COVID-19 Bulletin for First Nations and Indigenous Peoples -- No. 7 -- Bring in the Spring!

#BreakTheChain Issue No. 7 May 6th 2020

COVID-19 Information for First Nations Bring in the Spring!

This is the seventh in a weekly series, prepared as a free informational tool by Bimaadzwin Inc. Updated as of May 6th, 2020

(FORBES)

COVID-19 and the ongoing outbreak..

Flattening the curve – initiatives showing positive signs..

Bringing the Spring Inside..

Outside Activities while Social Distancing..

In this Issue…

COVID-19 Birthday Parties and Graduations..

Nutrition Tips..

More Educational Resources..

National Support Services..

Letter of Support to the Navajo Nation..

Spring is Coming!

May is often a month for the outdoors – planting gardens, exploring forests, or getting back into the waters of rivers and lakes that have otherwise been frozen for months. However, like with most things, COVID-19 makes it feel very much different this time around – with the sun just poking its way through the windows, feeling like it’s beyond our reach.

This issue of the newsletter is aimed at getting the most of the warmer weather – while still protecting ourselves, our families, and our communities from the pandemic.

While social distancing will most likely remain the norm for many months to come – this doesn’t mean we have to stay inside all of the time! There are a number of activities you can do alone, or with the members of your household while outside – keeping a safe distance from others – and keeping the community safe.

COVID-19 is the disease associated to the novel coronavirus that was discovered in late 2019. On March 11th, 2020 – the World Health Organization assessed the COVID-19 outbreak as a global health pandemic.

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that impacts the lungs – and can be spread from person-to-person through droplets that leave an infected person when they cough or sneeze, and can stay on surfaces for an extended period of time. Symptoms of COVID-19 have included a cough, high fever, difficulties breathing, and pneumonia in both lungs.

Symptoms can take up to 14 days to appear after someone has been exposed to COVID-19 – and some may not present any symptoms at all.

The best way to protect yourself is to social distance – to stay at least 2m (6ft) away from other people, and to avoid leaving your house for non-essential reasons.

Ongoing COVID-19 Outbreak

There have been over 3.7 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 around the world, with over 250,000 deaths. In Canada, there are currently 62,458 confirmed cases– with 4,200 deaths across the country (May 6).

Cases: 05.06.2020

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.

First Nations are starting to see spread – Walpole Island FN has now five confirmed cases; it is critical that people postpone travel to First Nations communities and respect local restrictions and regulations.

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.

Countries around the globe are facing similar challenges with the spread of COVID-19 – however, those countries who have enforced strict social distancing guidelines have started to see their curves flatten.

Flattening the Curve

Canada’s efforts appear to be working – and is keeping our health system from being overwhelmed – however, this cannot be taken as a sign to let up our efforts. We must continue social distancing, increased hand washing, and wearing a face covering to ensure that the outbreak remains under control.

This does not mean that we can let up what we are doing – it is simply a sign that what we are doing is working, and that we need to continue our efforts.

We are standing united – by staying apart.

The best thing you can do to prevent spreading COVID-19 is to wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. If none is available, use hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol base.

To protect others, you should also: stay at home

Protect Yourself and Others

maintain a 2-metre physical distance from others when physical distancing cannot be maintained, consider wearing a non-medical mask or homemade face covering

avoid touching your face, mouth, nose or eyes Wearing a non-medical mask while out in the community has not been proven to protect the person wearing the mask – so you should always make sure to continue washing your hands, and not touch your face or mask.

However, wearing a mask can be another way to protect those around you, especially if you have COVID-19 but do not show any symptoms – so you may not be aware.

Bring the Spring Inside

With warm weather and sunshine just a window away – the ‘stay-athome’ part of the COVID-19 social distancing recommendations has many people feeling very cooped up. Here are a couple ideas to bring the springtime warmth and sunshine through those windows and into your home: Leave them open! Create a nice breeze on warmer days by turning off your AC and cracking all of your windows! Who knows – you might even end up having a proper social-distancing encounter with your neighbours going out for a walk!

Bring plants into your home: Line your windows with nice green plants, and see them grow in the warm sun! Be sure to find flowers and other plants that like a lot of sunshine, but don’t mind it being a little bit warmer. (I personally love keeping Basil right now; it’s great for pasta – and it makes your kitchen smell nice in the mornings!)

Follow the rays: Those of you who have a cat at home may have already noticed this – depending on where your windows are, you might get an intense spot of sunlight and warmth on the floor in the middle of your room – the one where the cat likes to lay. Take the tip, and sit in the sunny spot to continue your work or whatever else it was you were doing – but be careful; you can still get sunburnt if you’re not careful!

Extend your living room: Those who have access to a front or back yard, or even a balcony can ‘extend their living rooms’ to the outside by bringing out a chair, games, or a little picnic. Make sure that you’re only spending time outside with those who live in the same house as you – and that you keep proper social distancing from others who might be walking by!

New Zealand’s Prime Minister – Jacinda Ardern – has recently announced that the country has ‘won its battle against COVID-19 transmission’. While this does not mean that New Zealand has no COVID-19 cases – this does mean that there are no new cases, and that any spread within the country has been contained.

New Zealand: Battle Won

This only came after the country implemented the strictest of their four-level isolation measures – closing all non-essential businesses; and like Canada, recommending people stay-athome as much as possible. Paired with strong self-isolation regulations for those who did test positive – and quick contact tracing to identify and reach out to any other person who may have potentially been exposed – has ensured that New Zealand can now say that there is no spread in the country.

New Zealanders aren’t quite celebrating just yet – and the country is just laying out its plan to re-open businesses and other services. It’s important to keep social distancing seriously – even in a place where there is no community spread. For now, they’re considering keeping a ‘travel bubble’ around Australia and New Zealand; and will be following what is happening around the world closely!

We brought you the story of Nunavut a couple of weeks ago – the territory’s government has put in place remote selfisolations at hotels in urban centres in southern Canada before catching a flight into Nunavut. This program was built to make sure that there was a line of defense for the remote territory and its 25 communities, and to allow individuals in the territory to feel safe from the spread of the virus.

Update from Nunavut

However, there has been a couple of scares in the last weeks.

One flight carrying Personal Protective Equipment from Newark in New Jersey to Manchester in the United Kingdom had to land for an emergency in Iqaluit, which was the first direct contact to Nunavut in months. Another moment occurred when an individual in Pond Inlet – one of the northernmost communities of Baffin Island – tested positive for COVID-19. It was not known how the virus could have made its way to the community; and a second test was ordered.

Thankfully the case in Pond Inlet was a false-positive; and the flight crew of the plane in Iqaluit spent their two-weeks in isolation at a hotel in Iqaluit, before continuing their flight towards the UK. Nunavut continues to be one of the only regions in the world without any COVID-19 cases.

Nature is all around us. Nature exploration with proper social distancing can happen in your yard, a table-top garden, or even virtually (though not with all of the benefits).

Getting Outside While Social Distancing

Bringing out baby. Even infants and toddlers can play and learn in nature.

If you will be in public spaces, it may be safest to keep them in a carrier or a stroller. If they are in your own private space, it's fine to have them explore even more.

Nature sculptures can be built with twigs, leaves, cones, rocks and more by sticking the collected items into a play dough base. Help your child put objects in the play dough and notice what kind of patterns are created by different items.

Biking with the family in your neighborhood can be a good option if you can keep your distance from others during your ride.

Playing in mud is very fun for young children and helps them develop their senses and motor skills. You can give your child old pots, pans, utensils, and other household tools to move, pour, and squish the mud for imaginary play.

Challenge older children and teens. Stay engaged with the outdoors as a family. Take advantage of this time to bond over activities everyone enjoys.

Hold a nature scavenger hunt for the family. Include categories like plants, trees, animals, birds. Who can create the longest list of the signs of spring that they find? How many different flowers can you photograph?

Create a nature journal so they can describe what they see from a comfortable spot outside. Encourage them to write how that makes them feel or draw what they see.

Have a ball. Kicking a soccer ball or playing catch together can be fine if you are apart from each other and don't share any sports equipment with others outside your household.

Another idea to get the family outside, moving around, and keeping a safe distance to themselves and others is a Photo Scavenger Hunt!You can even organize a competition with your friends or your neighbors – sharing the photos you’ve found in an online album or social media group!

Social Distancing Walk: Photo Scavenger Hunt

A Photo Scavenger Hunt is exactly what it sounds – instead of looking for a list of things to collect in the area around you – take a phone with a camera, and use the camera to take pictures of the things on your list – leaving them where they are. You can go out as a family – or challenge your kids to walk around and try to find everything; depending on their age.

There are three lists here – one for kids in urban areas, semi-urban or suburban areas, and kids in rural or remote areas!

Urban Bus Tree Cellphone Tower Streetlight Stop Sign Dog or Cat Mailbox Puddle Litter (take a picture, and throw it away!)

Garbage Can Red Car Taxi Plane (flying overhead!)

Flower Your City’s Logo

Semi-Urban - Red Car - House - Tree - Garden - Fence - Bus - Trail or Trail Sign - Stop Sign - Mailbox - Rock - Litter (take a picture, and throw it away!)

- Swing-set or Playground - Your reflection - Electric Box (or power line) - Flag

Remote - Tree - Water (lake, river, waterfall) - House - Trail - Pinecone - Flower - Moss - Mushroom - View from the top of a hill - Rocks - Car - Your favourite Spot - Litter (take a picture, and throw it away!)

- Community Centre – or Town Hall - Flag, or your community’s logo

We’ve been compiling a number of online resources for you and your kids to use to continue learning – and maybe learn in different ways – while staying at home. Here are three more resources we’ve found this week that might be helpful for you!

More Educational Resources

Scholastics Canada – the famous school-aged bookseller has put books, learning activities, interactive platforms, and a wide range of other awesome tools divided into four age groups: PreK-Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2, Grades 3-5, and Grades 6-9. These resources are online for free for the next couple of months and can be accessed here: Scholastics Smithsonian Institute – last week we mentioned an online tour of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, but the museum has another online tool that provides a huge variety of educational games, articles, and interactive platforms on topics from the human body to the animal kingdom, and from sparkling gemstones to the tallest buildings on the planet. Check out their resources here: Smithsonian Los Angeles Times – although the article / database is centred on southern California, the LA Times has put together an impressive list of online tours, activities, educational resources, and other tips and tricks divided into easy to follow categories. Check out what they’re putting together here: LA Times

Celebrations in the time of COVID-19 are changing. So many people around the world are realizing that their birthday or graduation plans are not going to be quite what they expected – but this doesn’t mean that people aren’t finding ways to celebrate!

COVID-19 Birthday Parties and Graduations

From drive-by birthday parties – or a 300-jeep strong parade for a 13-year old boy’s birthday party after his mom made a call out on social media – to zoom graduations with hat and gown and all, people are finding unique ways to be together while keeping apart.

Last week we brought up John Krasinski’s ‘SomeGoodNews’ on YouTube. Just this week they put together a special graduation ceremony for all of those in the Class of 2020. If you’re graduating from kindergarten, high school, or your PhD – take a moment to check out this graduation ceremony made specially for you: SGN Graduation

What can I do to support my immune system?

A healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables, protein foods and whole grains is important for a strong immune system as are other healthy lifestyle habits (e.g exercise, not smoking, adequate sleep, managing stress etc.)

COVID-19 and Nutrition

There are many nutrients that are involved with the normal functioning of the immune system and therefore we encourage eating a variety of nutrient rich healthy foods each day in order to support immune function.

There is no single food, supplement or natural health product that will prevent you from catching COVID-19. To date, the Government of Canada has not approved any product to prevent, treat or cure COVID-19. Selling unauthorized health products or making false or misleading claims to prevent, treat or cure COVID-19 is illegal in Canada.

We also support the recommendations of public health officials that proper hygiene, such as hand washing, and physical distancing are the best ways to prevent COVID-19. When physical distancing is not possible in public settings like the grocery store or on transit, a homemade facial covering/non-medical mask can be used.

Canadians farms across the country are feeling the strain of the stay-at-home recommendations, and the limits on travel across the country and around the world. Many farms in Canada rely on temporary workers to help in the planting and harvest seasons, and some of those workers come from other regions of the country or the world – and are unable to travel due to the current restrictions.

Step Up to Feed Canadians

However, there are also a number of Canadians without work at the moment in regions around the country that might be interested in and benefit from temporary work on Canadian farms in their area.

Canada is working to pair farms with interested workers; so if you think this might be interesting for you, check out more information here: Agriculture Canada

Being at home can be stressful for everyone – and some people might be experience challenging situations or even violence at home – here is a list of National Support Services that are always a good things to have access to.

Canadian Centre for Child Protection – The Canadian Centre for Child Protection is a national charity dedicated to the personal safety of children. Its goal is to reduce the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, assist in the location of missing children, and prevent child victimization.

National Support Services

Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline – The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline - 1-833900-1010 - is a confidential, multilingual service, operating 24/7 to connect victims and survivors of forced prostitution and forced labour with social services, law enforcement, and emergency services, as well as receive tips from the public.

Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime – Since 1993, the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime (CRCVC) has provided support, research, and education to survivors of serious crime and stakeholders in Canada.

First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line – The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate help to all Indigenous peoples across Canada.

Kids Help Phone – Canada's only national 24-hour, bilingual and anonymous phone counselling, web counselling, and referral service for children and youth.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Crisis Line – A national, toll-free support call line has been made available by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, to provide support for anyone who requires assistance.

ShelterSafe – ShelterSafe.ca is an online resource to help women and their children seeking safety from violence and abuse of Women’s Shelters Canada.

Trans Lifeline/Trans Lifeline’s Family & Friends Line – Provides support, information and resources to transgender or questioning people as well as to their families and friends.

Operators are located all over the U.S. and Canada, and are all transgender self-identified.

May 5th, 2020 To our Navajo Brothers We are an Indigenous Organization in Canada that works with First Nations. Bimaadzwin – which means “life” or “good path” in Anishinaabe – has a driving purpose to advance our Nations by rebuilding our governments and strengthening our nationhood.

Letter of Support for Navajo Nation

We want to send out our moral support to our Navajo Brothers and Sisters during this difficult time with the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic. We understand all too well the disparities that First Nations experience in accessing healthcare in our communities and why indigenous communities around the world are being hit hardest by the spreading pandemic.

Even though the weight of history and the hands of colonialism have drawn lines between our Peoples – we still see you, we hear you, we stand with you, and our hearts reach out to you.

We have been helping our First Nations by publishing a weekly newsletter on COVID-19, that provides critical updates, important information, and some ideas on how to manage the weight of the pandemic at home. Although it is Canada-centered, there might be some helpful information. We would like to give this to your community.

Our communities have always come together in the hardest of times. Bimaadzwin sends its love and support to the people of the Navajo Nation, will continue to stand as an ally to indigenous peoples around the world.

Together in Spirit – Together in Safety

Isadore Day Wiindawtegowinini

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 May 6th, 2020.