COVID-19 Daily news Digest – September 12, 2020
Manitoba Metis Federation filing human rights complaint over COVID-19 data collection, sharing
The complaint stems from concerns that the province hasn’t created a data-sharing agreement with the federation that would let it know when Métis people test positive for COVID-19.
In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for the province said the government has regularly been in touch with staff from the Manitoba Metis Federation about the pandemic, and that the federation declined to participate in information-sharing agreements earlier this year.
Indigenous Services moving goalposts on First Nations PPE stockpile proposal, says chief
Burns said PPE should be available for all First Nations members, in particular school staff and students as schools slowly reopen in communities across the country. He said Ottawa has a specific duty to supply needed health supplies to treaty nations because of the medicine chest clause in some of the treaties, like Treaty 6 which covers James Smith Cree Nation.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/first-nations-ppe-proposal-1.5721249
Manitoba’s 1st cases of COVID-19 on First Nations identified at Fisher River, Peguis
Three people have tested positive for COVID-19 in two neighbouring Interlake communities, the first time the disease has been identified on First Nations in Manitoba.
Peguis First Nation leadership announced Friday evening that two of its members tested positive for COVID-19 after receiving rapid testing. Earlier in the day, Fisher River Cree Nation announced one of its members had also tested positive.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/fisher-river-cree-nation-covid-19-case-1.5721471
Peru’s Indigenous Turn to Ancestral Remedies to Fight Virus
The Shipibo highlight the use of a plant known locally as “matico.” The buddleja globosa plant has green leaves and a tangerine-colored flower. Fasabi said that by no means are the remedies a cure, but their holistic approach is proving effective. Unlike in hospitals, volunteers equipped in masks get close to patients, giving them words of encouragement and touching them through massage.
National suicide prevention organization for Indigenous youth adapts pandemic outreach
The organization has a group of Indigenous youth from across the country called the Ambassadors of Hope, who have been trained to give hope, culture, and strength presentations within their own community and surrounding region.
“We’ve also seen amazing things when it comes to youth advocating for themselves, advocating for others … we’ve seen amazing different projects.”
One of the projects that came out of the pandemic was Indigenous youth rise COVID-19 support fund. It was originally intended to be a mini grant program that would have started in May, but that got side-tracked by the pandemic.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/we-matter-suicide-prevention-pandemic-1.5721451
Running as medicine
Twelve Native American runners passed through Moab on Sept. 2, running a 360-mile route from the Bears Ears National Monument in San Juan County to Salt Lake City to raise awareness of issues in Utah’s Native communities, including COVID-19, racial justice and the movement to focus on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The run was organized by the Native-led nonprofit SLC Air Protectors and the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake. “This 360-mile prayer is for our relatives and for healing during this difficult time for so many of our communities during this pandemic. It’s a time for us as Native people to come together and offer prayers,” runner Jordan Marie Daniels said. Daniels is the founder of Rising Hearts, a grassroots group attempting to move Indian Country into national public consciousness.
https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_a78f65d6-f451-11ea-b2c8-0b14c16f42bd.html
Why this Kanien’kehá:ka community is offering home learning for its students
“There are so many perspectives that have to be taken into consideration, to understand that people have this perspective that they need to take care of their children, [and] of their grandparents who live with them, and we needed to provide two options for our community,” said Delaronde. Under the home learning program, parents and guardians will be responsible for teaching content, but instructional materials, resources, and expected learning goals will be provided by their respective schools.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/kahnawake-schools-home-learning-1.5719440