COVID-19 Daily News Digest – June 6, 2020
Triple crisis of pipelines, pesticides and pandemic is an existential threat to Ecuador’s indigenous peoples (commentary)
“Our only refuge from this disease is our traditional medicine and our territory. The government has nothing to offer us — not tests, not medicine, not even resources,” says Secoya President, Justino Piaguaje. “Many of our families have fled to our sacred lands in Lagartococha following in the footsteps of our ancestors. There, our elders will be safe from the contagion.”
Online Indigenous graduation celebration highlights closeness and community
“Thank you and congratulations to my fellow Indigenous graduates. The Indigenous student community is really the backbone and driver of positive change at McGill,” said Jirousek, recipient of the inaugural Moral Courage in Reconciliation Award for his leadership to change the name of the men’s varsity teams at McGill. “While there aren’t that many of us, in no way does that diminish the impact that we’ve had as a graduating class.
Creative Isolation: Peter Brass film may move outdoors given COVID-19
“The project itself has been on my mind in some form or another for a few years now. I’m a father myself; I have two children with my wife (Jori Cachene). And as a First Nations person and having discussions with other family members and other friends who are also parents, kind of discussing what it’s like to be a First Nations person, a First Nations man, in the current day … raising First Nations children in that context of racism, systemic racism, and cultural pride, cultural resurgence and all these different positives that aren’t necessarily being celebrated or accepted publicly.
Economic Recovery and First Nations: the AFNQL Calls for Caution
“Now that it has tasted the authority of the Emergency Measures Order extended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, the government cannot arrogate to itself both the right to revive its economy and the right to roll back progress on environmental protection. It cannot take advantage of the current context to put the health of our populations on the back burner, nor can it more openly infringe First Nations’ Aboriginal and treaty rights,” said AFNQL Chief Ghislain Picard.
Montana’s Tribal Nations Preserve COVID Restrictions To Preserve Their Cultures
“For the most part, in general, wider society has put more value on the young, not so much on elderly and the information and experience and knowledge,” said Sharon Stewart-Peregoy, a Democratic state legislator and member of the Crow Nation. “Whereas with tribes, the acknowledgment and respect of elders as the carriers of the cultures has always been there.”
Drone Delivery Canada announces agreement with GlobalMedic for First Nations COVID-19 project
“GlobalMedic is proud to be part of this program using drones to deliver desperately needed aid to an isolated First Nations Community. Through consultation with the community, we understand that supply chain issues exist and have been exacerbated by COVID-19. We are excited to use drones as part of the solution to overcome these challenges. “