COVID-19 Daily News Digest – May 2, 2020
Sri Lanka to explore immunity boosting capacity of indigenous meds to fight COVID-19: President’s Office
At the discussion, President Rajapaksa has said a comprehensive study needs to be carried out on the immunity boosting capacity of indigineous medicine. Research is already underway under the guidance of both indigineous and Western physicians, the PMD said.
Indigenous teen hoop dancer moves into Ottawa retirement residence to help during COVID-19
‘I consider them almost, like, as a second family,’ said Makhena Katerie Rankin Guérin. ‘That bond, it’s so valuable to me.’
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1732374595718
The Government Said It’s Releasing Many Inmates to Combat COVID-19. It’s Not
Provinces, however, have their hands tied. Most provincial prisoners have never been convicted of a crime, and awaiting trial. Their release, therefore, is mostly up to the courts and Crown attorneys. The Public Prosecution Service of Canada has sent a directive to federal attorneys, instructing them to seek bail and release of low-risk accused individuals where possible, but criminal lawyers report those prosecutors are still seeking jailtime in many cases.
COVID-19: Land is key to survival of indigenous peoples in Asia
The same dichotomy of best- to worst-able to survive can be seen with uncontacted and recently contacted tribes. If their lands are protected, uncontacted tribes, such as the Sentinelese from India’s Andaman Islands are already in a state of perpetual self-isolation, defending their lands from invaders who may bring in diseases to which they have no immunity.
Provincial Minister says Lac Des Iles Mine is critical infrastructure amid pandemic
“Why the Ford government would allow the mine site to operate as an essential service… I can’t understand that. I can’t see how platinum or palladium is essential,” King said in an Interview with CBC on April 24, 2020.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/minster-of-mines-lac-des-iles-critical-pandemic-1.5551985
California’s indigenous Mexicans and Guatemalans miss vital pandemic information due to language barriers
In March, the 24-year-old didn’t fully understand why people on the street were wearing masks. He watched news about the coronavirus spreading around the globe on TV at his restaurant job and at the laundry, but the Spanish subtitles moved too fast.
“I didn’t know how serious it was,” said Luis, who arrived in L.A. five years ago and lives in Koreatown. “I realized the gravity of what was happening.”
Coronavirus: As provinces start to reopen, feds pressured to help Indigenous communities
What the government has been doing to prevent COVID-19 from ripping through the communities was the subject of a standing committee on Friday, with members of Parliament putting cabinet ministers on the hot seat. Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller conceded the $15 million in emergency funding earmarked to help organizations that service Indigenous urban populations was not enough.
Instructor Supports and Workshops for Remote Learning
The Centre, in collaboration with the Manitoba Flexible Learning HUB, has developed an array of materials and tutorials to help you prepare for and teach your Summer 2020 remote learning course.
Makivik doles out federal pandemic funding
“It has taken well over a month for us to receive these funds during a time of extreme stress and anxiety for the Inuit of Nunavik,” said Makivik President Charlie Watt in an April 28 news release.
“During this time we have received many urgent letters and requests from Inuit in the communities.”
Indigenous educators, kokums and parents share tips for schooling kids at home
She has turned her home, and yard, into a cozy classroom where her six grandkids complete assignments from their teachers, plus add-ons from the keen grandma who isn’t about to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to school her grandbabies.
“We’re always doing new things,” Volk said. “We’ve learned about the birds migrating at this time of year and made little bird houses out of popsicle sticks and filled then with bird seed to hang outside.”
Temporary shelter offers homeless Inuit in Montreal protection from COVID-19
“There is a lot of money going into this,” Johnston said, adding that the cleaning costs thousands of dollars to maintain.
“It would be nice to see some of it diverted to find more permanent solutions for housing and support.”
‘A very dangerous situation’: Local leader expects COVID-19 curve to go straight up in Northern Saskatchewan
“It’s a recipe for an outbreak. If you send all the patients home with houses that are up to 15 people, that’s a household outbreak. And if you let people serve themselves – go get mail or go get water – then it’s an outbreak in your community. We’re trying to contain it. We have to contain this: contain, isolate, early identify.”
’60s scoop survivors wondering why they’re the last to get paid
Advocates for survivors and lawyers connected to the case blame the COVID-19 pandemic for upending the settlement – they say it has complicated working conditions for Collectiva, temporarily closed federal and provincial sources for child welfare documents, and created more anxiety for survivors who want their money sooner rather than later.
Native tribes still haven’t received the stimulus relief money they were promised
On Thursday, tribes filed a lawsuit saying the Treasury Department missed its April 26 deadline to distribute funds, which was 30 days after the CARES Act passed. It’s one of two lawsuits tribes have filed over the administration’s handling of the stimulus money in recent weeks.
The other was over the Treasury’s plans to distribute the money to for-profit Native corporations that tribes say have no business being earmarked for the relief funds in the first place.
https://www.vox.com/identities/2020/5/1/21243876/native-tribes-coronavirus-stimulus-money
Health officials to ask Manitoba COVID-19 patients about ethnicity to see who’s affected
Responses to questions about race, ethnicity and Indigenous identity are voluntary, and the information is held securely, Manitoba Shared Health Chief Nursing Officer Lanette Siragusa said at the daily briefing about COVID-19 in Manitoba, where the change was announced.
The information can help make sure the province’s pandemic response doesn’t exclude anyone, she said.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-covid-19-update-1.5552168
Indigenous youth helping each other during pandemic
With the help of a micro-loan from Indigenous youth charity Canadian Roots Exchange (CRE), the Toronto-based doctoral student and research associate is sending 10 phones preloaded with wellness supports and activities to Nibinamik.
The content can be used even when the community’s spotty internet service is down, as the project is also buying 150 prepaid calling vouchers to help keep youth connected.
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/05/01/news/indigenous-youth-helping-each-other-during-pandemic
No more business as usual: Halt dangerous development projects that put our health at risk (commentary)
In solidarity with Indigenous Peoples in the Amazon, international groups are pushing for a moratorium on mining, logging, oil extraction, and industrial agriculture in indigenous territories, as the spread of the virus could lead to ethnocide. Lest we forget, unprecedented fires set in order to expand agribusiness operations raged across the Amazon just six months ago.
How the Coronavirus is Impacting Native Americans
“We’re just really hoping for the best, and we continue to pray for our tribal members and will continue to support them the best ways we know how under the conditions with safety first,”
Thunder Bay health unit confirms new case of COVID-19, bringing total to 71
According to the health unit, the latest case is a male in his 40s, who is located in an Indigenous community. He is reportedly self-isolating and his exposure category is listed as “close contact” by the health unit.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/thunder-bay-health-unit-new-covid-19-1.5552712
Flooding devastates Ecuador’s indigenous communities in the Amazon
The coronavirus puts indigenous people at high risk due to the poor health service and high prevalence of disease — all made worse by the damage caused by the floods.
5 lessons Nunavut can learn from the COVID-19 outbreak in Puvirnituq
The northern Quebec community, known as the “hub of the Hudson coast,” saw 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the month of April — and the majority of confirmed cases in Nunavik.
But to date, the community’s containment measures seem to have been successful, preventing the worst-case scenario of widespread infection.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nunavt-lessons-puvirnituq-1.5552749
New study shows for every 100,000 positive COVID-19 cases about 200 are Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
That is the most among any indigenous group in the country.
BRUCE POWER ASSISTS FIRST NATIONS DURING PANDEMIC
While our efforts around the COVID-19 pandemic have been focused on helping people in Bruce, Grey and Huron counties, we didn’t hesitate to help the Association address the increased need for support from the First Nations communities in northern Ontario.”
Indigenous spiritual response to pandemic
“It’s part of the revival of traditional knowledge,” he says, pointing out that traditional societies like the Midéwiwin are specialists in medicinal practices, incorporating dance, song and story into a sense of health.
This is important, he notes, since knowledge of traditional medicines have been lost in communities due to the Indian Act and residential schools.
Wahpeton postpones election amid COVID concerns
The decision to change the original May 29th date comes after a week-long consultation involving Chief and Council with the community and legal counsel.
In the interest of keeping the membership safe and continuing efforts to combat the spread of the COVID-19 disease, it was decided the best option was to re-schedule the election to July 29
Canada: Liability Protection For Indigenous Governments And Their Businesses Providing Essential Services
The Order has implications for Indigenous Governments and their businesses. Namely, Band Councils and their businesses will be protected from liability if staff, or other individuals, are exposed to COVID-19, provided that they are operating in compliance with guidelines of applicable health authorities and other emergency orders issued by the Province.
Coastal First Nations and municipalities vow continued COVID-19 enforcement, potential Hwy 16 checkpoint
He says his community of around 700 is on lockdown and many other members who live in Prince Rupert aren’t even allowed to visit, yet non-essential travellers are still trying to gain access. And while the province is poised to begin loosening some restrictions, Reece says it’s important to remain vigilant because “all it takes is one person.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/haida-nation-enforcement-hwy-16-1.5552247
COVID-19 outbreaks in 23 First Nations prompting concerns
He is now working to secure additional funds to help the vulnerable populations that friendship centres and other urban Indigenous organizations work to support every day.
“I will acknowledge that it is not enough and we are working more to serve these people in very vulnerable situations, and that’s work we will continue to do,” Miller said.