La Loche remains the epicentre of the biggest COVID-19 outbreak in Saskatchewan, but many in the region speak little or no English.
That makes it harder to follow public health advice. Diane Janvier Dugan’s mother and sisters live in La Loche. She noticed it was harder to relay information to her family when she would talk to them about the virus.
So she decided to create videos entirely in Dene to help people in the community — and anyone who speaks the Indigenous language — know how to protect themselves. “I know for sure my mom, the only way she would understand is if it was explained in Dene because she does not speak English and I thought ‘Okay, well, I can do this,’” Janvier said.