COVID-19 Daily News Digest – May 29, 2020
Fort McMurray identifies first COVID-19 case in 28 days, four cases linked to Kearl Lake active
All cases linked to the oilsands site that were found in other provinces have also recovered. They include 19 cases in British Columbia, three in Saskatchewan, and one each in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.https://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/local-news/fort-mcmurray-identifies-first-covid-19-case-in-28-days-four-cases-at-kearl-lake-remain-active
Ucluelet releases COVID-19 Recovery Plan
“That’s really a key part for us and really a benefit for the district. If we can align all our communications and put them into one plan, that will really help us to be able to recover,” he said.
SFU researchers work with Indigenous communities to collect data remotely during COVID-19
“It’s been pretty special to have them trust us with this work because it’s a big ask, costing money and people’s time,” she says. “It’s a reciprocal gift, this respect and trust we have for each other and the natural world that we care so much about. What’s brought us together is this passion for caring for this natural world that we love.”
Concrete solutions to put an end to a broken system and systemic racism against First Nations children
In its report, the CDPDJ recognizes that First Nations are in the best position to determine the futures of their children. Accordingly, the First Nations must be involved in making the decisions that concern them, and they must also be able to count on the full cooperation of both levels of government to ensure compliance with and the application of the principles of An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families (C-92)
COVID-19 amplifying economic stress on First Nations, Inuit and Métis in urban Canada
“Households that were already experiencing food insecurity entering the COVID-19 pandemic may be particularly vulnerable to its economic consequences,” the article said citing previous data showing 39 per cent of Indigenous people in urban Canada would not be able to cover an unexpected expense of $500 from their own resources.
Great Plains Indian reservations report 17% spike in COVID-19 cases
“We are seeing exponential growth in cases in the Northern Plains tribes, and they need resources,” Warne, Indians Into Medicine program director at the University of North Dakota, told reporters on a conference call hosted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Land Investments During COVID-19: The Hazards of Pressing on Without Community Participation
“Pressing on” without regard for the safety and rights of community members is self-defeating. Lapses in transparency and inclusiveness will only serve the interests of well-positioned elites—not those of the country, affected communities, or even proponent companies in the medium to long term.
‘Everything we’ve done, we’ve done ourselves’: How local Indigenous communities stay supplied during COVID-19
“What’s really upsetting is that communities like us have to take care of themselves during all this,” says Quintal. “The mindset for this type of thing is something that we’ve had to learn. No one is born with it.”
“A lot of people are trying to be creative and are looking into alternate sources for food supplies,” says Matthew Michetti, executive assistant to Chief Vern Janvier. “The community has been given meat directly from local farmers.”
Three indigenous COVID-19 vaccine candidates show promise
“When a vaccine is made it is not like a switch that may be available to everyone on day one. This disease is…unusual…compared to other vaccine-preventable diseases, where people from the youngest to oldest will need a vaccine. It is not a rich or poor country’s disease, it is everyone’s disease. So the logistics of making the vaccine accessible to everyone is a huge challenge. And that’s also being discussed now,” he said.
Kamloops filmmaker hopes to transcend isolation with mini-doc
“If I’m being really honest, things haven’t really changed for Indigenous people. We’ve been locked down for generations, whether it’s reservations or residential schools, and we still have to find ways to stay connected,” he adds, pointing to traditional song as an example.
The new storyline tells the story of the local family, as Indigenous musicians, and how they come to create an art form that can still be shared with people in a time of social distancing.
Fiddler disappointed in MMWIG action plan delay
“The work is long overdue. I cannot accept that in one year, there is nothing that we can all meaningfully act on. I am also concerned at the lack of communication from the Federal government despite our efforts to engage on the work,” Fiddler said.
https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/fiddler-diappointed-in-mmwig-action-plan-delay-2390573
Ken Wyatt concedes referendum on Indigenous recognition unlikely before election
The Indigenous affairs minister, who has been developing a consensus way forward on constitutional recognition since the Morrison government was re-elected in 2019, made the comments conceding his hope of a referendum by 2022 will not be realised on Friday.
COVID-19 highlights lack of connectivity in First Nations communities
“What we see during COVID-19 is over 75 percent of B.C. First Nations communities, specifically, without broadband,” she said.“So what it means is all the things those of us in urban centres are taking for granted like being able to connect over Zoom or apply for relief funds through the federal government online and have those funds directed directly to your online banking, a lot of First Nations people don’t have access to these tools so it means that again we’re marginalized and again we don’t have a clear solution for how to get these services to First Nations people in a timely fashion.”
Health authority launches virtual program for Indigenous people
The Virtual Doctor a Day service will help take some of the pressure off of the local clinics like the one run by the Osoyoos Indian Band, which was overflowing with demand before the pandemic hit, according to Chief Clarence Louie.
Manitoba Premier says will talk to Trudeau on Indigenous powwows
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister says he wants answers from the federal government on whether Indigenous powwows are allowed under COVID-19 restrictions. Pallister says he plans to raise the issue in a phone call with the prime minister Thursday evening.
Indigenous communities come together virtually during coronavirus despite barriers and inequities
From the structural barriers that have produced disproportionate rates of infection to the inadequate health-care responses, the present state remains grossly unfair to Indigenous peoples. As we take it upon ourselves to construct a safer, healthier and more equitable reality after COVID-19, I hope more non-Indigenous people consider these disparities as a call for collective action on our now shared territories.
Powwows Move Online to Keep Indigenous Communities Together
During this time in particular, online powwows serve as touchpoints around a common tragedy: Many indigenous communities have been severely impacted by Covid-19, and long-standing disparities have exacerbated the pandemic’s impact.
“It’s time for us to be seen and heard, and that’s kind of what this movement has brought, it’s a chance for us to be seen and heard and people are seeing it and feeling it,” Simonds said.
Student-generated map shows COVID-19 travel restrictions in Northern Canada
“Facebook bulletins and online materials can be very ephemeral, so we hope to put something together that will be of long-term value to the historical record in tracking these efforts,” said McPhee, noting that some communities have taken drastic measures to forbid all entry and exit.
“The far-reaching and proactive measures taken by these communities, going well above and beyond what we see from many larger governments, and strongly motivated by a desire to protect the oldest and most vulnerable, is something that other Canadians—and perhaps the entire world—should pay attention to.”
https://www.folio.ca/student-generated-map-shows-covid-19-travel-restrictions-in-northern-canada/
Another $650M in COVID-19 aid bound for Indigenous communities, minister says
Of this, $285 million is new funding to support rapid public health responses in Indigenous communities when faced with an oubreak of the virus.
This money is in addition to $305 million previously promised to help First Nations reserves, and Inuit and Metis communities, with supplies, medical care and facilities that allow for physical distancing.