COVID-19 Daily News Digest – August 10, 2020
How art therapy could help your COVID-19 blues
“I think a lot of people throughout the pandemic are learning the benefits of being with ourselves, to ask ourselves: ‘how am I feeling?'” and make something from it,” says Santer.
Painting became a vital outlet for Santer as she adjusted to her new life as an art therapist with the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, far away from friends and family and familiar ground in Toronto.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/art-therapy-isolation-1.5675483
Potential COVID-19 exposure at two popular events puts Indigenous communities on alert
“We want to make sure we keep our members healthy and safe,” she said. “That’s the main reason, because we all know that among the First Nations we have certain living conditions that are different from the rest of Canadians.” Kistabish said there are no confirmed positive cases in communities in the area, but that doesn’t mean the virus isn’t circulating. She called for continued vigilance.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/indigenous-pilgrimage-festival-covid-vigilance-1.5676346
Alberta funding for five First Nations colleges
These grants will address technology and Wi-Fi access, support online programming development and delivery, and assist with improved cleaning protocols to meet COVID-19 standards. “First Nations colleges are cornerstones of their communities and we need to ensure they can continue to provide valuable and effective learning opportunities for their students, despite these unprecedented times.”
The long road to healthcare justice
He describes an increased focus on Indigenous eye health in training programs and an ambitious Reconciliation Action Plan. Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori flags are now displayed prominently at college events, Acknowledgement of Country and other Indigenous protocols are in use, and the college has introduced cultural safety training — a strategy for tackling racism that encourages health practitioners to reflect critically on their knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviour.
UN: indigenous peoples must be included in strategies against pandemic
“From the outset of the global pandemic, United Nations agencies have been working to uphold indigenous peoples’ rights. We have been helping to safeguard health and safety and provide access to social protection and economic opportunities,” UN Secretary-General said in a video message ahead of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Sunday. “Indigenous peoples,” he said, “must be consulted in all efforts to build back stronger and recover better.”
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2020-08/un-day-indigenous-peoples-guterres-message.html
Healing space part of new Indigenous mental health program at Parkwood Institute
“We know that the rate of mental illness and addictions among Indigenous people is more than double that of non-Indigenous individuals in Canada,” said Jodi Younger, vice-president of patient care and quality at St. Joseph’s. “And suicide rates among Indigenous youths are five times higher. There is clearly an urgent need for culturally safe, traditional healing programs as an integral part of care.”
Indigenous Peoples Hold the Past and Future of Food in Their Hands
For centuries, crop diversity has enriched the world, but has been taken out of the hands of Indigenous people in doing so. That story is only beginning to shift as the rest of the world starts to give Indigenous farmers the respect they are due. Community initiatives like the Parque de la Papa (Potato Park), in the primary region of potato diversity in the Andes of Peru, are connecting with worldwide conservation efforts on the farmers’ own terms.
Amazonian Indigenous Peoples and COVID-19: ‘We’re not still waiting for help as we know it’ll never arrive’
In response to this new danger, governments in Latin America have replicated the same historic patterns when facing the problems of Indigenous Peoples: indifference, inaction, and imposition. In some cases where action has been taken, health policies that do not respect cultural diversity are developed and implemented, and specific budgets for care for Indigenous Peoples are not assigned. But the Indigenous communities and organizations in the Amazon basin have not continued waiting for help that we know will never arrive.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/08/pueblos-indigenas-amazonia-covid19/
Five Extinction Rebellion protesters are arrested after campaigners poured fake blood on steps at Trafalgar Square and turned fountain water luminous yellow ‘in solidarity with indigenous people dying in Brazil’
The group – also known as XR – dyed London‘s iconic fountains bright yellow and red using food dye in their protest to mark International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
Protesters lay on the drenched steps pretending to be dead while a banner reading ‘indigenous emergency’ was held in the background. They aimed to raise awareness of the number of indigenous people in Brazil – the second worst-hit country in the world – dying from Covid-19.
Government of Canada invests in Quebec’s Indigenous businesses and communities
This financial assistance, granted by Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), will boost 18 projects led by Indigenous communities, business and organizations in the province. It will create good jobs in Indigenous communities by helping, for example, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake as they develop a strategic plan; the Société de développement économique Ilnu as it develops the Mashteuiatsh community’s assets; the Bande indienne des Micmacs de Listuguj as it builds a development strategy; and the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake as it develops commercial activities in the Mohawk community.
LETTER | Covid-19 and indigenous people’s resilience
In Batu Niah, Sarawak, the Iban villagers had taken upon themselves to impose a fine of RM2,000 for any outsiders entering their longhouse as a measure to stop the spread of Covid-19 among the residents. Apart from that, Ngabang; house to house and longhouse to longhouse visits during the Gawai Dayak festival; a one-month harvesting festival was substantially toned down to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. Communities had also resorted to sourcing for food and herbs from the surrounding jungles, as well as protecting their children from being exposed to other children.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/538013
Statement by the Prime Minister on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
“This year’s theme for the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is COVID-19 and Indigenous peoples’ resilience. Longstanding social and economic inequities mean Indigenous communities could be disproportionately affected by COVID-19. We acknowledge the work and strength of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leaders and communities to establish the needs and priorities within their communities and all the positive measures taken to protect their populations during this unprecedented time. We thank them for their leadership and for the work they have done to help limit the spread of COVID-19 in Canada. The Government of Canada will continue to work closely with Indigenous partners to address the health, economic, and social impacts of the pandemic through distinctions-based, community-led solutions.
Indigenous communities: Respect for land steeped in traditions
The 2019 Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) global assessment shone a light on the contribution of Indigenous People to landscape conservation. The report shows that environmental decline, land degradation and biodiversity loss occur at a slower rate in Indigenous-managed territories, findings with implications for scientists and policymakers, highlighting the value of supportive partnerships.
Brazil’s top court backs special protection for indigenous communities, but won’t set timeline for exit of outsiders
“It was a great victory,” said Dinaman Tuxa, executive-coordinator of APIB, an indigenous group that brought the lawsuit against the government along with six political parties, describing the ruling as a historic reparation for injustices against indigenous people even before the pandemic.
“If it wasn’t for [the court], this demand would be still in the drawers of the Executive and the Legislative,” he said.
https://cnnphilippines.com/world/2020/8/9/brazil-special-protection-indigenous-communities.html
UN chief spotlights indigenous peoples’ resilience in face of COVID-19 pandemic
“In the face of such threats, indigenous peoples have demonstrated extraordinary resilience,” declared Guterres in the message, urging countries to marshal the resources to respond to their needs, honor their contributions and respect their inalienable rights. Indigenous peoples must be consulted in all efforts to build back stronger and recover better, he added, noting that from the outset of the global pandemic, UN agencies have been working to uphold indigenous peoples’ rights.