COVID-19 Daily News Digest – October 11, 2020
NWT abandons plan to create Covid-19 health and social council
In late April, the NWT government said it would create three councils to advise ministers: one for businesses, one for Indigenous interests, and one for the health and social sector.
The business advisory council eventually met for the first time in June. What became of the Indigenous advisory council is not clear.
Covid Is Strengthening the Push for Indigenous Data Control
We’re concerned about access to data as well as release of data without tribal permission,” said Stephanie Russo (Ahtna-Native village of Kluti-Kaah), a University of Arizona public health professor. “What the pandemic has shed a light on is the need for tribes to have access to external data.”
The coronavirus pandemic has given the indigenous data-sovereignty movement a new sense of urgency. As pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and governments scramble to create Covid-19 tests and vaccines, many tribal leaders and indigenous data and public health experts are wary of participating in research that may have little benefit for their communities.
https://www.wired.com/story/covid-is-strengthening-the-push-for-indigenous-data-control/
Candidates discuss mental health, Indigenous relations during virtual forum
“It’s not something you can definitively solve by just throwing money at it,” said Hunter. “It needs to be very thoughtful for it to be the right solution and make sure that the gaps in service that exist are actually addressed.
Coronavirus: Rapid testing in large Canadian cities not ‘silver bullet,’ says health minister
During question period in the House of Commons, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner on Friday asked Canadian Health Minister Patty Hajdu about access to rapid COVID-19 testing in large cities such as Toronto, where there are many restaurants and hospitality workers. Hajdu said rapid testing is not a “silver bullet” to COVID-19 and that it’s currently available in remote, vulnerable communities with fragile health-care systems.
Curve Lake First Nation author captures national award
Taylor said he did not know he had been nominated for the PMC’s Indigenous Literature Award. But he was aware of the accolade as one of his friends, Darrell Dennis, a member of the Shuswap Indian Reserve in British Columbia, had captured the award in 2015.