COVID-19 in Indigenous communities: What you need to know
May 5, 2021
Over 59 per cent of adults in First Nations communities have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the latest data from Indigenous Services Canada. To date, a total of 369,497 vaccine doses, including 107,596 second doses, have been administered in 661 First Nations and Inuit communities. It’s also estimated that over 74 per cent of adults living in Yukon, N.W.T. and Nunavut have received at least one dose.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indigenous-covid-19-update-1.6013018
Coronavirus: What’s happening in Canada and around the world on Wednesday
May 5, 2021
Ontario reported 2,791 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and 25 additional deaths. According to the province, COVID-19 hospitalizations stood at 2,167, with 886 in ICU due to COVID-related illness. The updated figures came as the province’s education minister announced that remote learning would be an option for students next fall.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/coronavirus-covid19-canada-world-may5-2021-1.6014321
Lac Seul Declares Community State Of Emergency
May 4, 2021
Chief and Council with Lac Seul First Nation have declared a community State of Emergency due to rising COVID-19 numbers. As of Sunday May 2, there were at least 16 confirmed positive cases.
https://www.ckdr.net/2021/05/04/lac-seul-declares-community-state-of-emergency/
Ontario Responds to High Vaccination Rates, Modifies Restrictions in Long-Term Care Homes
May 4, 2021
Ontario is responding to high levels of COVID-19 vaccination in many long-term care homes by making changes that will help homes safely resume communal dining and social activities. These changes will help improve residents’ quality of life while keeping homes safe.
We probably won’t reach herd immunity against COVID-19 any time soon, but it’s OK, experts say
May 5, 2021
Every day, more and more Canadians are vaccinated against COVID-19. It has often been suggested that as this trend continues, we will soon reach a point where so many people are invulnerable to the virus that it will largely die out due to a lack of hosts to infect — offering indirect protection to the entire population, even those who are not immunized.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/herd-immunity-threshold-canada-covid-1.6013685
Ontario to offer remote learning next school year, but no details on return to class this spring
May 4, 2021
Ontario will offer online learning for the next school year, Education Minister Stephen Lecce said Tuesday, though he offered no news about whether or not students might return to in-person classes this spring.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-ontario-may-4-2021-schools-1.6012939
Ottawa adds five years to end water advisories for First Nations
May 5, 2021
The Trudeau government, which once promised to end all long-term drinking-water advisories in First Nations this year, now estimates it could take until 2026.
Indigenous leaders launch $2.1 billion class-action lawsuits against Canada over lack of drinking water
May 4, 2021
Curve Lake First Nation, a forested community in southern Ontario, is surrounded on three sides by fresh water. But for decades, residents have been unable to safely make use of it. Wary of crumbling infrastructure and waterborne illness, the community instead relies on shipments of bottled water. The community’s newly elected chief, aged 34, has lived her whole life without the guarantee of clean water flowing from the tap.
https://thenarwhal.ca/first-nation-class-action-lawsuit-canada-drinking-water/
Canada’s First Nations have mixed feelings about federal support for UN’s Rights of Indigenous Peoples
May 5, 2021
Lumping all Indigenous peoples into a single amorphous entity is a staple of racism, systemic or otherwise, and the latest debate over a federal bill aimed at recognizing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) provides an example of the pitfalls involved in what might seem a simple and straightforward redress of historic inequities.
‘Each First Nation needs to ask: Is language important to us?’ says Anishinabek Nation Language Commissioner
May 5, 2021
Barbara Nolan, Anishinabek Nation Language Commissioner, recently said that First Nations must ask that question as a first step toward stopping the downward trend toward extinction.
Grassy Narrows First Nation asserts sovereignty to pass Anishinaabe law on alcohol use
May 5, 2021
A traditional Anishinaabe law on alcohol possession came into effect this week in Grassy Narrows in northwestern Ontario, a clear departure from provisions under the federal Indian Act that prohibit alcohol on First Nations across Canada.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/grassy-narrows-traditional-law-alcohol-1.6013562
Curve Lake First Nation holds red ribbon campaign to honour Cileana Taylor
May 4, 2021
The road into Curve Lake First Nation, near Peterborough, Ont., is long and lined with hydro poles, and each is tied with a red ribbon. The community is encouraging residents to wear red and add red ribbons to their trees or porches for the National Day of Awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls on May 5.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/curve-lake-red-ribbon-campaign-1.6013281
First Nations STEM mentorship program opens to Ontario high school students
May 4, 2021
The head of an agency that gives technical advice to First Nations throughout Ontario hopes a new mentorship program will open young Indigenous people’s eyes to their own potential.
https://cjoy.com/news/7831933/first-nations-stem-mentorship-program-ontario-high-school-students/
Indigenous Innovation Initiative announces first-ever grant recipients for gender equality program
May 5, 2021
The Indigenous Innovation Initiative—an Indigenous innovation platform hosted by Grand Challenges Canada—is proud to announce the inaugural grant recipients for its Advancing Indigenous Gender Equality through Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship Program. Ten projects, from across the country, are receiving a total of $2.5 million CAD ($250,000 each) to advance Indigenous gender equality across health, economic and social dimensions through transformative innovation and systemic change by and/or for First Nation, Inuit and Metis women, Two Spirit, queer and gender-diverse individuals.
Indigenous count crucial to determining services
May 5, 2021
The federal agency conducting this month’s census says it is taking extra steps because of the COVID-19 pandemic to avoid having people enter Indigenous communities.
https://www.burnslakelakesdistrictnews.com/news/indigenous-count-crucial-to-determining-services/
Higher Ed Is Indigenizing. But Are Schools Responsible for Vetting Identities?
May 4, 2021
Across Canada, universities and colleges are striving to decolonize and “Indigenize,”making efforts to include Indigenous culture, history and ways of knowing into their curriculums, as well as hire more Indigenous faculty and staff.
https://thetyee.ca/News/2021/05/04/Higher-Ed-Indigenizing-Schools-Responsible-Vetting/
Why Indigenous Guardians are key to Canada’s climate future
May 4, 2021
In a section focused on biodiversity and the climate crisis, the 2021 federal budget shared in April contained a clear line: “Support Indigenous Guardians.” It was an explicit reference to the Guardians programs caring for lands across the country. The Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI), which bolsters Indigenous nationhood and culture via land stewardship and care, helps support the growing Guardians movement.
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/05/04/news/indigenous-guardians-key-canadas-climate-future
Why Indigenous youth are raising awareness of MMIWG with every stitch of a ribbon skirt
May 5, 2021
The symbol of the red dress has become synonymous with the crisis of hundreds of missing and murdered Indigenous women. It’s why a grassroots group of Indigenous youth are making red ribbon skirts in their honour.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/mmiwg-ribbon-skirt-red-dress-day-1.6013871
Indigenous communities should be able to choose online voting, especially during COVID-19: Report
May 4, 2021
Indigenous communities should be able to vote using the voting methods they choose, especially during a pandemic. Online voting is a method many Indigenous communities have deployed in recent years and others are looking to use.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/indigenous-communities-able-choose-online-142257196.html
Loss of Indigenous studies program would reflect poorly on Laurentian, prof says
May 4, 2021
One of the oldest Indigenous studies programs in Canada will likely end as Laurentian University looks to terminate ties with the University of Sudbury, a move experts say could put the financially plagued school off the radar of an important population of students.
One step closer to an agreement on education transformation with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Indigenous Services Canada and the First Nations Education Council of Quebec
May 4, 2021
Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, and the Chiefs’ Committee of the First Nations Education Council of Quebec (FNEC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will frame discussions for the development of a regional education agreement. This agreement is part of the transformation of education programs initiated by the Department in collaboration with First Nations. This transformation will meet First Nations’ objectives and priorities in the area of education to promote the academic success of students.
Canadians urged Trudeau to address police racism after George Floyd murder, emails show
May 5, 2021
They didn’t always agree on what to do, but scores of concerned citizens penned letters urging the federal Liberals to address police mistreatment of Black and Indigenous people as the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota helped spark indignation about injustices in Canada.
https://globalnews.ca/news/7835297/canada-emails-trudeau-police-racism-george-floyd/
Ontario Unveils $2 Billion Plan to Keep Schools Safe and Support Learning Recovery and Renewal
May 4, 2021
The Ontario government is providing more than $2 billion in new supports to advance and protect public education for the 2021-22 school year. The support includes more than $1.6 billion in resources to respond to COVID-19 and an $85.5 million commitment to support learning recovery and renewal in response to the ongoing pandemic.
‘Incredibly toxic’: More Indigenous women share stories of racism in the federal bureaucracy
May 4, 2021
The gaslighting and casual racism of Karin Moen’s workplace had become so distressing that she thought about killing herself in her building lobby at 10 Wellington Street in Gatineau, Que.
Point of View: Seven questions you shouldn’t ask an Indigenous person
May 4, 2021
Drew Hayden Taylor is an Anishnawbe playwright and humorist. As an Indigenous writer, I used to spend a lot of time on the lecture circuit in pre-COVID times, spreading the gospel of Native literature. Many of the questions I would get from the audience dealt with the art of writing. But habitually, I would be asked questions requiring me to answer on behalf of the entire First Nations population of Canada, all 634 communities, and the more than 1.6 million people in Canada who identify as Indigenous.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/article-seven-questions-you-shouldnt-ask-an-indigenous-person/
Indigenous helmed shows mark ‘significant moment’ in television history says Cree actor
May 4, 2021
Three decades into his acting career, Michael Greyeyes believes we’ve arrived at a landmark moment for Indigenous people on the screen and behind the scenes. The actor known for his roles on Fear The Walking Dead and seminal films like Dance Me Outside recently landed a role on Peacock’s Rutherford Falls.
Ancient Indigenous forest gardens still yield bounty 150 years later: study
May 4, 2021
Along Canada’s northwest coast, ancient Indigenous forest gardens — untended for more than 150 years — continue to thrive. Ts’msyen and Coast Salish peoples once planted and cared for plots of native fruit and nut trees, shrubs, and medicinal plants and roots along the north and south Pacific coast, a new Simon Fraser University study finds.
Young Mohawk student moves schools after being forced to stand for national anthem
May 4, 2021
A Mohawk mother is angry and has pulled her daughter out of a public school because they were not respecting the young student’s rights as a First Nations person. Amy Clark and her family don’t identify as Canadian citizens so when she heard her eight year old daughter Keely was forced to stand for the national anthem, she was furious.
‘A blessing at his age’: Cree youth shows signs of strong hunting skills
May 4, 2021
A 10-year-old boy in a northern Quebec Cree community is being celebrated for being a promising hunter. Myles Cooper of Oujé-Bougoumou has harvested three geese so far this spring — two of them on April 10 on Opémisca Lake near the Cree community of close to 950 and about 730 kilometres north of Montreal.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/cree-hunter-youth-goose-hunt-first-kill-1.6012207
Brutal end behind bars
May 4, 2021
The official narrative of what happened to Will Ahmo — an Indigenous inmate at Headingley Correctional Centre — and how he ended up in a Winnipeg hospital on life support with brain and spinal injuries, is virtually non-existent.
https://www.thestar.com/winnipeg/2021/05/04/brutal-end-behind-bars.html
Marathon Gold and Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band Sign Socio-Economic Agreement
May 5, 2021
The SEA establishes a framework for a long-term positive working relationship between Marathon and Qalipu over the life of the Valentine Gold Project. The Agreement addresses matters such as access to employment and contracting opportunities by Qalipu members and businesses, education, environmental stewardship and monitoring, community investment and ongoing engagement.
Pictou Landing Chief Andrea Paul seeking Liberal nomination for Pictou East
May 4, 2021
Pictou Landing First Nation Chief Andrea Paul will seek the Liberal nomination in her riding of Pictou East in the upcoming Nova Scotia election, a decision she said she did not make lightly.
Indigenous high school grads in Winnipeg’s core area seeing success
May 4, 2021
The largest school division in Winnipeg is steadily working to increase the rates of Indigenous high school graduates through a number of initiatives in and out of the classroom – and they have their sights on increasing post-secondary rates as well.
The latest on First Nations in Alberta as province becomes COVID-19 hotspot
May 4, 2021
Alberta is now North America’s COVID-19 hotspot. Tuesday the federal Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller addressed what is happening to First Nations there.
‘Unstoppable’ Squamish Nation Elder recipient of B.C. Reconciliation Award
May 4, 2021
“Incredible” and “unstoppable.” These are just two words that have been used to describe Xele’milh, Doris Paul, an inspirational Squamish Nation Elder and leader who has worked tirelessly for more than a decade for the betterment of her community and to further reconciliation in British Columbia.
$10.8M for affordable Indigenous housing in B.C. Interior
May 4, 2021
Three Interior Indigenous communities will have 34 new affordable housing units built with new funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
https://infotel.ca/newsitem/108m-for-affordable-indigenous-housing-in-bc-interior/it82773
Stalled project reveals archaeological conflict between First Nations and B.C. government
May 5, 2021
An expansion of a popular Hornby Island pub that stalled this spring with the discovery of Indigenous human remains is threatening to become a flashpoint for relations between the province and First Nations in B.C. when it comes to heritage conservation.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/archaeology-undrip-permits-hornby-1.6012109
Benchmark signs deal with three First Nations for Lawyers project in BC
May 4, 2021
Benchmark Metals (TSXV: BNCH) has signed a definitive agreement with the Tsay Key Dene Nation, Kwadcha Nation and Takla Nation to advance its flagship Lawyers gold-silver project in the Golden Horseshoe of northern British Columbia.
https://www.mining.com/benchmark-signs-deal-with-three-nations-for-lawyers-project/
Vancity’s only Indigenous board member defeated as two newcomers are elected
May 3, 2021
Elections to the Vancity board are often hotly contested. This year, two newcomers—Maegen Giltrow and Juvarya Veltkamp—secured enough votes to become directors, along with incumbents Bill Chan and Patrick Nangle.
Acho Dene Koe First Nation holds election despite challenge from feds, but not everyone is pleased with the results
May 4, 2021
By the time May rolled around, Jim Duntra was hoping he’d be the chief of Acho Dene Koe First Nation in Fort Liard, a small hamlet of about 600 people located in the N.W.T. near the border of British Columbia.
Arctic Indigenous Wellness camp to temporarily close
May 4, 2021
Yellowknife’s on-the-land healing camp is the latest facility to close amid the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the territory’s capital.
https://cabinradio.ca/61779/news/yellowknife/arctic-indigenous-wellness-camp-to-temporarily-close/
Elders in Líídlįį Kúę reflect on spring break up, then and now
May 4, 2021
Líídlįį Kúę — Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories — rests at the foot of two vast rivers. The Dehcho and the Liard River connect the community to extensive travel routes, used by the Dene for millenia.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/elders-reflect-on-spring-break-up-nwt-1.6010232
Eighty-five COVID-19 cases in Nunavut
May 4, 2021
Right now there are 85 active cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut, with 83 of those are in Iqaluit. Eight of the cases are at the biggest prison in Nunavut, the Baffin Correctional Centre.
https://www.aptnnews.ca/videos/eighty-five-covid-19-cases-in-nunavut/
CNN should finally hire a Native commentator
May 5, 2021
Last month, at an event hosted by the Young America’s Foundation, a non-profit for conservative youth, CNN contributor and former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum was riffing on the origins of the United States when a thought appeared to cross his mind.
Vandals Scratch Racist Phrase Over 2,000-Year-Old Native American Petroglyphs In Utah
May 4, 2021
Vandals have etched a racist phrase, “white power”, as well as other graffiti, over millennia-old Native American petroglyphs in Utah.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Call for Proposals: Capacity-building funding for An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families for fiscal year 2021-2022
A call for proposals is now open to support capacity-building in relation to An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families for fiscal year 2021-2022. Funding is available to Indigenous Peoples, communities, and groups as they begin work to develop their own legislation and explore Indigenous-led models for child and family services.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/31P9GUe
Save the Date: Chiefs of Ontario 47th All Ontario Chiefs Conference 2021
The Chiefs of Ontario and Grand Council Treaty #3 will be hosting the 47th All Ontario Chiefs Conference 2021 on June 15-17, 2021. For the Chiefs of Ontario All Ontario Chiefs Conference (AOCC), please find the 1st Call for Resolutions attached. Deadline for Resolutions is Wednesday, May 26, 2021. For more information, please visit https://www.chiefsmeeting.com/aocc-2021.
Issue 9 of The Official Chiefs of Ontario Magazine, The Advocate is now online!
To view, please click here: https://www.mediaedgemagazines.com/the-chiefs-of-ontario-coo/oo21c/.
International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) Annual Meeting, May 17-21, 2021
Hosted by Michigan Technological University, the virtual conference will feature four days of scientific sessions and speakers focusing on our theme Bridging: Knowledge, Seven Generations, Land-to-Lake.
For more information and registration, click here: https://bit.ly/3nI8gUh.
Chiefs of Ontario Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates
Find Our Latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates Here. This website provides information on emergency planning and preparedness, as well as on the unique programs and services that are available to First Nations in Ontario during times of emergency.
