Two teachers at a First Nations school in Port Hardy have put together a video about COVID-19 with elders from GwaB次元官网网址檚ala and B次元官网网址楴akwaxdaB次元官网网址檟w First Nations, speaking their GwaB次元官网网址檚ala and B次元官网网址楴akB次元官网网址檞ala dialects.

B次元官网网址漁ur communities have been really concerned about COVID-19 entering our villages. The elders had some messages they wanted to share with the community of encouragement and safe practices,B次元官网网址� said Robin Rosborough, a pre-kindergarten teacher who created the video with Grades 2/3 teacher, Michelle Hinatsu.

The pair are also part of a language program, working with elders to record and teach GwaB次元官网网址檚ala and B次元官网网址楴akB次元官网网址檞ala languages. It was a natural fit then, to ask the elders to speak in their first languages for the video, sharing their cultural knowledge at the same time as urging people to make the safe choice.

The elders reminded people to wash hands, wear masks, keep distanced and take care of each other.

Hearing their voices itself is a reminder of who needs to be kept safe. Hearing the language, fluent to these elders whose childhoods were spent in Smith Inlet, Takush, and Blunden Harbour, 叠补B次元官网网址檃蝉, reminds how much there is still to learn.

B次元官网网址淛ust have patience. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a time coming when the virus will pass. If anything, we want to be all present and accounted for,B次元官网网址� said hereditary chief of NakB次元官网网址檞axdaB次元官网网址檟w Nation, Thomas Hi艂amas Henderson.

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