Kyanna Lennie-Dolphus knows what itSA国际影视传媒檚 like to feel alone.

Growing up in the isolated Sahtu community of Tulita, Kyanna Lennie-Dolphus struggled with anxiety and depression as a teen.

Now a N谋虂o Ne台 P'e台ne台虂 youth coordinator with the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board, sheSA国际影视传媒檚 seeing firsthand how Covid-19 is impacting young peoplesSA国际影视传媒� health mental amid mandatory isolation orders.

SA国际影视传媒淚 know some people are struggling,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Lennie-Dolphus also works with the Sahtu Youth Network, a land-based cultural initiative that tackles mental health while aiming to preserve and revitalize Indigenous language and culture.

In light of Covid-19, plans for two upcoming traditional on-the-land camps have been halted.

In an effort to ensure young people in the Sahtu remained connected and supported despite the disruptions, the youth network launched the #SYNSahtuStrong Youth Photo Contest.

SA国际影视传媒淲e though weSA国际影视传媒檇 do something to let the youth know theySA国际影视传媒檙e still being supported and that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 still ways to connect to each other about how we feel,SA国际影视传媒� said Lennie-Dolphus.

The contest called on youth SA国际影视传媒� in Tulita, Norman Wells, Deline, Fort Good Hope and Colville Lake SA国际影视传媒� to document their experiences during the pandemic with a photo and a 150-word write-up. The campaign encouraged young people to get out on the land; and many participants did just that.

Jeanette Tobac, of Fort Good Hope, submitted a photo of herself tanning moose hide.

SA国际影视传媒淚t shows me as a Dene woman still motivated to learn my traditions during the pandemic in a safe social distancing manner,SA国际影视传媒� Tobac.

Others took selfies on the land or in their homes.

Getting in on the action herself, Lennie-Dolphus snapped a selfie during a SA国际影视传媒渕oment of claritySA国际影视传媒� while outside for a walk.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was thinking about how lucky we are as Dene people to call this place our home; our people, our families and how much generosity we show each other throughout the whole Sahtu,SA国际影视传媒� she wrote.

The entries, broken down into different age groups, were placed in a raffle and the winner was randomly selected.

Hannah Taneton snagged the grand prize, an iPad, earlier this week. She submitted a photo of her late grandmother Jane sitting in a teepee preparing moose hide.

After her grandmother passed away, Taneton set out to learn traditional skills. SA国际影视传媒淭oday ISA国际影视传媒檓 so thankful to be working in her teepee and teaching my sister to work on the hide,SA国际影视传媒� she wrote.

Despite the challenges brought on by Covid-19, Lennie-Dolphus said are silver linings, too.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople are spending more time with their families; theySA国际影视传媒檙e getting out on the land SA国际影视传媒� something many havenSA国际影视传媒檛 done in quite a long time. It has its ups and downs, but I think people find a lot of peace just from being out on the land; knowing they can still connect,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

To keep youth connected and engaged, the Sahtu Youth Network is planning more photo contests over the next few months.