Covid-19 impacts First Nations across Canada in many ways. High infection rates are compounded by higher levels of substance abuse, mental health challenges and other health problems. How do we deal with this?
After more than six months without new a case, the coronavirus has returned to Eeyou Istchee. The Cree Nation Government and Cree Health Board (CHB) announced at least seven active cases as well as others in Waskaganish, though they did not specify how many.
The Cree Nation of Chisasibi officially celebrated its 40th anniversary August 18, but the celebrations took place over several days.
For longer than anyone can remember, the Nemaskau Eenouch have gathered every summer around Nemaskau Sagaheegan – “the lake where fish are plentiful,” now known as Nemaska Lake – to catch, smoke and preserve sturgeon, whitefish and other fish.
A new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has highlighted a “climate code red” for the planet and for humanity. The report, released August 9, is the sixth assessment undertaken by the United Nations body, and compiled the summaries of 14,000 studies.
While acknowledging that Covid cases continue to decline in Canada, the Cree Health Board (CHB) in a statement called the rise of cases in the United States “alarming,” pointing to the Delta variant’s meteoric rise there, despite widespread vaccination. The CHB said it was optimistic that with the success of the vaccination campaign, Eeyou Istchee will hopefully avoid the fourth wave expected to hit Quebec in the fall.
In Eeyou Istchee’s other big summer election, Sarah Pash was re-elected chairperson of the Cree School Board (CSB) July 28, edging long-time director general Abraham Jolly by a slim margin of 111 votes.
The appointment of Inuit leader Mary Simon as Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General July 6 came at a judicious moment.
The Cree Health Board said that until more people get vaccinated, including young children, Covid prevention measures would remain in place, especially with the spread of new variants. The health board also encouraged people to take advantage of newer, less-intrusive gargle testing available at all community clinics when returning to Eeyou Istchee.
Two weeks after the remains of 215 children were discovered at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, the Grand Council of the Cree has demanded full cooperation from governments and organizations to support healing in Eeyou Istchee.
