COVID-19 Daily News Digest – May 3, 2020
Date May 4, 2020
First Nations warned not to ease up efforts to combat COVID spread
Barrera reports that in late April, Gull Bay, a First Nation about 190 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ontario announced it had six COVID-19 cases and the band chief said it was possible some could be linked to an outbreak at the Lac Des Iles mining site where several members of the community work.
Lac La Ronge Indian Band prepares for COVID-19 amid multiple northern outbreaks
"It's a little different from most communities that have one road in, one community. We're a little unique. We're a multi-community organization."
The band has been working to prepare space for members to self-isolate if they are unable to do so at their homes. In Stanley Mission, for example, a gymnasium has been prepared to serve that purpose. There's also an emergency medical tent in the community.
https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/lac-la-ronge-indian-band-prepares-for-covid-19-amidst-multiple-northern-outbreaks/wcm/e03909aa-52f9-4962-908e-f4b58c78973f/
Indigenous women use art therapy group to process chronic grief and loss through safe, creative outlet
"It gets rid of the need to have words," she said.
"Because with words you need to know what word to put with your experience, or feeling, and we don't always have that figured out yet.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-03/aboriginal-women-healing-chronic-grief-and-loss-through-art/12202688?nw=0
Navajo Nation COVID-19 cases rise while emergency federal aid remains delayed
In Peru's Amazon, indigenous tribes have accused the government of "ethnocide by inaction" in a formal complaint to the United Nations. In Brazil last month, a 15-year-old boy from the remote Yanomami tribe died of COVID-19; he had no known contact with a coronavirus carrier, indicating the possibility of community spread.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/05/02/nav2-m02.html
Ontario Respecting Traditional Indigenous Culture During COVID-19
The provincial fire ban is in effect and many cities have also instituted fire bans. However from Minister Yakabuski, for Indigenous people, there is an exemption for sacred fires for ceremonial purposes. A sacred fire is an Indigenous traditional wellness approach.
The fire is one of the ways to start a ceremony or any sacred event. It is a spiritual doorway that opens to a spiritual realm so that individuals can communicate and have relations through the fire.
Responding to COVID 19—Indigenous communities can't be expected to do more with less
It is remarkable what First Nation, Inuit, and Métis communities can do with little to work with. Many communities are again looking to their strengths and ingenuity, as they face the threat of COVID 19. But should we be expecting these communities to do more with less? Does this produce optimal outcomes?
https://www.conferenceboard.ca/insights/blogs/responding-to-covid-19-indigenous-communities-can-t-be-expected-to-do-more-with-less?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
No More Business as Usual: Halt Dangerous Development Projects That Put Our Health at Risk
The right to free, prior, informed consent is recognized in several international covenants from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People to the Guiding Principles on Business Human Rights – and yet it is vanishingly rare in practice.
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/05/02/no-more-business-usual-halt-dangerous-development-projects-put-our-health-risk
COVID-19: Pandemic delivers second punch to struggling B.C. resource regions
It's not just the shutdown of restaurants and business that hurts, but the global recession expected to hit primary resource industries that support towns across B.C.
It is already hurting communities across the province — Interior sawmill towns experiencing new rounds of short-term layoffs on top of closures already plaguing the industry and mining towns in the Kootenays where Teck Resources has scaled back operations and spending.
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/covid-19-the-pandemic-in-b-c-s-resource-communities/
Canada needs a free support program to fight COVID-19 mental health crisis, doctors say
https://globalnews.ca/news/6897408/canada-needs-a-free-support-program-to-fight-covid-19-mental-health-crisis-doctors-say/
ABPA Launches 'Roots in Resilience Webinar Series
"COVID-19 is devastating our First Nations communities and without access to stimulus funding we risk losing critical businesses that create jobs and help build opportunities in our Northern economy," said Jason Rasevych, President of the ABPA. "We are creating a series of information sessions online and by teleconference to help First Nation companies play on an even playing field and give them a chance to survive with the hope to prosper," Rasevych said.
Traditionalists flag local herbs in Covid-19 fight
"Herbs have always existed since way back and remain relevant in modern times. Western nations have simply re-presented our basils in modified formats. However, we are the source of the herbs and traditional medical practitioners should have a major part in the fight against Covid-19," said Chief Donald Kamba of Makoni chieftaincy.
COVID-19 Bulletin for First Nations and Indigenous peoples
The simplest message is: "Stay at home." We are all in this together. Everyone must stay informed in order to stay safe. That is our central goal and commitment for this publication. Please click on the link below for this week's presentation:
COVID-19 Daily News Digest - May 2, 2020