COVID-19 Daily News Digest – August 6, 2020
New partnership to support Indigenous students in La Ronge and La Loche
“The impact of COVID-19 has been substantial to all of our students and communities, especially those in northern Saskatchewan,” Geordy McCaffery, GDI’s executive director, said. “GDI’s priority right now is the health and safety of our students as we navigate through this pandemic. Thanks to the generous partnership with United Way of Saskatoon and Area, we can equip our northern learning centres and students with everything they need to learn safely and remotely.”
Coronavirus: One new case in Peterborough area brings total to 4 active cases
As of Tuesday’s update, 99 total cases have been confirmed positive in the City and County of Peterborough as well as Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations. Ninety-three of those cases have been resolved.
COVID Alert app could result in some people being ID’d
The federal government’s new COVID Alert app doesn’t offer 100 per cent privacy and could allow some who test positive for the coronavirus to be identified, particularly those who live in small communities or who don’t interact with many people.
When the government unveiled the app on Friday, it stressed that users’ privacy is protected because it “has no way of knowing your location, your name or address,” among other details.
Those who download the app and later test positive enter a special code to notify people who have been near them for at least 15 minutes sometime over the previous two weeks. The notification doesn’t identify who tested positive and maintains their privacy, the government said.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid-alert-app-privacy-1.5674392
LAKE COUCHICHING BOATING EVENT CALLED “TIPPING POINT” BY RAMA FIRST NATIONS
“Rama leadership have expressed their concerns directly to the organizer, demanding cancellation of the event out of respect for the community and to protect against COVID-19 infection,”“We have been aware that many boaters have been gathering and enjoying this beautiful spot over the years,” continued the Rama First Nations statement. “There has been an unwritten understanding for people to stay off our sacred lands. We know there are some visitors who have no respect for private property or Mother Earth. As a means to curb the trespassing, we have encouraged our members to occupy the space by utilizing the cabins on the Island to deter guests in the bay.”
Six Nations will remain in Stage 2
“We’re continuing to monitor our pandemic response and we’re confident we’re in a good position within our recovery plan,” Lori Davis-Hill, the director of health services on Six Nations, said. “However, we must remain committed to the plan and reduce any risks to increased exposures and spread of the virus.
There have been 15 positive cases and one death on Six Nations due to COVID-19. Community members are being encouraged to exercise caution and avoid situations that increase their risk to exposure which could leave front line health workers overwhelmed and exhaust local supports.
The government has forgotten the Indigenous Peoples of Colombia
We want a future where our sons and daughters can live here in peace. That is why we urge the government, at the national, departmental and local levels, to guarantee the rights and basic needs of our Indigenous community. Despite all the challenges we face, we continue to fight for recognition of our governance, for the title to our ancestral lands and for the development of a public policy for the protection of social leaders and human rights defenders.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/08/olvidado-pueblos-indigenas-colombia/
Drone Delivery Canada confirms commercial agreement for COVID-19 project
Drone Delivery Canada announces that with the assistance of its sales agent Air Canada and the Pontiac Group, it has entered into a commercial agreement with the Georgina Island First Nation (“GIFN”) to deploy DDC’s patented drone delivery solution to provide service to the GIFN community in Ontario.
Virus kills leading Brazil indigenous chief Aritana
“He was a great advocate in the struggle to preserve and perpetuate his people’s culture for future generations and a tireless activist against the effects of deforestation,” his family said in a statement.
Known for sporting his traditional feather headdress, jewelry and body paint even at meetings with international dignitaries, Aritana was diagnosed with the new coronavirus about two weeks ago, after having trouble breathing.
https://news.yahoo.com/virus-kills-leading-brazil-indigenous-chief-aritana-155238863.html
Indigenous leaders ‘losing faith’ in environmental protection amid oilsands monitoring budget cuts
The comments come after the Canadian Press reported that Alberta and the federal government signed a deal to reduce the budget for fieldwork on the main branch of the Athabasca River by roughly 25 per cent, to $44 million, in 2020, down from $58 million in 2019.When asked about the smaller budget for environmental monitoring of the oilsands on Edmonton AM on Wednesday, Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s environment and climate change minister, said “there was no decision to cut anything,” and that the budget cuts are a result of a shortened research season due to COVID-19.
Top court rules Brazil must protect Indigenous population in pandemic
The case was filed by the Indigenous organization APIB and six opposition parties after Bolsonaro last month vetoed parts of a bill that Congress approved to safeguard Indigenous groups from the pandemic, including one to require the provision of drinking water, disinfectants and personal hygiene goods. The president said the vetoed sections would force expenditures without demonstrating the budgetary impact, which would be unconstitutional.
Seven First Nations Celebrate Treaty 1 Signing
Meeches says they unveiled a new Treaty 1 flag at Lower Fort Garry and it will continue to fly there in the future. He adds that in 2017 they initiated a Legacy Flag project and all seven First Nations involved in Treaty 1 each had their flags flying at the Fort as well.
The new flag represents the Treaty and its colours, sending a message saying that so long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow, the Treaty will be in effect. Meeches explains it has components including the red circle of the sun in the middle representing Indigenous people, with seven rays representing the seven First Nations that comprise the Treaty.
https://portageonline.com/local/seven-first-nations-celebrate-treaty-1-signing