Issue Number 15: COVID-19 Bulletin for First Nations and Indigenous Peoples -- July 2020

#BreakTheChain Issue No. 15 July 2nd 2020

COVID-19 Information for First Nations Settling In for the Summer This is the fifteenth in a weekly series, prepared as a free informational tool by Bimaadzwin Inc. Updated as of July 2nd, 2020

Newsletter Update..

Ongoing COVID-19 Outbreak Update..

COVID-19 Stress in Canada..

Immunity Blood Tests to Begin..

Canadian-Made Vaccine Heading to Test..

Air Canada Cuts Domestic Routes..

In this Issue…

COVID-19 and the NHL..

BC First Nations Slow Spread..

COVID-19 and Indigenous Sovereignty..

Nuu-chah-nulth Hahuułi Remains Closed..

Listuguj Wants Into Atlantic Bubble..

European Travel for Canadians..

Travel Within Canada..

Thank You Medals for Front-Line Workers..

We’re now in our fifteenth week since Canada had entered into a general quarantine – increasing restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 – and for the past fifteen weeks, Bimaadzwin has brought you this weekly COVID-19 update newsletter.

Although the pandemic is far from over – the need for consistent updates on the spread of the virus, and on initiatives being taken is less important – and can even sometimes be harmful to our mental health.

Newsletter Update

Although it is important to continue to seek information from trusted public health sources – this newsletter will be slowing down for the time being.

Bimaadzwin will continue to public updated newsletter monthly – and will increase the consistency of the newsletters if it is ever needed again.

We thank each and every person who have used these resources over the last fifteen weeks, and we truly hope that they were able to be helpful!

Please feel free to reach out to any of Bimaadzwin’s team if there is any way that we might be able to help support your community!

Ongoing COVID-19 Outbreak

There have been over 10.5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 around the world, with over 512,000 deaths.

In Canada, there are currently 104,204 confirmed cases– with 8,591 deaths across the country (June 17).

Cases: 01.07.2020

All regions of Canada are enforcing social distancing regulations. People are encouraged to stay home, except for going out for necessities like groceries or medication. While going outside to exercise, do not use parks or playgrounds – stick to trails and footpaths. Stay at least 2m (6ft) away from those who do not live with you while out exercising.

People are encouraged to not visit each other’s houses – and to not allow visitors into their own homes.

Although this distancing is difficult for everyone, it is a necessary step to protect the health and safety of everyone.

This is a challenging time for everyone. If you need to talk to someone – the Hope for Wellness Helpline (1-855-242-3310) is available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut.

Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) is also available for those 5-29 years old.

Fifteen weeks into the global COVID-19 pandemic, and many Canadians are feeling the stress of uncertainty weighing down on them. Health Canada recently revealed that almost 11 million Canadians are reporting experiencing a high level of stress – with two million more at risk for traumatic stress as a result of this pandemic

Canada Is Feeling COVID-19 Stress

Pre-pandemic, many people couldn't access the help they needed – even if they wanted to – and this has been compounded during these times. Some free resources, like the federally funded Wellness Together Canada, launched in April, are providing self-assessment tools for rating your level of distress and offering a limited number of live phone sessions with professionals and peer support for front-line workers.

Here are some useful mental health tips for right now: Don't Doomsday Scroll. Follow trusted news channels and take a media hiatus when necessary.

Don't overdo it on the tech. Video games and social media can be OK in measured amounts, but playing video games or using social media for longer than a few hours can lead to depressive symptoms.

Keep a routine with bedtime, hygiene, meals and exercise.

Keep work and life separate. Make time for doing things you enjoy.

Stay social, even if you have to physically distance. Don't get used to being at home and not going out – that can be very dangerous for people prone to depression. Get outside and interact with people.

Help others if you can, perhaps by offering support to people in your community who may need it. As I've mentioned before, altruism is a major factor in how happy we are.

The more we give, the happier and healthier we are.

Most importantly, don't think that mental health is a "nice to have" that you tend to in a crisis and put on the back burner when life is relatively calm.

Canada has recently purchased 140,000 blood tests to being immunity testing for COVID-19 across the country.

Immunity Blood Tests to Begin

It’s been widely assumed that certain people have a natural ability to defend themselves against COVID-19 – which is why there is such a level of asymptomatic spread throughout the world – apparently people can carry it and spread it, but it not effect their bodies in any way.

Canada’s purchase of the blood tests will allow researchers to test blood collected from Canadians over the course of the pandemic to test for potential antibodies. This research will be critical in understanding more about COVID-19, and how we can best protect ourselves.

More information, including the results of these tests, are still to come – and are not expected for another few months.

CanadianMade Vaccine Put to Test

In just a couple of weeks, the first potential COVID-19 vaccine made in Canada will enter human trials. The vaccine, developed in partnership with Medicago and Laval University in Québec was supported by both the governments of Canada and Québec.

The company has already completed the preclinical developments – and are ready to move onto the next phase. If approved, it plans to start enrolling subjects and starting the testing sometime in mid-July.

The first phase of testing is designed to test the safety and the response of the vaccine – and will enroll adults aged 18 to 55 from a clinical site in Montreal. They hope to have results of the test as early as the end of August

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the airline industry around the world – and it appears that it’s going to take a long time before things go back to normal. Air Canada has had to reduce its capacity by over 85% in the last months, and has laid off over 20,000 staff around the world.

However, a recent announcement to cut over 30 regional routes across Canada will have a significant impact on many rural regions – and a number of First Nations communities that rely on these regional airports for service.

Air Canada Cuts Domestic Routes

Air Canada Express destinations that will no longer have any service include Bathurst NB, Wabush NFLD, Gaspé, Baie Comeau, Mont Joli, and Val d’Or in Québec, and North Bay in Ontario.

These towns – and the entire regions that they serve – hope they’ll see the return of Air Canada in the future – but this won’t be until the world starts flying again!

The National Hockey League has been exploring options to bring the 2020 season to their fans across Canada and the United States – while still keeping fans, players, staff, and cities safe from the spread of COVID-19. It’s impossible to host fans in the stadiums this year – so the league was planning on bringing the games to fans from a distance – by organizing all the games in one place, and isolating players before starting.

COVID-19 and the NHL (Update)

The NHL was initially planning on having two cities host all of the leagues games – one in Canada and one in the United States. However, with the increasing spread of COVID-19 in almost every region of the United States – the league is now considering a different approach.

It has not yet been announced – but it is largely expected that Edmonton and Toronto will be the two cities chosen to host the 2020 NHL. It appears that the two hockey capitals for 2020 will be Canadian cities. However, both have an impressive challenge in front of them – providing the space over 600 people to isolate safely, while playing out the league in the city’s stadiums.

Unfortunately – the fans won’t likely be able to join in on the action in either Toronto or Edmonton – but they’ll absolutely be able to follow the action online!

BC First Nations Credited With Slowing Spread

First Nations in British Columbia have been largely successful in keeping COVID-19 out of their communities by strictly following health guidelines and relying on the advice of elders about smallpox and tuberculosis that decimated Indigenous populations, say health officials.

Since Jan. 1, there have been 87 cases of COVID-19 among Indigenous people in B.C. and four deaths, a rate below the provincial average, Dr. Shannon McDonald of the First Nations Health Authority, said Friday.

McDonald credited the success to the many sacrifices made

by First Nations communities to follow health restrictions, restrict travel and the willingness to cancel cultural and family gatherings that are integral to Indigenous culture.

“The sacrifices made, some of them very difficult and painful, have paid off,” she said. “The worst, which many anticipated and feared, did not happen. Transmission of the virus within and between our communities was kept to a very small number.”

Emergency COVID-19 procedures in remote Northern Ontario has protected Sachigo Lake First Nation from a possible exposure to the outbreak.

Sachigo First Nation Narrowly Avoids COVID-19

A Pilatus PC-12 flying for North Star Air was operating a charter for Health Canada between Sioux Lookout and Sachigo Lake when a councillor received notice that one of the passenger’s test results had come back positive for COVID-19 – and she contacted the airline immediately.

The plane was only 10-minutes from the community when it was made aware. It landed, but did not deplane any passengers, and took back off to Sioux Lookout immediately – where the passengers were deplaned and will isolate for two weeks.

The plane then continued onto Thunder Bay where the crew is isolating – and the plane itself will be taken out of service and cleaned for the next two weeks.

COVID-19 Highlights Importance of Indigenous Sovereignty

Faced with the threat of COVID-19, First Nations leaders took innovative, autonomous steps for the protection of their people, resources, and histories, say Laurentian University researchers and associated community leaders.

It’s a step that, in their opinion, demonstrates the viability (not to mention inherent right) for First Nations to take sovereign, independent steps to govern and protect their territories. The proof, they say, is right there in the successes, as well as limitations, of First Nations’ emergency response measures.

First Nations have had to implement unique and innovative responses to the COVID-19 crisis that reflected the particular needs and realities of each community – which is just a small example of how First nations governments are best placed to build policies and programs for their members – not programs that are administered from the government-down.

As British Columbia moves towards the next step of its reopening plan, which includes a number of tourism-related businesses – First Nations on the west coast of Vancouver Island are issuing an order aimed to protect their members from the potential increase spread of COVID-19.

West Vancouver Island Remains Closed

The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, which represents 14 First Nations along 300 kilometres of territory, passed a motion which would prohibit visitors from coming to the nation’s land until the province can prove a system to guarantee the health and safety of its own members.

The NTC is expecting that the province can guarantee: Having efficient COVID-19 testing in place for all 14 First Nations.

Establishing a screening system for non-residents.

Implementing contact tracing so members know if they have been exposed.

Establishing communication protocols between NTC nations and health authorities for prompt reporting of any suspected or confirmed cases on the Island.

If these conditions are not met, the motion says access to Nuuchah-nulth Hahuułi (territories) — which includes the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and the communities of Tofino and Ucluelet — will remain restricted.

The dedication of communities across Atlantic Canada to commit to public health restrictions over the last three months is being credited as the reason why the four eastern provinces have seen a near-stop of any new COVID-19 cases.

Listuguj Wants Into Travel Bubble

As a result of the virus slowing in the region, the four provinces have announced that they are entering into an ‘Atlantic Bubble’ – which would allow for travel between the four provinces, and would require anyone entering from another region to self-isolate for fourteen days before being able to enter the bubble.

The Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation – which sits across the border from New Brunswick, but technically within the province of Québec – wants an exception to the bubble to include them. The nation is geographically isolated from other towns and cities in Québec – but is immediately adjacent to the city of Campbellton, New Brunswick.

Listuguj has required that visitors self-isolate, and have enacted checkpoints at their borders – but since New Brunswick closed their border to non-essential travel, it has been largely cut-off from many of the services that they use. With the bubble, Listuguj residents would have to self-isolate after crossing, which would continue to make it impossible to cross.

They hope that the provinces will welcome the proposal, and will start the ‘Atlantic Bubble’ at the borders of the territory of Listuguj across the river.

European Travel for Canadians

On Tuesday, Canada was listed among 14 countries whose travellers will be allowed to enter Europe starting July 1. The announcement, which was foreshadowed earlier last week by European diplomats, comes as daily infections of the novel coronavirus in Canada continue to see a general decline.

The ease in travel restrictions applies to countries such as Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. The United States, however, joined other large countries like Brazil, Russia and India that didn’t make the cut due to a large number of COVID-19 infections.

Despite there being a strict advisory to “avoid all non-essential travel” outside of the country, Canadians are essentially allowed to come and go as they wish. However, all travellers will have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon return.

On July 3, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P.E.I. will ease inter-provincial travel restrictions within the region, creating a so-called "Atlantic bubble." The move comes as COVID-19 cases on the East Coast have dipped in recent weeks. Atlantic Canadians will be allowed to travel within the region without having to self-isolate when arriving in another province.

Travel Within Canada For Summer 2020?

Quebec has reopened travel within most of the province, but officials encourage people to limit trips between regions. Police checkpoints remain in Nunavik and the Cree Territory of James Bay to limit non-essential travel into the territories.

In general, travellers coming to Manitoba from outside the province are required to self-isolate for two weeks.

Albertans are allowed to travel within the province, including to vacation homes, cabins, hotels, campgrounds and national and provincial parks. Travellers are asked to abide by physical distancing guidelines, and use the province's mobile contact tracing app while out in public.

Ontario and Saskatchewan don’t have any particular instructions on inter-provincial or regional travel, but recommend respecting public health recommendations.

The Royal Canadian Mint released a special medal Monday meant to recognize the everyday heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank-You Medals for Frontline Workers

The wearable recognition medal was designed as a symbol of gratitude for essential workers and others who have helped keep Canadians safe, healthy and connected through the COVID-19 crisis.

Mint employees from Winnipeg and Ottawa volunteered their time and expertise to package the medal, using resources from spare materials.

One side of the medal shows a heart and maple leaf icon, said to represent the collective spirit of Canadians. The other side has a group with a heart in the centre, meant to represent Canadians’ appreciation for essential workers.

All of the net proceeds from sales of the medal will go to the Breakfast Club of Canada’s COVID-19 emergency fund, helping families experiencing food insecurity through the pandemic.

Do you know a front-line worker who deserves a medal?

Check out www.mint.ca for more information. They’re priced at 9.95$ each – with free shipping!

Miigwetch This information has been brought to you as a free public service by:

The content of this presentation is for informational purposes only.

Those who may have come into contact with COVID-19, or who have symptoms must self-isolate and call their health authority.

This presentation was developed to assist First Nation citizens and governments in understanding and responding to the growing crisis.

Information contained in this presentation is accurate as of July 2nd, 2020.