NDP MPPs Sol Mamakwa and Guy Bourgouin recently called for the provincial government to help Kashechewan move to the Site 5 relocation spot to avoid a possible evacuation during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The First Nations Health Managers Association held its third Weekly COVID-19 Town Hall livestream on three platforms. The town hall was livestreamed at ihtoday.ca/townhall/; www.facebook.com/fnhma/; and www.facebook.com/APTNNews/.
Health Minister Patty Hajdu highlighted the risk for Indigenous people from the COVID-19 global pandemic due to underlying health conditions during a phone interview.
Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows) and the federal government recently signed a framework agreement for $19.5 million in funding for construction of a mercury care home, supporting a community-envisioned design.
Wapekeka, Bearskin Lake and Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) recently announced plans for lock downs of the community or a shutdown of flights due to concerns over the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Wapekeka announced a complete Lock Down of the community for 24 hours from April 2 at 12 p.m. until April 3 at 12 p.m. in a March 27 advance notice posting. It is being held as a drill to prepare for when the community needs to do a lock down in the future.
Health Minister Patty Hajdu says the issue of helping people who are flooded out of their communities during the COVID-19 global pandemic is raised in almost every cabinet meeting during a March 27 phone interview.
The growing concerns over COVID-19 not only affected Ron Kanutski’s opportunity to celebrate his culture at the cancelled 32nd Annual Lakehead University Native Student Association Powwow, they also affected his employment opportunities. The powwow was scheduled at the C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse at Lakehead University’s Thunder Bay campus.
Governor General Julie Payette encouraged Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School students to aim high and to dare to dream during her visit, which also included a question session and photo opportunity.
Magnus Theatre’s production of Drew Hayden Taylor’s play Cottagers and Indians features the humorous dramatization of a bitter conflict between an Indigenous man who is planting manomin (wild rice) and a nearby cottager. Herbie Barnes, from Aundeck Omni Kaning, plays the Indigenous character of Arthur Copper while Philippa Domville, from Montreal, plays the cottager Maureen Poole in the one-act play, which runs from March 13-28 at the Thunder Bay theatre.
Confederation College’s Celebration Showcasing Indigenous Cuisine was a hit with a group of 4th Annual Truth and Reconciliation Gathering for Ontario Colleges participants on March 11 in Thunder Bay.
“I thought it was fabulous — the food was really delicious,” says Regina Mandamin, manager of Indigenous Relations and Inclusion at the City of Thunder Bay. “It was a fun sort of gourmet-take on Indigenous foods. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.”
Mandamin says the celebration was a good opportunity to network as well as be introduced to some traditional Indigenous foods.
Blogs & Columns
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