COVID-19 Daily News Digest – October 16, 2020
Thursday Navajo Nation Covid-19 Update: 31 New Cases
This is very troubling for everyone, including Navajo Nation residents that live near border towns. As we have stated many times before, the safest place to be is at home here on the Navajo Nation. With rising cases comes greater strain on our health care system and first responders. Before you travel or hold a family gathering, please think of your elders, children, and those with underlying health conditions. Please make good decisions and please wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands, avoid crowds, and stay home as much as possible,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.
https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/thursday-navajo-nation-covid-19-update-31-new-cases
BC First Nations Rock the Vote seeks to educate and motivate Indigenous voters
“I think people mostly don’t vote, because a lot of Indigenous people especially felt like, ‘Why should we? What difference is it gonna make?’”
That’s why making people feel good about voting is really important says Sasakamoose
“The simple fact that we weren’t even allowed to vote for the longest time in this country, I think it’s taken a long time for Indigenous people to believe that our voice does matter. And it does.”
Ontario ignores its own advice, presses First Nations to consult on Ring of Fire road during COVID-19
“This weaponization of the health crisis that is happening in these communities and the weaponization of this terrible thing that’s going on is a way to get their desired projects put through,” said Yesno, who is a member of Eabametoong First Nation, which is also impacted by the Ring of Fire development.
A lack of proper consultation, coupled with the continuation of development on First Nations territory, ends up hurting everyone, Yesno said.
“These are the things that make it hard to proceed in a good way going forward.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/first-nation-consultation-covid-1.5761963
Second wave of COVID-19 crashing into several First Nations communities
“There is a vehicle every minute or two that’s passing through the community and you just know not a lot is essential travel, there’s not that many essential reasons to be travelling,” said Cook on Nation to Nation.
The checkpoint was recently put back up after travel eased over the summer following a similar checkpoint being up in early spring when the global pandemic was just beginning.
COVID-19 at First Nations University prompts temporary closure of childcare centre
“In order to reduce the risk to employees, effective immediately, all employees will continue to work remotely. There will be no interruption in service to students as 100% of the Fall term courses are being delivered remotely,” The university said in a statement to CTV News.
COVID Hospitalization Rate For Indigenous Minnesotans 6 Times Higher Than White Residents
“The rest of the county sneezes, we get pneumonia, and that’s because we have a lack of resources to prevention, lack of access to healthcare, and there’s also some distrust of the healthcare system,” Sharon said.
She says their elders — who hold her peoples’ history, traditions and rituals — are especially at risk. She says there is a need for federal and state funding.