COVID-19 Daily News Digest – June 9, 2020
‘We Know What Is Best for Us.’ Indigenous Groups Around the World Are Taking COVID-19 Responses Into Their Own Hands
“Money is a good start but it’s not the whole story,” says Shannon MacDonald, a Canadian Indigenous physician and deputy chief medical officer for First Nations Health Authority, a health service delivery organization in British Columbia. “It’s about communities having the ability to respond within the communities.”
AFN national chief to help Prince Charles promote ‘Great Reset’ environmental initiative in Canada
The Prince of Wales asked Bellegarde to help promote the Great Reset, which is aimed at convincing governments and the private sector to put “sustainable business practices at the heart of their operations” according to his website, during a May 4 phone call and the national chief agreed to lend his political weight to the cause in Canada.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/afn-chief-bellegarde-prince-charles-great-reset-1.5603502
COVID-19 Less Deadly in the North American Arctic
On May 19, an asymptomatic passenger arriving at Kotzebue’s airport in the Northwest Arctic borough of Alaska submitted to testing, turned out positive, and immediately was put into quarantine. Without the increase in airport testing, this asymptomatic case would have made its way into the small Arctic city of 3,000 residents.
https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/covid-19-less-deadly-the-north-american-arctic
Wabaseemoong COVID-19 case likely contracted in Thunder Bay
The man made the visit for family reasons, Gemmill said. He later developed symptoms and became ill, and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. The case is one of three announced Saturday by the health unit.
First Nations appeal Alberta Energy Regulator decision to suspend monitoring requirements
“The decisions to suspend environmental monitoring were made unilaterally. We were not notified — in fact, we would have had no idea this had occurred if it had not been revealed in the press,” Fort McKay Chief Mel Grandjamb stated in a news release.
Drone company will convey COVID-19 medical equipment to First Nation
“The Beausoleil First Nation community will benefit from our drone delivery solution during the COVID-19 pandemic by limiting person-to-person contact between the mainland and Christian Island, while keeping their supply chain open,” said Michael Zahra, president and CEO of DDC, in a June 4 news release.
Another milestone delayed by COVID-19, this time it’s the Akaitcho agreement-in-principle
Meanwhile, the Dehcho First Nations continue their internal meetings over their unsettled claim, explained Dehcho Grand Chief Gladys Norwegian. They’ve moved all meetings to teleconference but hope to be able to hold a small meeting with leadership and an elder later this month, once the territory moves into Phase 2 of its Emerging Wisely plan, she said.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/covid-19-delays-akaitcho-agreement-in-principle-1.5604107
Indian Air Force inducts indigenous airborne rescue pod for critical and COVID-19 patients
The requirement of an air evacuation system with the facility to prevent the spread of infectious aerosol from a COVID-19 patient during air travel was felt by the IAF when COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic.
Indigenous stroke survivor says health system repeatedly failed her
“I got a lecture about how I shouldn’t be there,” she said, “because the problem wasn’t life-threatening.”
“I expect to be dismissed and demeaned and ignored, because I’m Indigenous,” she said. “I don’t want this to happen to anyone else. I’m tired of giving up.”
Canadian Juries Commission hopes Indigenous people will answer the call
“I feel there’s an enormous responsibility for Indigenous people to use jury duty as a way to ensure our voices are heard,” said Bear. “That indigenous people are represented in the justice system in a positive way.”
Bear said for Indigenous people to be on juries is an important way to change the system.
“The acquittal of Gerald Stanley where an all white jury had acquitted him we don’t want to see a repeat of that not just for this case but the cases coming,” he said.”
Feeding an Indigenous Community and Rematriating Seeds in Minneapolis
Using a multifaceted approach, the Indigenous-led Dream of Wild Health works to do more than fight food insecurity; it also hopes to make food sovereignty a reality. Over the past year, the group has brought on a team responsible for protecting its rare Indigenous seed collection and rematriating the seeds back to their original tribal communities.