Bulletin 15: CAFN COVID-19 Planning and Response – Our Kwätsi Dän recovery plan
July 21, 2020
Message from the Chief:
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN) is glad to share Kwätsi Dän, our COVID-19 recovery plan. This plan takes a gradual approach as COVID-19 restrictions lessen and we return to more “normal” CAFN activities, and will remain in effect until a COVID-19 vaccine is in place. Kwätsi Dän is an essential tool for CAFN to ensure we are prepared. The Kwätsi Dän plan is available online at https://cafn.ca/kwatsi-dan-we-work-our-covid-19-recovery-plan .
DÚCH’Į SHĮ – We are always going to be prepared to do what we must do to ensure the safety of our people. We must remain vigilant, safe and smart.
A key element is that CAFN is prepared to adapt and respond quickly. We continue to closely monitor, so if we see more COVID-19 cases and increased risk of spread to our communities, we will be ready to respond. CAFN declared a State of Emergency earlier in the pandemic and can do so again if required.
Yukon’s Six Steps to Stay Safe and stop the spread of COVID-19 are critical to the success of this plan: physical distancing; regular hand washing; staying home when sick; not gathering in large groups; limiting travel to communities; and self-isolating when required.
Our plan includes a gradual return to work so staff can do their jobs more effectively. This balanced approach allows CAFN to increase workplace productivity while minimizing health and safety risks.
As more staff return to the workplace, we are increasing our health and safety practices through safety audits, training and mentoring staff, and putting in place new protocols for a wide range of services and activities.
While CAFN remains open for business, most of our buildings and offices continue to be closed to the public. The best way to contact staff continues to be by phone or email. As limitations on gatherings lessen and the risk of COVID spread continues to go down, we will keep working on ways to safely resume services and reopen little by little.
To keep Citizens up-to-date, we are developing a list of services currently available, not available, and how to access them. We will continue to update and share this service list with Citizens as needed.
The steps in our Kwätsi Dän plan build on the phases in the Yukon and Canada’s recovery plans, but we will also take our own unique approaches when needed to ensure that we act based on CAFN’s specific needs.
All CAFN dän must still be on guard, because we want all our people – Citizens and staff – to come out of this pandemic safely.
Gunałchish.
Kaaxnox, Dän Nätthe Äda(Chief Steve Smith)
Looking for information about COVID-19? Please visit:
Yukon.ca Canada.ca CYFN.ca/covid-19
| Yukon’s 6 Steps to Staying Safe Physical distancing – keep 2 metres (6 feet) away from everyone who’s not a member of your household. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer with at least 70% alcohol. Stay home if you’re feeling sick. Don’t gather in groups of more than 10 people indoors or more than 50 people outdoors, and remember to keep 2 metres (6 feet) apart.Limittravel to rural communities.Self-isolate if you’ve just returned to Yukon and have been outside of British Columbia, Nunavut or Northwest Territories in the last 14 days, or if you’ve been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19. |
| CAFN Pandemic Survey As COVID-19 restrictions lessen, CAFN continues to plan for our gradual return to more “normal” activities. We will continue to take a cautious approach in the event there is a “second wave” or increased risk of the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. As we plan and prepare, we want to hear from you, CAFN Citizens, so we can better respond and support you going forward. All CAFN Citizens were invited to complete CAFN’s COVID-19 Pandemic Survey online, which will inform our work going forward. |
| Do you have COVID-19 Questions or Concerns? If you have non-medical questions about COVID-19, email [email protected] or phone toll free to 1-877-374-0425. If you would like to report a possible infraction of a Yukon COVID-19 order, including compliance by non-resident travelers, you can email [email protected] or phone the toll-free InfoLine 1-877-374-0425. |
| COVID-19 Support There are many new financial supports available to help people during this pandemic. If you have questions on what supports are available, or need help to apply, please contact one of our CAFN Support Navigators: Ruth Haynes, Financial Literacy Coach – [email protected] or (867) 634-4200 x285 Holly Underschultz, Economic Development –[email protected] or (867) 456-6888 x332 CAFN Income Assistance support staff can also assist our CAFN clients |
| CAFN Offices Our offices are closed to the public, but we continue to provide many services. Please contact us if you have questions or need CAFN support. Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Haines Junction (867) 634-4200 Whitehorse (867) 456-6888 |