COVID 19 Daily News Digest – April 23, 2020
Urban Indigenous left behind by Ottawa’s COVID-19 response
While there was no deadline or application for Indigenous communities looking to access government funds, community organizations in urban settings had to put together a proposal by April 13.
Sheppard-Buote said the application process and tight deadline put undue burden on organizations who are already struggling to serve their communities. He said some community organizations simply don’t have the capacity, and are therefore disqualified from any COVID-19 relief funding at all.
Traditional crafters Indigenizing face masks during COVID-19 pandemic
During the bubonic plague era in Europe, plague doctors wore masks with extended bird-like beaks stuffed with aromatic plants or spices.
In Gull’s version, the thunder bolt represents ceremony, the three circles on the bottom of the beak represent life and the beaded flowers represent the medicines on the land.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indigenous-arts-crafts-mask-coronavirus-1.5541049
‘Wasn’t a blueprint to do it,’ but isolation centre has already welcomed nearly 30 homeless Winnipeggers
Each person’s length of stay is about four days on average, because that’s how long it takes for tests results to come back, he said. No one who has stayed at the isolation centre has tested positive for the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-homeless-main-street-project-covid-19-1.5541349
Sagkeeng First Nation declares state of emergency, bars non-band members due to COVID-19
Under the emergency measures bylaw, the First Nation also will implement a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for those living in the community, though exceptions will be made for essential and emergency service vehicles.
Sagkeeng band members will be permitted to enter and exit Sagkeeng during the designated times, but the band council is encouraging them to follow strict safety precautions.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/sagkeeng-first-nation-covid-19-state-of-emergency-1.5541156
Manitoba school divisions working to provide free Wi-Fi as pandemic leaves students learning at home
“If you’re the one kid that can’t participate in the class meeting … the worry is those kids will slip further behind and have a harder time catching up,” he said.
“So anything we can do to kind of keep kids on pace with their peers, making progress, and socially engaged with their teachers and peers is just the the right thing to do.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/wi-fi-access-7-oaks-1.5541384
COVID-19 risk to Indigenous communities will rise when provinces ease lockdowns, says federal official
However, he expects pressure soon from community members to loosen restrictions as the issue triggers more discussion in the news.
Some community members have seen a pause in their planned counselling sessions for issues like dealing with grief and residential schools and they want to restart them, even if it means flying to Thunder Bay.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/coronavirus-risk-first-nations-lockdowns-1.5541780
COVID-19 in Sask: 6 new cases, all from northern regions
6 new cases confirmed April 22.
5 of those in far north region, 1 in north region.
61 cases considered active.
5 people hospitalized, one in intensive care.
12 cases recorded in La Loche area
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/covid-19-in-sask-april-22-1.5540874
Thunder Bay District Health Unit confirms 4 new COVID-19 cases, 2 requiring hospital care
All four cases involve girls or women under 50, with three coming from First Nation communities in the region, the TBDHU outlined in a written release.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/thunder-bat-health-unit-4-covid19-young-1.5541550
Mohawk community of Akwesasne opens its own COVID-19 testing site
“Having our residents seen by our own, local medical professionals and caregivers also adds a sense of calming to what is already a very stressful situation for those seeking testing.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/akwesasne-mohawk-coronavirus-testing-1.5539846
How N.W.T Indigenous communities are adapting funeral practices during pandemic
In Tulita, a funeral mass was held on the radio for elder Gabe Horrassi. The community allowed people to wait in their vehicles for their turn to pay their respects one-on-one.
Paul Andrew, one of Horassi’s family members, told CBC on April 1 the family supported the altered funeral plan.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-indigenous-communities-funerals-1.5540687
Fort Liard First Nation postpones election due to COVID-19
There is nothing in the First Nation’s election code that deals with a postponement or rescheduling of an election.
The First Nation has a custom elections code, meaning the elections practices are set for and by its membership, Devlin said. A review of the elections code was set to begin after the election and was going to include a section on what to do if an election has to be postponed.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/fort-liard-first-nation-election-covid-1.5541358
Indigenous friendship centres hit hard by skyrocketing requests for help, advocate says
Friendship centres vary in the services they offer, but they provide everything from referrals for shelter and employment to addictions counselling and hot lunches.
Centres are now getting new requests from Indigenous people who don’t normally access their services. People who are laid off from their jobs, or who live in nearby towns or First Nations communities.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-friendshipcentre-covid-19-funds-1.5541718