COVID-19 Daily News Digest – October 21, 2020
Critical’ data gaps have greatly hampered Canadian governments’ ability to face COVID-19 pandemic: report
“Critical data gaps and a lack of coordinated data in Canada seriously undermine the ability of decision-makers and governments at all levels, as well as the general public, to understand and address key social, health, economic, environmental and energy issues facing Canadians,” the authors remark.
Childhood passion becomes Indigenous scholar’s life-long research focus
“COVID-19 has made it hard because you can’t really work in-person with people,” she said. “And as First Nations people, we are very social.” As Manitoba approaches the predicted second wave of the pandemic, working with communities has become more challenging. And while Dr. Ballard supports Indigenous Nations practicing their own sovereignty by returning to lock-down measures, she noted that it has become a further challenge of advancing her research.
Looking Down Under for Reconciliation with Native Americans
The Australian government formed the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) to lead, coordinate and execute relevant government reconciliation policies across federal, state, territorial, and Indigenous governments and other stakeholders, a mandate broader than that of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. In an effort to centralize and better coordinate federal government efforts, we should permanently re-establish the White House Council on Native American Affairs that was terminated by President Trump. The Council could be transformed into it into a body closer in scope to the NIAA and charged with developing, coordinating, and leading an aggressive and comprehensive plan to help Native Americans achieve equity in crucial areas.
https://nativenewsonline.net/opinion/looking-down-under-for-reconciliation-with-native-americans
42 new cases of COVID-19 reported among First Nations people in Manitoba
“First Nations people are most likely to be infected through close contact to a known case of COVID-19,” says the news release from the Pandemic Response Coordination Team, which was initiated by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, along with other First Nations leadership, to focus on the COVID-19 response.
The rate of acquisition of the virus through contact with a known positive case is 72 per cent for First Nations people, compared to 67 per cent for other Manitobans, the response team says.
“Our families and connections across communities are a strength in many respects, but when it comes to COVID-19 the mobility and these connections can be a risk for spread,” the release states.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/covid19-first-nations-cases-manitoba-1.5769511
Indigenous women report racism and neglect in COVID-19 Canada childbirth
“A lot of our clients have a ton of anxiety about the virus, because they want so badly to keep their elders safe,” said Jessica Swain, a Cree-Métis midwife in Calgary, Alberta. She said there has been increased demand for home births as a result, but this isn’t an option for many clients who live in overcrowded homes on reserves.
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/indigenous-women-racism-covid-19-canada-childbirth/
Yukon hotels get new funding to help with COVID-19 downturn
The industry suffered “complete and total devastation,” Istchenko said, speaking in the Legislative Assembly on Monday.
He questioned why it took government “until our streets and driveways were covered in snow” for the announcement. He also asked for answers on when travel restrictions will lift.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-hotels-funding-1.5768228
COVID-19 cases in 2 northern communities prompt safety measures
Red Earth Cree Nation has a total of 14 active cases now on reserve. They have changed their COVID-19 testing criteria so only people who have been named as a close contact and people who are symptomatic can be tested.
The town of La Ronge currently has seven active cases of COVID-19, six of which are from transmission at Pre-Cam Community School. Three students and three staff have tested positive there, according to a release from the school division.
‘Critical’ data gaps have greatly hampered Canadian governments’ ability to face COVID-19 pandemic: report
“Critical data gaps and a lack of coordinated data in Canada seriously undermine the ability of decision-makers and governments at all levels, as well as the general public, to understand and address key social, health, economic, environmental and energy issues facing Canadians,” the authors remark.
“These data gaps and inconsistencies have led to serious shortcomings in the timeliness, completeness and quality of Canadian health care and health outcome data,” the report laments, noting the example of the death certificates that were slow to arrive into national statistics databases.
How indigenous leadership offers a new way of looking at a changed world
Indigenous leadership is about bringing people along, Crickett says. There is no room for coercion, strong-arming or manipulation. At its core, it relies on an individual’s mana. True authenticity is not something that can be worn like a dress shirt at a client pitch.
“It’s becoming so clear every time we get together and talk or hear from a speaker – it’s incredible how that is being hammered home. The meaning of those words has completely been rewritten for me. It’s not a moral authority, it just gives you this level of credibility that holding pure facts doesn’t quite have.”
Number of COVID-19 cases on First Nations increasing in Alberta
Since the outbreak began, Indigenous Services Canada report that there are 1,040 COVID-19 cases in First Nations communities with Alberta leading all other provinces with 370.One of the hardest hit recently is the Maskwacis Community, about an hour south of Edmonton.