More COVID numbers shared with Nations

First Nations will now get six-day-old numbers on infections in the closest towns to their remote communities

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor

Victoria, BC - After more than seven months of pushing for the province to share more information with a coalition of First Nations, an agreement on disclosing COVID-19 case numbers has been reached. Today the deal was announced by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Heiltsuk Nation and Tsilhqot’in National Government, which entails Provincial Health Offi cer Bonnie Henry disclosing the number of COVID-19 cases in communities that are near reserves or treaty settlement lands. For the 14 nations that belong to the NTC, these communities include Bamfi eld, Port Alberni, Ucluelet, Tofi no, Campbell River, Zeballos, Gold River and Tahsis. Since early 2020 the Ministry of Health has given regular updates on the number of confi rmed COVID-19 cases, with tallies for each health region. But without knowing how many cases are in the towns Nuu-chah-nulth-aht visit, First Nations were being deprived of vital information, said NTC President Judith Sayers. “We have said from the beginning that as governments we need this information to make good decisions on preventing the spread of COVID into our communities and letting our members know when they may need to be extra careful going into towns to do their essential services,” she said. Now regular updates will be provided to the NTC nations on the number of cases in nearby towns. But the agreement also includes conditions on how much information will be shared. The First Nations are not to disclose the numbers to their members through any publication or announcements; rather councils can advise people which places have a higher risk of contracting the highly infectious respiratory virus. “We can get to lockdown if we need to

Photo supplied by Province of B.C. On Feb. 9 a deal was announced by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Heiltsuk Nation and Tsilhqot’in National Government, which entails Provincial Health Offi cer Bonnie Henry disclosing the number of COVID-19 cases in communities that are near reserves or treaty settlement lands. and just say, ‘Members, you’re not travelling anywhere, we’ll bring in food’,” said Sayers. The information provided to the nations does also not show “real time” cases, as numbers disclosed will be based on tests conducted at least six days before, specifi es the agreement. Case numbers are to be made public if they reach 10 in a town with a population under 20,000 over a 28-day period. For larger cities like Campbell River, the threshold for public disclosure is fi ve cases. “I recognise that Indigenous communities in British Columbia have been seriously and negatively impacted by historical epidemics,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry in a statement. “My offi ce is sharing information in the spirit of reconciliation, to realise self-governance and selfdetermination, and to ensure an eff ective public health response to COVID-19.” The agreement will provide the coalition of First Nations with more information to protect their members from infection, but it falls short from what was requested since June. The identity of an infected member of one of the nations will not be disclosed, nor will the locations of where a confi rmed case travelled to or where the exposure occurred. Language in the agreement notes that the nations assess COVID-19 risk diff erently than the provincial health offi cer, and that the new arrangement is not necessarily satisfactory. “[T]hey view negotiating this agreement to have been a long and frustrating process,” reads the document. “The nation is of the view that systemic change must occur in B.C.’s healthcare system, including the nation’s view that new structures and protocols that support suffi cient and timely information sharing with Indigenous governments during emergencies should be established”. “It does give us more information, it allows us to do some risk management,” said Sayers. “When people are out there doing their thing - essential services and that sort of thing - they need to know what they’re walking into, to know to be extra careful.” Since the start of the pandemic the province has tightly controlled information on the specifi c location of confi rmed cases. Previous responses to the coalition’s request have cited the importance of protecting privacy requirements. In December an application to the B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner was declined, as “suffi cient information is already available,” according to the commissioner. Minister of Health Adrian Dix previously defended the need to keep COVID-19 data close to his chest, suggesting that more public disclosure could discourage others from reporting their illness for fear of discrimination. In January members of the Cowichan Tribes encountered this from local businesses after the First Nation reported an outbreak on it’s reserve.

NOTICE OF PROPOSED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT To all persons who were Crown Wards in Ontario at any time from the period on or after January 1, 1966 until March 30, 2017 and suff ered physical or sexual assault before or while a Crown Ward (“Class Members”)

A proposed settlement has been reached with Ontario in this class action to provide compensation of up to $3,600 to Class Members who are former Crown Wards who suff ered physical or sexual assault before or while a Crown Ward.

This lawsuit is not about seeking money from your abusers for the abuse you suff ered. The lawsuit is about the government’s alleged duty to consider and, where appropriate, apply for specifi c benefi ts on behalf of Crown Wards who were victims of crime, or to seek damages in civil actions on behalf of Crown Wards. The lawsuit, and this settlement, do not impact your ability to sue someone who abused you. If you opted out of the class action, the settlement will not impact you. There will be a court hearing on May 12, 2021 to decide whether the proposed settlement of the lawsuit should be approved. The hearing will take place virtually. There is no money available now. If the court approves the settlement and you are part of the lawsuit, you can then make a claim. To obtain further information, please visit: https://OntarioCrownWardClassAction.ca or contact Epiq Global at 1-877-739-8936, or by email at info@ontariocrownwardclassaction.ca. The lawyers acting for the class are Koskie Minsky LLP. You may also contact Koskie Minsky LLP at 1-866-778-7985, or by email at: OCWclassaction@kmlaw.ca. If you approve of the settlement, and want it to proceed so you can claim money, you do not need to take any steps. If you want to object to the settlement, you must send an objection to Epiq Global by April 1, 2021.

Ha-Shilth-Sa newspaper is published by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council for distribution to the members of the NTC-member First Nations, as well as other interested groups and individuals. Information and original work contained in this newspaper is protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without written permission from:

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Please note that the deadline for submissions for our next issue is

February 19, 2021 After that date, material submitted and judged appropriate cannot be guaranteed placement but, if material is still relevant, will be included in the following issue. In an ideal world, submissions would be typed rather than hand-written. Articles can be sent by e-mail to holly.stocking@nuuchahnulth.org (Windows PC). Submitted pictures must include a brief description of subject(s) and a return address. Pictures with no return address will remain on fi le. Allow two - four weeks for return. Photocopied or faxed photographs cannot be accepted.

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Although we would like to be able to cover all stories and events, we will only do so subject to: - Suffi cient advance notice addressed specifi cally to Ha-Shilth-Sa. - Reporter availability at the time of the event. - Editorial space available in the paper. - Editorial deadlines being adhered to by contributors. Ha-Shilth-Sa will include letters received from its readers. Letters MUST be signed by the writer and have the writer’s full name, address and phone number on them. Names can be withheld by request. Anonymous submissions will not be accepted. We reserve the right to edit submitted material for clarity, brevity, grammar and good taste. We will defi nitely not publish letters dealing with tribal or personal disputes or issues that are critical of Nuu-chah-nulth individuals or groups. All opinions expressed in letters to the editor are purely those of the writer and will not necessarily coincide with the views or policies of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council or its member First Nations. Ha-Shilth-Sa includes paid advertising, but this does not imply Ha-Shilth-Sa or Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council recommends or endorses the content of the ads.

Shingles vaccine now covers elders over 60

Painful skin rash occurs when the chicken pox virus is reactivated many years later

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter

British Columbia – The First Nations Health Authority has announced that it is now providing a free shingle vaccine to elders over the age of 60. Previously, the FNHA covered the vaccine for only those between the ages of 65 – 69. “Eff ective February 1, 2021, FNHA’s Shingrix® shingles vaccine coverage is available at no cost to First Nations elders who are 65 years old and older. This change is intended to make the vaccine accessible to a larger segment of the elder population. Coverage was previously limited to those aged 65 to 69,” says a FNHA statement on Jan. 29. According to information from the federal government, shingles is the name commonly used for herpes zoster, an infection that shows up as a painful skin rash with blisters. The rash usually appears on one side of the body, often in a strip. People get shingles when the virus that causes chicken pox, varicella zoster, is reactivated in their body. The varicella zoster virus does not leave the body, even after a person has recovered from chicken pox. It can fl are up again, causing shingles, often many years after a person has had chicken pox. The virus tends to reactivate when a person’s immune system is weakened because of another health problem. Ahousaht elders Wally and Donna Samuel have both had shingles in recent years. They describe the rash as really painful. “I felt it in my side, I thought I had a broken or cracked rib,” said Wally. His initial symptom was pain. It was not until after he went to the doctor that he developed the classic shingles rash on one side of his lower chest. The pain was so great that he couldn’t bear the feel of fabric rubbing on his rash and had to cut pieces of his shirt off . Donna came down with shingles on her shoulder nearly 20 year ago. She said it lasted about four to six months. Some people experience pain around the rash site for a month or more – pain that is severe enough to interfere with daily activities. The occurrence and severity of shingles and its complications increase with age. So, the news that The Shingrix® vaccine, which costs $200 per shot according the Fraser Health Authority, is welcome for elders who usually live on a fi xed income. It takes two shots of the vaccine to become fully eff ective. The Shingrix vaccine can be prescribed by a physician or nurse practitioner. The Health Benefi ts program also covers injection fees when the pharmacist administers Shingrix® to clients. Information for pharmacists about Shingrix® claims is available on the Pacifi c Blue Cross website. While the Samuels were too late to receive free coverage for the vaccine before they had a fl are-up, they will be relieved to know that they are both eligible to receive the vaccine even many years later. Shingrix vaccine can prevent recurrence of shingles. “I don’t even want to think about getting it again,” said Wally, who says he still has some lingering pain. According to FNHA, requests for vaccine coverage for those under 65 years of age will be considered if submitted with supporting medical documentation from a primary care provider. Clients over the age of 69 who have obtained the Shingrix® vaccine after September 1, 2020 can request reimbursement through the Health Benefi ts’ Client Reimbursement process. If you have any questions, please call Health Benefi ts at 1-855-550-5454.

Photo submitted by Wally Samuel Wally Samuel had a case of shingles that was so painful he had to cut a hole in his shirt due to the fabric irritating his skin.

Ha-Shilth-Sa belongs to every Nuu-chah-nulth person including those who have passed on, and those who are not yet born. A community newspaper cannot exist without community involvement. If you have any great pictures you’ve taken, stories or poems you’ve written, or artwork you have done, please let us know so we can include it in your newspaper. E-mail holly.stocking@nuuchahnulth.org. This year is Ha-Shilth-Sa’s 47th year of serving the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. We look forward to your continued input and support. Kleco! Kleco!

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