COVID-19 Daily News Digest – August 23, 2020
Lack of funding leaves First Nations schools unready: NAN
NAN maintains the First Nations it represents have received little to no additional funding to prepare schools for the pandemic. Its 49 communities, located in Treaty 9 and Treaty 5 territory, deliver education to nearly 9,000 elementary and secondary students.
Fox says the organization submitted a proposal for safe reopening to the federal government – which bears responsibility for First Nations education – about one month ago, requesting $33 million for precautions including personal protective equipment (PPE), enhanced cleaning, and additional staff.
Less than three weeks from the scheduled resumption of classes, they have yet to receive a response, he reports.
Danish journalist covering Indigenous opposition to Trans Mountain pipeline denied entry to Canada
A Danish journalist working on a documentary about Indigenous resistance to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in British Columbia was banned from entering Canada, despite presenting press credentials and a 14-day quarantine plan.
“I have been denied entry into Canada despite all press accreditation and paperwork in order. Was there to continue [my] documentary and coverage for [DR P1, a Danish news radio station] how the Canadian government uses COVID-19 to continue oil projects in secret and step on Indigenous people. Concerning for international press freedom,”
“It is an important issue for democratic rights and freedom of the press in the midst of the climate and coronavirus crisis.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/danish-journalist-transmountain-1.5697251
Grand Chiefs call for a return to travel restrictions in northern Manitoba
“The call to reinstate the northern travel order is a proactive measure by First Nations leadership to reduce and minimize risk the spread of COVID-19 as access to primary health care is not comparable to our neighbours in the south,” said Grand Chief Settee.
“I believe we can work in a proactive way that will be of mutual benefit to our First Nations and all Manitobans,” added AMC Grand Chief Dumas.
Mom adapts rites of passage due to COVID-19 for son’s first hunt
In normal circumstances, distributing the meat and quills from the animal would happen face-to-face, giving Keom the chance to tell everyone his hunting story in person. But because of the pandemic, the family decided it wasn’t a good idea to be going door-to-door.
Erickson decided to get Keom to write the story down. She said they’ll be sending it to people in the mail along with the quills when they’re finished cleaning and processing them all.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/porcupine-hunt-pandemic-rite-of-passage-1.5693882
If a crisis like COVID-19 hasn’t pushed government to take action to improve broadband access, what can?
To the millions of rural and low-income households in Canada that needed affordable, good quality broadband yesterday, Minister Monsef may as well be the “Politician Who Cried Internet.” These folks have been burned by decades of the same half-baked policies. What exactly is the government going to do differently this time around?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/opinion-erin-knight-internet-access-1.5682217