COVID-19 Daily News Digest – June 22, 2020
National Indigenous Peoples Day will look a little different in N.W.T. this year
“In the meantime,” reads the post, “Acho Dene Koe First Nation encourages everyone to have their own day of recognition and self-reflection.” It urges members to still celebrate the diversity of Dene cultures and the outstanding achievements of First Nations people.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/national-indigenous-peoples-day-covid-19-1.5620326
National Indigenous Day sparks conversation on racism, reconciliation in Calgary
Aboriginal Awareness Week Calgary (AAWC) chose to celebrate with a “virtual reading book,” posting videos on social media throughout the day, including a pipe ceremony from Blackfoot Elder Camille (Pablo) Russell Jr, multiple traditional music performances, and social distancing powwow dancers.
Re-futuring as recovery for the arts
For us at BlakDance, recovery is better positioned as ‘Re-futuring’. This means embedding the needs of all the First Nations dance sector as part of the national recovery phase. But we don’t want things to remain the same, we want to shift the status quo. BlakDance wants to see a long overdue cohort of Indigenous small-to-medium dance companies established and our sector wants First Nations independence across our entire industry ecology. We want our own venues and touring circuits. Where is the First Nations peak body for theatre and music?
Local Knowledge Keepers working to maintain Indigenous education during pandemic
Over the past few months, the Kamloops Aboriginal Education Society, and the School District 73 Aboriginal Education team have been working with local Knowledge Keeper Bernice Jensen to produce educational videos about Indigenous traditions and culture.
The videos can be found on Jensen’s YouTube channel, (Accessed here), and cover topics including plants and their uses, smudging and sage harvesting, bannock making, and traditional hand drum songs
Rallies to be held in Garden River and Batchewana
The rallies come in the wake of the Anishinabek Police Services (a federal and provincially funded police force) issuing threats to raid cannabis dispensaries on unceded Indian lands in Garden River, and efforts by Indian Act Chief and Council to shut down cannabis dispensaries and a community garden in unceded Territory in Batchewana.
Nanaimo celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day more important than ever
“It begins to connect all Canadian citizens with who all of the Indigenous people are,” Bremner said. “I think in moving forward and the growth of our country, that’s an important piece for a portion of our population.”
Regional chief calls on Quebecers to act beyond words on Indigenous Peoples Day
“Tragic circumstances have drawn everyone’s attention to totally unacceptable manifestations of discrimination and racism, events that have cost the lives of human beings and that also compromise the life of a society,” wrote Picard. “As we did for COVID-19, we must all face this other scourge, that of the rejection of the Other.”
Ontario Supporting Indigenous-Owned Businesses During COVID-19 with Loan Program
“Indigenous businesses are experiencing revenue shortfalls at this time, as many are located in rural or remote areas and operate in hard-hit service sectors such as tourism, hospitality and retail,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs. “This funding responds to their unique challenges and will help them get back up and running so they can contribute to the rebuilding of the provincial economy.”
Indigenous chef from Edmonton looks to break racial barriers with pop-up restaurant
While many people celebrate either inside their homes or online, Iserhoff decided to offer up a pop up restaurant to share his Indigenous culture.
“Indigenous people are put in a box where we can’t do… I have to stick to bannock and stew, I can’t be creative but that’s a barrier I want to break down,” Iserhoff said.
N.S. premier honours National Indigenous Peoples Day, acknowledges systemic racism
“We continue to develop resources in our schools and have made the promotion of Mi’kmaw culture a major part of our Culture Action Plan,” said McNeil. “I am proud of how much we have achieved together to recognize the Mi’kmaw language, promote treaty education and celebrate Mi’kmaw culture and heritage, and I look forward to accomplishing much more.”
5 years after Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous athletes say sports programs have not done enough
Five years after Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommended sports programs reduce barriers and become more inclusive of Indigenous athletes, a panel of experts say not enough has been done to reach that goal.
“In the Indigenous world, it’s far more important. It is a suicide preventer. It’s leadership building. The TRC included [sports] because they understood their community-building capacity.”
Alberta-born model is one of the faces of new Nike ad campaign
A woman from the Enoch Cree Nation is being featured in a new Nike ad. Ashley Callingbull is part of the campaign for the company’s new shoes, inspired by Indigenous culture.
This is the first campaign I’ve done where it’s about intergenerational healing and about how the land helps you heal, being in tune with your spiritual, mental and physical so it’s a big message,” she told CTV News Edmonton.
https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/alberta-born-model-is-one-of-the-faces-of-new-nike-ad-campaign-1.4993910
Quebec-Labrador First Nations chief skeptical of Legault’s racism committee
“There are politicians who are afraid to call things by their name, to call a spade a spade, a beaver a beaver, and who put their own political interests ahead of promoting harmonious coexistence,” he said in an apparent allusion to Premier François Legault’s refusal to recognize systemic racism in Quebec.
A cornerstone of Indigenous culture – Celebrating the SLCC on National Indigenous Peoples Day
“That eureka I’m-an-idiot-moment was [realizing] this is not unprecedented, that they have lived through this before,” Paul explains. “For us [non-Indigenous] Canadians, this is a new fear. For the nations, this is an old, old fear. This is a deep understanding for them, and we can look to them to help us respect how secure we’re being. If anyone thinks we’re overindulging on our caution, they can talk to anyone of Indigenous descent.”
https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/whistler/a-cornerstone-of-indigenous-culture/Content?oid=15506994
Kym Gouchie’s concert documentary for National Indigenous People’s Day is now live
“I know Indigenous people everywhere will be celebrating Indigenous ancestry, history and culture in their own special way on June 21 and I wanted to contribute to that celebration so going ‘virtual’ seemed like the best option,” says Gouchie.