Despite Hydro-Québec’s history of environmental devastation and exploitation of Indigenous communities, the crown utility is promoting its growing collaboration with First Nations to promote expansion into markets in the United States.
Eeyou Istchee, along with much of Canada, appears to be in a sixth wave of Covid infections. Cree health authorities reported 623 active cases April 11, close to a 70% increase over the previous two weeks, when 369 cases were reported.
First Nations leaders are applauding a Quebec Court of Appeal decision that maintained key parts of a federal law on First Nations child welfare in effect since January 1, 2020, against a challenge by the Quebec government. The law, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children, youth and families, recognizes First Nations’ authority over child and family services.
After the discovery of unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools shocked the country, federal and provincial governments are committing tens of millions of dollars to First Nations groups working to “identify, investigate, protect and commemorate” residential school burial sites across Canada.
Cree communities moved into Step 3 of the Deconfinement Management Plan March 25, abandoning previous requirements for unvaccinated people returning from areas of risk to follow a “reduced activity protocol” for up to seven days.
After enduring years and sometimes decades without safe drinking water, a historic $8 billion settlement is giving First Nations hope that “boil water” and “do not consume” advisories will soon be a relic of the past.
Eeyou Istchee has now entered Step 2 of the Deconfinement Management Plan, as Cree health officials maneuver away from a policy of preventing Covid entirely toward one of managing it, as many jurisdictions worldwide have also done.
Cree health officials announced a sweeping new approach to their Covid policy February 25, moving away from an isolation protocol to a “testing and reduced-activity protocol that will greatly relieve pressure for everyone in Eeyou Istchee,” according to a bulletin.
After more than three weeks of an occupation of downtown Ottawa by a motley coalition of truckers, conspiracy theorists and extreme-right activists, local Indigenous leaders are denouncing one faction of the protest that claims to represent First Nations and Métis peoples.
Cree health authorities are sounding optimistic about the pandemic. Cree Board of Health and Social Services Vice-Chair Christine Petawabano said in a radio address that, “Things continue to improve in Eeyou Istchee. The number of active cases is declining, which means communities can consider lowering more restrictions.”
