COVID-19 Daily News Digest – June 10, 2020
‘Art reflects reality.’ Capturing Indigenous worlds in video games
He doesn’t want to create a game about competition or solving puzzles. He’s looking to make a 3D environment where he can expand on his Inuvialuit culture and explore the histories and stories of his people in a “cinematic experience.”
Legal experts call for halt to ‘mining as usual’ during pandemic
The letter notes that leadership in remote communities, many of which are already struggling to deal with ongoing issues such as inadequate housing and lack of clean water, are simply being stretched too thin by the added demands posed by the pandemic. It also points to the vulnerability of such communities to potential outbreaks.
‘Birthing a nation’ during a pandemic: Indigenous doulas try to maintain practices and protocols from afar
‘Traditionally, historically, culturally, we would not birth where we take our sick and dying — that is not our system … I hope that you know whether you’re Indigenous or non-Indigenous that this was a wake-up call,’ says Glenda Abbott, an Indigenous birth worker in Saskatchewan.
Alberta Bans Pipeline Protests in Totally Normal Move
In a statement to VICE, AER spokesperson Shawn Roth said the agency made the decision to scrap some of its environmental monitoring processes to comply with COVID-19 orders issued under the Public Health Act.
“Because the public health orders limit physical interactions, industry, like all Albertans, have been challenged to conduct day to day activities and still comply with the orders that are in place to protect public health,” he said.
COVID-19 testing underway in Wabaseemoong
“The person was ill and developed symptoms last week, was tested, and has now tested positive for COVID-19. We are working with collaborating both with the community and the First Nations Inuit Health Branch on the follow-up on the case.”
https://www.drydennow.com/local/covid-19-testing-underway-in-wabaseemoong
COVID-19: Montana tribes maintain closures to protect elders, culture
Several tribal leaders have pointed southwest to the deadly outbreak in the Navajo Nation as evidence of the need for strict measures to ward off outbreaks. There, in the reservation that covers a swath of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, more than 5,300 people had tested positive for the virus and at least 246 had died through Sunday. So far, none of Montana’s tribes has had an outsize virus outbreak, but small clusters have left many wary.
https://missoulacurrent.com/business/2020/06/montana-tribes-covid/
Indigenous communities offer pandemic lessons
The resilience of remote First Nations in the face of these outbreaks may encourage changes in how we plan and manage our living spaces. Perhaps the orientation towards higher density, high-rise urban centres should change.
Why Social Justice Is Central to Treating COVID-19
COVID-19 has revealed how looking at differences in health through biology alone is limited. It is not sufficient in addressing this pandemic. If people perceive inequities as inevitable, they resign marginalized communities to poor health outcomes. When health providers and the health system take accountability for our inequitable health care system, they can better serve patients and communities.
Ottawa agrees to overhaul policing in Indigenous communities
“The tragic and offensive incidents that we have seen over the past several weekdays have reminded us of the urgency of action and we are committed to act,” Blair added.
“We have been working very closely with the territories in particular with respect to delivery of professional, culturally competent and respectful police services that can be wholly accountable to the territory and the community,” he said.
Race-based COVID-19 data collection should be mandatory, says City of Vancouver committee
“Unfortunately, we are not really able to get a proper look because that information is voluntary, we need it to be mandatory,” committee member Kevonnie Whyte said Monday on The Early Edition.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/city-committee-race-data-covid19-1.5604442
How First Nations are finding ways to keep COVID-19—and outsiders—at bay
Webber, one of the signatories of the letter, says the province is sending a potentially deadly mixed message by advising the public to stay home while granting permission to fish, hunt and travel around First Nation territories. A housing shortage in the village of Bella Coola, part of which lies within Nuxalk reserve land, has led to overcrowding, he notes, with anywhere from five to 15 people occupying a single home, making community spread almost impossible to control if a carrier gets past their checkpoint or alights on their shore. “They’re holding a gun to our heads by allowing people to come in here,” he says.
AP PHOTOS: Manaus indigenous struggle for care amid pandemic
The new coronavirus has hit Sônia Vilacio twice. The first time was when tourists disappeared from Manaus. Like the rest of the artisans in the Sateré Mawé Women’s Association who earn a living selling their arts and crafts, she was left without an income. Soon after, she fell ill with a fever, shortness of breath and a cough, telltale signs of COVID-19.
Canadian Rangers supporting 30 First Nations in Northern Ontario
“At this time it appears that all the rivers on the coasts are at low risk of flooding,” said Major Charles Ohlke, a company commander with 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, which commands the Canadian Rangers in the Far North of Ontario. “That’s a combination of the river monitoring that Rangers have done themselves in their communities, monitoring the break-up as it progresses, as well as reports from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests, who are our provincial partners.”