 confirmed cases on Vancouver Island – but the number of COVID-19 recoveries continues to grow, now comprising 805 of the total cases tracked in B.C. On Tuesday the province also announced four new deaths tied to COVID-19, bringing that total to 43 fatalities. Weeks into a provincial state of emergency banning gatherings of 50 or more people and urging individuals to stay home whenever possible, Henry has stressed that social distancing measures to contain the spread of the virus will continue for the coming weeks. “The risk remains high for everyone here in British Columbia,” she said. “We have to have united focus for the next while…We need to keep our firewall strong.” The most recent numbers align B.C. with models presented in late March, showing that the province is close to being in line with infection rates experienced in South Korea. With a population of 51 million, as of April 7 the Asian country had reported 10,331 coronavirus infections and 192 deaths, showing rates significantly lower than what has struck Italy and Spain. The province’s models also show a scenario that could be as bad or better than the outbreak that first hit China’s Hubei province at the end of 2019. This enables provincial health authorities to prepare for a situation where the rise in critical COVID-19 cases fills hospital beds, with 80 per cent of these patients requiring ventilators to stay alive. Continued on page 3.
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