IRC: COVID-19 Resource Page

April 05, 2020

IRC will update and add to this resource page in serving the interest of health as well as economic support for Inuvialuit during COVID-19.

IRC Non-Essential Closure and Staff Working from Home Notice as of March 19.

Health Resources directly related to coronavirus COVID-19:

The World Health Organization has many updated posters (scroll down on their page) and links to situation reports and technical, health advice you can read:

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

Government of Canada latest news on COVID-19 with information about the virus, the outbreak in Canada and Canada’s response:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

The situation in GNWT, updated daily, as well as travel restrictions, restrictions on public gathering, and current advice from GNWT’s Chief Public Health Officer:

https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/services/coronavirus-disease-covid-19

*Residents can contact protectnwt@gov.nt.ca or call 1-833-378-8297 between the hours of 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week for more information and to report anyone not following self-isolation requirements after travel, or with any concerns or questions you may have.

***If you are experiencing any symptoms, fever or cough, or to be tested, please CALL public health and health centre phone numbers in your community for guidance:

Aklavik 867-978-2516, Inuvik: 867-490 –2225, Paulatuk 867-580-3231, Sachs Harbour 867-690-4181, Tuktoyaktuk 867-977-2321, Ulukhaktok 867-396-3111 (shortness of breath call 911).

Mental Health Resources and help lines for you to call:

For crisis situations call 911, your local emergency number or call any of the following 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Hope for Wellness Helpline 1-855-242-3310, Canada Suicide Prevention Service 1-833-456-4566 or text or chat @crisisservicescanada.ca, National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255, NWT Helpline 1-800-661-0844 (some delays reported due to more calls during COVID-19), Kids Helpline 1-800-668-6868 or crisis text 686868, Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Helpline 1-800-265-3333.

For non-emergency GNWT Community Counselling, you can call Aklavik (867) 978-2941, Inuvik (867) 777-8101, Paulatuk is reached via (867) 777-8101, Tuktoyaktuk Wellness worker and Child, Youth, Family Counsellor (867) 977-2511, ext.5, Sachs Harbour Wellness Worker (867) 690-4181, Ulukhaktok (867) 396-3024. They can also help you access help for children 3-17 and families, through collaboration with Strongest Families Institute (SFI) programming.

Mental Health and Additions at GNWT Department of Health and Social Services can be reached at 867-767-9061 and mha@gov.nt.ca

IRC may be able to help access free counselling through NIHB (some changes in service as counsellors no longer are travelling in), contact counselling@inuvialuit.com

Links to Economic Supports if you have lost employment due to COVID-19:

CANADA.

Apply for EI with Canada call 1-800-206-7218 or online. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-sickness/apply.html Requirements around medical certificates have been waived during COVID-19, and for assistance if you need to self-isolate. Those who qualify for EI will automatically be enrolled in CERB, below.

Canadas Econonic Response Benefit (CERB), click to see if you qualify (have made $5,000 of income in the past year and are not expecting income due to COVID-19). The telephone number to apply is 1-800-959-2019. CERB provides $500 a week for up to 16 weeks. This number will be available starting April 6, 2020. You should have your SIN number and postal code available.

Direct Deposit for EI and CERB to be paid faster, apply here.

If you require assistance accessing these services, you are asked to fill in this online information. A Service Canada officer will contact you within 2 business days.

For low-income households who may need additional support, this is what has been announced:

CANADA:

A Goods and Services Tax credit one-time special payment. The average additional payment will be close to $400 for single individuals and close to $600 available by early May. You do not need to apply (if you filed 2018 income tax and qualify).

Additional Canada Child Benefit payment. If you have an eligible child under your care in May 2020, you will receive $300 more per child in addition to your regular payment, No need to reapply. If you are caring for a child, and need to apply, or you can call 1-800-387-1193; or, for Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut: 1-866-426-1527.

GNWT:

Find out about Income Security Programs for COVID-19 including Income Assistance, Home Heating Subsidy for Elders over 60 (SHHS), and Student Financial Assistance (SFA).

*Those already registered with Income Assistance as clients as of March will receive a 14-day supply of food and cleaning products as the stores have them available. Individuals are receiving $500 and families are receiving $1,000 in order to focus on the productive choice of taking care of themselves and their families. All current Income Assistance clients are being asked to update their statements and authorizations. Clients do not have to report each month in the interest of not having to report in-person and will continue to receive consistent payments. New clients will work over the phone, Beaufort Delta Client Services Officer (CSO) is wanda_mcdonald@gov.nt.ca 1-855-283-9311

Current IRC Support:

On The Land Expression of Interest, IRC asks that you contact ontheland@inuvialuit.com with Your name and contact (phone or email), How many people you will take out and their names, Location of your camp or cabin and how you will get there, How long you will go out on the land, Level of experience on the land and communication/emergency plan. IRC Health & Wellness Division staff processing these applications will get back to you as soon as they can after receiving your email information. If you have already left the community for your camp to spend an extended time on the land, IRC encourages you to save your grocery and fuel receipts for a possible reimbursement upon return. Those outside the ISR who can go on the land can contact ontheland@inuvialuit.com.

(Elders one-time emergency payment and one-time CFI applications for families have been used in full to provide emergency one-time relief for bulk orders of groceries and access to cleaning supplies. IRC asks for patience of beneficiaries at this time. See supports IRC was able to fund by these emergency interim measures).

Community Hunts are funded in ISR communities to fill freezers and provide food to community members.

IRC will update this resource page as information becomes available and as additional supports are announced.

IRC is now planning for the duration and is working on additional precautionary measures and and identifying both longer-term and wider funding for Inuvialuit who need it and will be most affected by COVID-19, as well as ways to ensure food security and essential service to the Region.

See Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami website news for work IRC is doing arrange Regional funding support directly with Government of Canada and alongside other Inuit groups.

NT5