COVID-19 Daily News Digest – July 3, 2020
Chef Shawn Adler serves up a tasty webinar in celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day
“As we were doing our Pow Wow celebration online for the weekend, we really wanted to make sure we brought that kind of food component home,” Simard says. “So we invited Shawn Adler from Pow Wow Cafe to show everybody how to make a Pow Wow favourite with the Indian tacos. Those that pre-registered received all of the (ingredients) at home, including (bison) meat to make some chilli, and were able to follow along and create their own Pow Wow food experience.”
REDTalks Ziindaamaget brings community together to celebrate summer solstice
“Amongst our Indigenous residents here, we’ve heard a positive response that they were able to participate online,” says Regina Mandamin, manager, Indigenous Relations and Inclusion, City of Thunder Bay and a Wiikwemkoong citizen. “For us as Indigenous people, gathering as a community especially around the summer solstice is important to our culture so with these [coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic] protocols in place today, although they are for our general public health, it is difficult and it is a challenge for us to celebrate as we usually do. But I’m really happy everyone came together.”
Democracy Now! — Trump, Mount Rushmore, COVID-19 and the KKK
“Nothing stands as a greater reminder to the Great Sioux Nation of a country that cannot keep a promise or treaty than the faces carved into our sacred land on what the United States calls Mount Rushmore.” Vigorous, indigenous-led protests are planned.
Federal And State Officials Try To Better Understand Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women Cases
“Every single tribal member could tell you that they have a story of someone being murdered and no one caring enough to investigate,” Borchardt-Slayton said. “Even after being reported, law enforcement didn’t necessarily provide any type of missing persons report.”
“I want to ensure that we’re including our sovereign nations, so that we’re having an open and honest conversation and looking at how we move forward,” Romero said.
As Arizona COVID Cases Surge From Reopening, Indigenous Nations Suffer
In the last few weeks, Black Lives Matter brought national attention to this failure. Finally, all of us see what Native, Hispanic and Black Americans long knew: We live in a political, governmental and judicial system that treats Black and brown bodies as disposable. We are governed by a collective mindset that rigidly enforces economic disparity, political disenfranchisement, environmental injustice and extreme policing. The difficult but doable task facing all of us now is to create a future more equitable and just for Indigenous people.
Presumption COVID-19 case in Nunavut, may be territory’s first infection
“There is no need for Nunavummiut to worry about the spread of COVID-19 in relation to this case,” he said in a release Thursday.
“We wish this individual a quick recovery. Please remember that we all have a role to play in limiting the spread of COVID-19, and now is the time to stay vigilant with our public health measures.”
Ontario investing additional $150M in homeless shelters and longer-term housing
“Today’s investment builds on our collective efforts to help people get back on their feet quickly and recover from this global crisis. We will continue to be a champion for our municipal partners with the federal government to ensure a strong recovery for communities across the province.”
With this additional funding, the government is providing municipal service managers and urban Indigenous program administrators with $350 million through the Social Services Relief Fund.
https://dailyhive.com/toronto/ontario-invests-homeless-shelters-housing
More Than One-Third COVID-19 Deaths In Montana Were Native Americans
New analysis from the state health department shows Native Americans account for less than 7 percent of Montana’s population but were 36 percent of the 22 people who had died from Covid-19.
The report from Montana’s Department of Health and Human Services also found that Native Americans represent 15 percent of the state’s total cases, more than double their representation in Montana’s population.
https://www.mtpr.org/post/more-one-third-covid-19-deaths-montana-were-native-americans
Franco-Indigenous Intercultural Exchange program goes virtual
“We listened to our youth and we are sensitive to their continued desire to move forward virtually with this project,” said ACFO-SDG president Dianne Poirier. “Next fall, we are confident that we will celebrate the conclusion for this project by unveiling an authentic mural with the students and partners that will leave an indelible mark on this experience.”
‘Cancel Canada Day’: Indigenous Activists Protest ‘Ongoing Genocide’
Organized by the Idle No More movement, the march protested the “ongoing genocide” against Indigenous people and paid tribute to those who have lost their lives at the hands of the Canadian state.
“We will not celebrate the ongoing genocide within Canada against Indigenous people,” the organization said in a statement on its website.
https://time.com/5862510/cancel-canada-day-protests/
Funding announced for Indigenous community projects across Canada
The IPRF will support Indigenous-led organizations running projects at the community level that serve vulnerable populations especially affected by COVID-19. Eligible projects include ongoing programs that meet the eligibility criteria outlined in this document.
Examples of eligible organizations include: community groups; registered charities; registered not-for-profit organizations; and public bodies performing a function of government in Canada.