Campaign launched in northwestern Canada to address impact of COVID-19 on families

One of the images used to illuminate the stresses of COVID-19 confinement in the joint campaign from the government in Canada’s northwestern Yukon territory and the Council of Yukon First Nations. (Government of Yukon/Council of Yukon First Nations)
The government of Canada’s northwestern Yukon territory, along with the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN), have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the resources available for families struggling with the consequences of COVID-19.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created a number of new challenges for Yukon First Nations families and communities,” said Peter Johnston, grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations.

“The Council of Yukon First Nations recognizes these challenges and we want to ensure our most vulnerable people are supported.”

In a joint news release on Thursday, the government and the CYFN said months of confinement and social distancing are taking a toll on some families.

The second ad from the new campaign looks to sensatize people to social impacts on children during COVID-19. (Government of Yukon/Council of Yukon First Nations)

“Family violence, substance use and child maltreatment may have increased within families due to an array of factors such as the reduction in child care, social isolation and general anxiety due to the pandemic,” the joint news release said. 

“Collective responsibility”

One ad publicizes the CYFN’s Family Preservation Services and the Government of Yukon’s Family and Children’s Services as places families under strain can reach out to, to find out what supports are available.

Another ad reminds people that the Government of Yukon’s Family and Children’s Services can be contacted if someone witnesses a child in crisis and are concerned about their safety and well-being. 

“These are difficult times for many Yukon families, but please remember that you are not alone and that supports are available to help you cope,” said Pauline Frost, Yukon’s Minister of Health and Social Services in a news release.  “And we also want to remind Yukoners that caring for children and youth is a collective responsibility, if you have concerns about a child in your community, please share them with us.”

Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca

Related stories from around the North:

Canada: Inuit gov. in Labrador, Canada tells out-of-province travellers to stay away despite ‘Atlantic bubble’, Eye on the Arctic

Finland: Finland joins other Nordic countries in virtual tourism due to pandemic, Yle News

Greenland: Greenland extends COVID-19 entry requirements until July 20, Eye on the Arctic

Iceland: Iceland lowers price of on-arrival COVID-19 testing, Eye on the Arctic

Norway: Norwegian Arctic wilderness tourism hit particularly hard by coronavirus, The Independent Barents Observer

Russia: All Russia’s North Pole cruises rescheduled to 2021, Eye on the Arctic

Sweden: Sweden seen as major source of COVID-19 in Western Finland region, Yle News

United States: Airline shutdown creates new challenges for rural Alaska, The Associated Press

Eilís Quinn, Eye on the Arctic

Eilís Quinn is an award-winning journalist and manages Radio Canada International’s Eye on the Arctic news cooperation project. Eilís has reported from the Arctic regions of all eight circumpolar countries and has produced numerous documentary and multimedia series about climate change and the issues facing Indigenous peoples in the North.

Her investigative report "Death in the Arctic: A community grieves, a father fights for change," about the murder of Robert Adams, a 19-year-old Inuk man from Arctic Quebec, received the silver medal for “Best Investigative Article or Series” at the 2019 Canadian Online Publishing Awards. The project also received an honourable mention for excellence in reporting on trauma at the 2019 Dart Awards in New York City.

Her report “The Arctic Railway: Building a future or destroying a culture?” on the impact a multi-billion euro infrastructure project would have on Indigenous communities in Arctic Europe was a finalist at the 2019 Canadian Association of Journalists award in the online investigative category.

Her multimedia project on the health challenges in the Canadian Arctic, "Bridging the Divide," was a finalist at the 2012 Webby Awards.

Her work on climate change in the Arctic has also been featured on the TV science program Découverte, as well as Le Téléjournal, the French-Language CBC’s flagship news cast.

Eilís has worked for media organizations in Canada and the United States and as a TV host for the Discovery/BBC Worldwide series "Best in China."

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