Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Yale First Nation offices closed on March 12th indefinitely. All staff are working from home using cell phones and laptops to remain connected with each other and the community.

As a nurse, I understand the language being used by our Provincial Health Officer and feel a responsibility to share and reinforce the messaging so that all community members understand. We need to ensure that community understands that we are still here, helping, educating, supporting, and ensuring that everyone has access to what they need in a timely manner.

I believe that the community appreciates the effort we are taking to stay connected and keep them informed. We “speak” about the happenings in the community and encourage them to report on projects in the works via Facebook – like a new road and bus stop, land clearing for community centre, the arrival for garbage bins for spring cleaning. We are attempting to keep things as normal as possible. We encourage photos of the projects and tag as many people in the community as possible to create conversation.

We have received many thank-you notes from community members, including: “we appreciate you and what you are doing”; “thanks for keeping us informed”; “thank you Yale First Nation for all the hard work”; and “appreciate your consistent message.”