COVID-19 Daily News Digest – October 10, 2020
Warning about rising COVID-19 cases on First Nations, while Ontario and Quebec surge continues
“Given what we have seen in the last two weeks, there is little doubt the second wave of COVID-19 will hit Indigenous communities harder,” Minister of Indigenous Services Marc Miller said Thursday in Ottawa.There are currently 123 active cases of COVID-19 on reserves — the majority in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Thompson MLA wants a second COVID-19 testing site established in the city
“Northern Manitobans have made many sacrifices to flatten the curve and keep each other safe,” the NDP MLA said in an Oct. 8 press release. “Our seniors, elders and children are particularly vulnerable and we need to do everything we can to protect them as we head into flu season. A single outbreak in a school would overwhelm the health system here, and we know that the Thompson emergency room or acute care unit are not prepared for an influx of patients.”
Miller to discuss racism in health care with Indigenous leaders as COVID cases rise
“There are many instances across Canada where this continues to occur,” Miller said in a solemn news conference Thursday. “It is systemic. It is racist in nature. It’s unfair.”
Miller said Indigenous people have become too used to just being treated “like garbage” when they go to hospital, and that is unacceptable.
Indigenous services advises First Nations communities to stay the course ahead of a second wave of COVID-19
“We have to remember that this virus is very clever, it attacks all communities it finds a place to get into communities,” Wong warned. “If we don’t take it seriously this virus will run ahead of us but we want to run ahead of the virus.”
Another item of concern for ISC is the upcoming flu season and the fact that the uptake for the flu vaccine is lower among Indigenous people. Miller said it’s important to reduce the spread of seasonal flu using the same practices used to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council encourages provincial candidates to campaign virtually
“They need to do that hard work in reaching out with emails and phone calls because that’s a big part of our culture, inviting [and] being present,” says the council’s Vice President Mariah Charleson.
She is encouraging candidates to use online platforms to engage with First Nations communities as an alternative to in-person campaigning.
“We are definitely encouraging virtual [engagement] to allow our rural and remote communities to actively participate and to be aware so that they are fully informed when it comes to voting day.”
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a time for greater cultural awareness, recognition of obstacles
In the current global pandemic, these issues have come to the forefront of public awareness due to the increased mortality and long-term negative health effects experienced by people of color. Living in a moment where social isolation is the norm has created additional obstacles for Native American communities, who typically center much of their cultural identity around social activity.
It takes a collective: National network brings indigenous food project to downtown
“I-Collective stands for four principals: Indigenous, inspired, innovation and independent,” Glabus said. The goal is to have the collective at the restaurant for at least two months, but they may stay through the end of the year, said Aimee Francaes, who co-owns Belly of the Beast with her husband, Jesse Hassinger.
https://www.gazettenet.com/Indigenous-food-project-taking-place-at-Belly-of-the-Beast-36542984
COVID-19 Indigenous Community Funeral Guidelines
This document provides guidance to help supportIndigenous communities and family members to remain safe while attending funerals duringCOVID-19.
http://sixnations.ca/hpnsCovid-19IndigenousFuneralProtocolPosters.pdf
Opinion: Indigenous, police initiative shows bridges can be built – even in today’s environment
While historically, the relationship between Calgary Police Service and Calgary’s urban Indigenous community has often been difficult and rocky, two organizations have worked together to forge a new path, starting from the grassroots level.
In the past two years, the iitaohkanitsini’kotsiiyio’p (Place of Conversation) — also known as the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary’s Indigenous Hub — has worked on a model for improved relations between Indigenous people and law enforcement.