COVID-19 Daily News Digest – May 12, 2020
Indigenous Communities around the World Face Unique Challenges of COVID-19
As COVID-19 swept around the globe, it reached remote areas where indigenous peoples have peacefully coexisted with nature for centuries. It amplified the problems created by climate change and inequality, and as they have done for centuries, indigenous peoples continue to adapt to the changing ways of the world while holding onto their ancestral knowledge and their fight to live in harmony with nature. Slow Food’s indigenous network share their unique situations from around the globe.
https://www.slowfood.com/indigenous-communities-around-the-world-face-unique-challenges-of-covid-19/
Violence against Indigenous women during COVID 19 sparks calls for MMIWG plan
That’s why, earlier this week, the Native Women’s Association held a virtual roundtable with Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and International Development Minister Karina Gould urging the federal government to implement a national plan for meeting the inquiry’s 231 “calls for justice.”
The urgency has been heightened by the global pandemic crisis,
As COVID-19 takes off in Latin America, Amazon indigenous groups fear the worst
“No specific protocol exists,” said Díaz Mirabal. “No direct care and support to us exists, and there is no coordination of policies with us.” In the nine countries where COICA works, only nine hospitals serve some three million indigenous people, he added.
Northern Sask. outbreak reveals plight of Indigenous communities during COVID-19
“There are many longstanding disparities between Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous communities. There are severe overcrowding in some of these communities, a lack of … water security, a lack of food security in these communities.”
Indigenous Services Canada provides direct air transportation to serve fly-in First Nations communities and protect against COVID-19
To minimize the risk and exposure of the virus to community members and service providers, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has been transporting essential service personnel and supplies via carefully managed charter flights with strict health safety measures in place. The charter flights are often on airlines that already serve these communities and allow nursing and other personnel to board at terminals where the highest standard of health and safety procedures are being enforced.
Joint Statement by the Minister of Indigenous Services, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Minister of Northern Affairs on Recognizing Contributions of Nurses in Indigenous Communities during National Nursing Week
As we face unprecedented times with the global pandemic of COVID-19, nurses working in Indigenous communities continue to demonstrate their selfless dedication to ensure First Nations and Inuit receive the highest quality of culturally appropriate care, testing and treatment. We also thank the First Nations, Inuit and Métis nurses practising in various settings in Canada, caring for patients while working to promote and provide culturally-safe healthcare
Latin America’s indigenous shield elderly ‘cultural guardians’ from coronavirus
From the rocky Patagonian regions of Argentina to the lush Brazilian Amazon and the Andean villages of Colombia, indigenous groups are barricading villages against outsiders and doling out harsh punishment to members who violate quarantine rules.
Latin America is home to 42 million indigenous people, making up about 8% of the population, according to World Bank data, yet their way of life is already threatened by rapid development in mining, oil extraction and deforestation.
Northern Saskatchewan leaders want coronavirus checkpoint confusion sorted out
A letter from northern leaders to the province’s chief medical health officer outlines their concerns over a lack of consultation about the travel restrictions and confusion over how to interpret them.
It says there are no Indigenous language speakers at the checkpoints and staff are not honouring notes from chiefs and councils that authorize certain people to travel.
Indigenous advocate accuses feds of playing politics by not releasing more low-risk inmates
“These measures will take pressure off staff and administration within institutions, as well as frontline workers ensuring the safety of everyone involved,” said CAP Vice-Chief Kim Beaudin in an interview from his office in Ottawa.
Closing the gap: Aboriginal groups say coronavirus should not delay new targets
The Coalition of Peaks said the “quick and decisive” efforts of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health organisations has kept Covid-19 from devastating communities so far, and shows that strong partnerships with governments make a big difference to Aboriginal health and safety.
Brazil: Deforestation on indigenous lands increases 59% in the first months of 2020
Covid-19, unfortunately, reached the indigenous peoples, guardians par excellence of the forest, without which it will not be possible to overcome the other emergency that threatens humanity – the climatic one
Native Americans make up 50% of COVID-19 deaths in New Mexico
The 100 deaths attributed to Native Americans in New Mexico likely include Navajo people living in the state as well as Native Americans from the state’s more than 20 other tribes.
http://nmindepth.com/2020/05/11/native-americans-make-up-50-of-covid-19-deaths-in-new-mexico/
La Loche grocery store reopens after positive COVID-19 case temporarily shut down store
All of its employees were tested for COVID-19 late last week, the initial Facebook post said.
The closure sparked concern over food security in La Loche and surrounding areas as Northern is one of two grocery stores in the village.
Money not enough to help some NWT residents spend time on the land
“All these things, to me, really indicate wellness,” said Tanche. When you’re on the land and learning all these things, you’re probably in a healthy atmosphere. You’re probably away from alcohol and drugs.
“You’re probably away from the stressors from living in a city or town … but you’re also connected. You’re connected to the land, to your surroundings. You’re by the water – all of these beautiful things that strengthen your wellness as a person.”
5 films to Indigenize your watch-at-home movie list
Here are five films from the last decade that showcase Indigenous talent. They should be on your quarantine watchlist, whether they’re new to you or a revisitation of a classic:
Canada: COVID-19 And First Nation Elections: Options For Dealing With The “Governance Gap”
The forthcoming Indian Act regulation in particular, titled First Nations Election Cancellation and Postponement Regulations (Prevention of Diseases) (the “New Regulation”), provides a clear path to postpone an election for bands holding elections under the Indian Act or First Nations Elections Act, and also authorizes First Nations under customary election laws to postpone their elections.
However, a great many First Nations hold elections under their own customary election laws, which may offer additional avenues for postponement of an election in the face of the current crisis.
Is Covid-19 a chance to make homelessness a ‘one-time occurrence’?
“The BC government has now moved all the people who are in these homeless camps into hotels,” Gurstein told Cabin Radio. “What’s going to happen after the worst of this? How can we actually use the kind of quick decision-making that’s being done to address homelessness in a way that would have some permanent solutions to it?”