COVID-19 Daily News Digest – August 12, 2020
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITS ADDITIONAL $41 MILLION IN COVID-19 SUPPORT TO INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES
The funding was announced on Sunday during the United Nations’ International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. The funding is separate from the federal government’s nearly $1 billion commitment to the RDAs and the Community Futures Network to support businesses and projects during the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘Keeping the culture alive’: Native dance goes digital during pandemic
In March, Rosales created a space on Facebook allowing families, schools and businesses to host virtual Native dance competitions from afar.
Four months later, “Quarantine Dance Specials 2020” has more than 71,000 members and hundreds of video submissions from Indigenous dancers in Canada and the United States.
“These specials are not a powwow … but it does feel good to be able to get dressed and put our outfits on and dance.”
Indigenous Mexicans turn inward to survive COVID-19, barricading villages and growing their own food
Across much of Oaxaca, villagers are building barricades made of chain, stones and wood to physically block access into and out of their communities, which are typically served by only one road. Many villages are effectively quarantined from society.
“We decided to set up these barriers so that visitors or outsiders wouldn’t be coming in,” José Manzano, of San Isidro del Palmar, told Global Press Journal on June 28.
Wiikwemkoong receives 575 critical aid kits
Based on feedback from Indigenous communities and leaders, Hydro One partnered with GlobalMedic to deliver 10,000 kits of food and safety supplies to First Nation communities across Ontario.
Southeast Asia’s indigenous groups call for self-determination during COVID-19
“COVID-19 has been used as a trojan horse to intimidate, arrest, plan false charges and conduct military campaigns,” said Gam A. Shimray, secretary general of Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), in a statement this week. “It has also been used to weaken or suspend safeguards and rights regarding Indigenous Peoples. It will not be surprising if we see more attacks on Indigenous human rights defenders and plunder our resources in the name of economic recovery for the sake of national interests following the pandemic.”
Climate, crude, and COVID devastate Ecuador’s Amazon
Caught between the pandemic, historic flooding, and governmental negligence, Ecuador’s Indigenous people have launched an international appeal to crowdsource rebuilding efforts, and a COVID-19 monitoring platform with help from international environmental groups. As of early August, nearly 2,000 Indigenous people have tested positive for COVID-19, and almost 40 deaths have been recorded in the monitored territories.
How Indigenous Hikers Are Reclaiming America’s Most Famous trails
As an adult Valera started hiking not as an act of reclamation, but for her own self-care and healing. She started posting about her hikes on social media and gained a following. That following included other Indigenous women. In 2018, Varela was planning her biggest hike yet—the entire 200-mile Nüümü Poyo—and originally thought she would do it by herself. But then women wanted to join, she says. Soon, there was a core group of seven Native women hiking the trail together, and others meeting them along the way. The journey birthed Varela’s organization, Indigenous Women Hike
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-indigenous-hikers-are-reclaiming-americas-most-famous-trails
The Best Work You May Never See: W+K São Paulo Launches “So What?” To Protect Brazil’s Native Tribes From COVID-19
“So what?” That’s how President Jair Bolsonaro replied in April when a journalist asked him about the more than 5,000 deaths caused by COVID-19.
Maurício Ye’kwana, a native Brazilian leader and director of the Hutukara Yanomami Association, emphasizes that the video is yet another attempt to pressure the authorities to remove the artisanal miners from their lands. “This video aims to show our struggle for survival. It means to pressure the Brazilian government to fulfill its role and remove the trespassers from our lands. We must sign the petition, please help us make the government remove these invaders.”
How the Native Women’s Shelter beat COVID-19 on their own terms
Aside from adopting new ways of working, shelter staff who’d recovered from COVID-19 also had to contend with conflicting information from the CIUSS and public health about when it was safe to return to work — the former said you needed two negative tests, while the latter said that workers could simply return 14 days after symptoms had subsided.
Walgett in western NSW running out of food, Indigenous bodies tell inquiry
They concluded by calling for a national food and nutrition strategy that prioritised community involvement in food policy, as well as for the health of rivers and groundwater to be restored.
Virtual walkathon to support Indigenous community in Kingston
“There’s obviously been lots of unfortunate incidents lately around the school regarding racism and oppression, and many of these have been hateful acts targeted towards our Indigenous community,” Davies said. “So what we wanted to do was find a way to show support for our Indigenous students at the school as well in the community.”
Indigenous artists happy to be part of Ottawa’s drive-in concert series
An Ottawa series of concerts is part of RBC Bluesfest Drive-In 2020 – the COVID-19 response to the RBC Bluesfest usually scheduled for July.
This year’s adaptation of the music festival has concertgoers enjoying shows from their parked vehicles, drive-in movie style.
Northern Manitoba still on high alert despite no COVID-19 cases
“It is a relief that we have not had any cases, but I do not believe we should not let our guard down. The chances of getting the virus in the north are raised, considering the number of new cases starting in the province, so it is important that we keep our guard up at all times,” said Thompson mayor Colleen Smook.
‘Back to school, but doing it in a safe way’: 2 Sask. First Nations detail plans for fall
Under the plan, the maximum number of students per room will be 15, and there will be Plexiglas barriers for each desk and in common areas. There will also be extra portable sinks and foot-pump sanitation stations throughout the building.
Older students will wear masks when distancing isn’t possible and they’re not behind a barrier or outside. Teachers and students younger than Grade 3 will be provided with face shields.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/education-plans-unveiled-sask-first-nations-1.5682489