There are bright spots in dark times, and the resourceful, close-knit people of Sambaa KSA国际影视传媒檈 are finding them 鈦燬A国际影视传媒� on the land with a chainsaw in hand.

With schools closed, youth have returned home to the Dehcho community of about 90 people, and leaders and residents are taking the time to foster traditional language revitalization while getting young people out one the land.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e had a few young boys already being guided into using a chainsaw and using the wood SA国际影视传媒� respecting the wood SA国际影视传媒� and being guided in using a chainsaw,SA国际影视传媒� said Jessica Jumbo, Sambaa KSA国际影视传媒檈 youth counsellor and environmental coordinator.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been encouraging youth to speak their traditional language,SA国际影视传媒� said Jumbo, calling the opportunity a SA国际影视传媒渟ilver liningSA国际影视传媒� amid a world of worry brought on by COVID-19.

Amid the concern that swirls around COVID-19 and its potential impact on the North, Jumbo said her community is trying to teach young people to take a step back from todaySA国际影视传媒檚 fast-moving modern word.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is why weSA国际影视传媒檙e teaching you these skills to be able to fall back on if there was a situation like this. TheySA国际影视传媒檒l have the skills and the land to fall back on to sustain themselves,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not just young people getting out on the land. The Sambaa KSA国际影视传媒檈 First Nation has been doling out funds to cover food supplies and other essentials so that families temporarily leave Sambaa KSA国际影视传媒檈 to stay at their cabins, said Jumbo.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 part of an effort to encourage social distancing, while particularly looking out for the small communitySA国际影视传媒檚 susceptible Elders.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 to get people moving around so theySA国际影视传媒檙e not panicking,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

But living off the land in isolation SA国际影视传媒� and helping one another in times of need SA国际影视传媒� is not new for the people of Sambaa KSA国际影视传媒檈. Every fall and spring, most community members are out hunting, harvesting and fishing, while most of the activity in the community grounds to a halt.

Large harvests, like moose, are shared among the community, said Jumbo.

ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 why she isnSA国际影视传媒檛 too worried about food shortages amid COVID-19.

SA国际影视传媒淚 havenSA国际影视传媒檛 heard any concerns about a lack of food. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e such a close-knit family and community here that if anybody was struggling where they couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 harvest for themselves, theySA国际影视传媒檙e provided meat and each household checks in and helps out, even when thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no (COVID-19) panic,SA国际影视传媒� said Jumbo, adding the community store is well stocked.

Apart from essential services, Jumbo said Sambaa KSA国际影视传媒檈 has effectively shut down, and non-band members, aside from grocery and fuel truckers, arenSA国际影视传媒檛 being allowed into the community, said Jumbo.

Community health sector 'not equipped'

The actions are meant to keep residents safe and to prevent a potential overwhelming strain on the nearby Fort Simpson Health Centre, which services several communities in the Dehcho, said Jumbo.

The medical services available in Sambaa KSA国际影视传媒檈 simply arenSA国际影视传媒檛 capable of confronting COVID-19 alone. Jumbo said the community has one on-call nurse who is only trained in the basics.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur health sector is not equipped with the staff nor possibly the equipment to address someone who may be testing positive and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what the council is going to talk about.SA国际影视传媒�

Jumbo said the band council will hold a meeting in the coming days to discuss contingency plans in light of COVID-19.

She said the band will be mulling quarantine options and whether people could be isolated in the community in the event of an outbreak.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut what the community is really dead set on here is everybody is fully trained in first aid SA国际影视传媒� all the adults SA国际影视传媒� weSA国际影视传媒檙e taking the guidelines very seriously.