Weekly Health Bulletin and Updates

Volume 29 | October 23, 2020

FNHMA Health Bulletin: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

This weekly health and wellness bulletin is intended to provide facts, resources for supports and outline potential actions to organizations, communities and their members. Each week the bulletin will include updated information surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In this bulletin you will find news and information regarding:

FNHMA Virtual Celebration Guest and Speaker Announcement!
FNHMA CEO appointed as Vice-Chair to the OHRI Board of Directors
Total Number of Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 ISC is aware of as of October 21, 2020
42 new cases of COVID-19 involving First Nations people in Manitoba
COVID-19 in Indigenous Communities: Total cases on-reserve surpass 1,000
Health Canada announces funding to improve access to naloxone and overdose response training
Sexual and Reproductive Health Messaging During COVID-19: NACM Social Media Kit
Face Mask Initiative Sending Masks With Indigenous Designs To Remote First Nations
ImagineNative Film And Media Arts Festival Pivots To Online Presentations Due To Pandemic
Cree Elders Less Isolated With Move To Red Cross Emergency Shelter

See below for more information on these topics.

FNHMA 2020 Virtual Celebration

and

Weekly Virtual Town Hall Update

FNHMA Virtual Celebration Guests and Speakers Include:

Carey Price - Montreal Canadiens Goalie

Paul Brandt - Canadian Country Music Star

National Chief Perry Bellegarde - Assembly of First Nations

Ovide Mercredi - Nishnawbe Aski Nation

Jagmeet Singh - Leader of the NDP

Brian Mulroney - 18th Prime Minister of Canada

Minister Carolyn Bennett - Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

Minister Marc Miller - Indigenous Services Canada

Jeremy Dutcher - 2018 Polaris Music Prize Winner

FNHMA Virtual Celebration

The FNHMA is producing a dynamic 3-hour celebration, including powerful guest speakers like the Montreal Canadiens and Ulkatcho First Nation's own, Carey Price!

The celebration will also include moving tributes, exciting musical guests, the presentation of the CFHI Leadership Award "Leading Through Difficult Times", all this culminating in a ceremony honouring our 2020 graduates.

We will also acknowledge the contribution of individuals and organizations who recognize the importance of celebrating ALL health workers across the country for their tremendous contributions during these difficult times.

Is there someone in your community who is making a difference and showing signs of leadership during these difficult times? Prepare a brief video (30 seconds) by yourself or gather a group of colleagues / friends and tell us about this person. Send us your video before October 28, 2020 and it could be chosen to air on November 4!

Is your team or organization interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities for our event?

Add your voice to this powerful group by becoming a sponsor today!

For more information on becoming a sponsor please contact George Rogerson at [email protected]

The FNHMA Virtual Town Halls have returned for another 12 weeks. You can watch the next edition of our Town Hall live on Thursday, October 29, 2020.

Check our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages for the live streams!

Or, click this link on Thursday at 1pm ET : FNHMA Live Stream!

To view our archived Virtual Town Halls, prior to our return, Click Here.

FNHMA CEO Named To The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Board Of Directors

October 23, 2020 - The First Nations Health Managers Association (FNHMA) Board of Directors and staff would like to extend congratulations to FNHMA Chief Executive Officer, Marion Crowe, on her recent appointment as Vice-Chair to the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) Board of Directors.

“It continues to be an honour and privilege to serve the Ottawa community,” said Ms. Crowe. “I am grateful to support the continued excellence at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.”

In this important role, Ms. Crowe is the first Indigenous appointment to the OHRI Board.

Congratulations from everyone at FNHMA and the FNHMA family, Marion!

National and First Nation COVID-19 News

Total Number Of Confirmed Cases Of COVID-19 ISC Is Aware Of As Of October 21, 2020

As of October 21, 2020, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) records indicate that there are 110 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on First Nations reserves, in six provinces. There are also 72 hospitalizations, 763 recovered cases, and 15 deaths.

For more information on these numbers and for more information on how to keep your family safe, please click here.

Click Here to see the full ISC Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak update page.

42 New Cases of COVID-19 Involving First Nations People in Manitoba

"The number of First Nations people in Manitoba infected with COVID-19 is the highest its ever been — which the team tasked with responding to cases in Indigenous communities calls a concerning, ongoing trend.

The number spiked by 42 cases Monday, rising to 339 people infected since the novel coronavirus pandemic began, according to numbers released Tuesday by the Manitoba First Nations COVID-19 Pandemic Response Coordination Team.

The majority of those cases involved people living off-reserve — 212, compared with 127 on reserve.

Meanwhile, 290 of those total cases remain active — 90 are on reserve while 200 are off-reserve."

Click here to read the full article.

COVID-19 In Indigenous Communities: Total Cases On-Reserve Surpass 1,000

"New cases continue to climb in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario

There are 300 active cases of COVID-19 on First Nations reserves across Canada, according to data from Indigenous Services Canada.

In the last week, 160 new cases have been reported on-reserve with the majority occurring in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. As of Oct. 19, there have been a total of 1,040 cases on-reserve since the pandemic started."

Click here to read the full article.

Health Canada Announces Funding To Improve Access To Naloxone And Overdose Response Training

"The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the public health crisis related to opioid overdose and death, and there is a recognized need to support better access to naloxone and overdose response training in underserved communities during this time. Health Canada, with the support of Employment and Social Development Canada, has now approved funding for St. John Ambulance (SJA) to provide overdose response training and improve access to naloxone in homeless shelters funded through Canada's Homelessness Strategy."

For more information on this project related to the new funding, please contact the Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) at: [email protected]

To learn more about the Homelessness Strategy, click here .

Sexual And Reproductive Health Messaging During COVID-19: NACM Social Media Kit

The National Aboriginal Council of Midwives (NACM) has created a series of 5 posters with sexual and reproductive health information for Indigenous communities, as well as 3 informational videos. These posters have been translated into 4 languages (French, Plains Cree, Inuktitut, Mohawk).

"Our goal was to produce culturally-relevant, accessible information on sexual and reproductive health during the COVID-19 pandemic and to share this information from an Indigenous midwifery perspective, promoting health, well-being and resilience..."

To view the posters, click here: NACM Posters

Face Mask Initiative Sending Masks With Indigenous Designs To Remote First Nations

"Tyson Wesley started the Indigenous Face Masks initiative as a way to give back to his home community.

Several remote First Nations on the James Bay coast will soon be getting shipments of face masks adorned with designs by Indigenous artists.

Last week, Tyson Wesley started selling masks online. And for each one he sells, he's donating a children's mask to Kashechewan, Fort Albany or Attawapiskat First Nations."

To read the full article, click here:

ImagineNative Film And Media Arts Festival Pivots To Online Presentations Due To Pandemic

"Festival 'quite adaptable' to on-demand platform, says artistic director.

The ImagineNative Indigenous film and media arts festival is going online this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic but there's still lots to look forward to starting Tuesday, says the festival's artistic director.

"Film is really great in that it is quite adaptable, so we have a really great on-demand platform for everyone," said Niki Little."

To read the full article, click here:

Cree Elders Less Isolated With Move To Red Cross Emergency Shelter

"The Banquet hall space allows for more freedom and better COVID-19 protection.

The Cree health board has teamed up with the Canadian Red Cross to build a temporary elders home — or Emergency Response Unit (ERU) — in a banquet hall in Chisasibi, Que.

The hope is the ERU will give 12 elders back their freedom and quality of life, but also keep them safe from the risks of COVID-19.

The elders have been living under COVID-19 restrictions at the local hospital since September, after a kitchen fire at the residence where they were living forced a relocation."

To read the full article, click here:

Flu And COVID-19 #StopTheSpread

There are many similarities between influenza (flu) and COVID-19. Both are contagious respiratory diseases, and certain populations including older adults, Black and Hispanic persons, and individuals with chronic health conditions are at high-risk for complications from both diseases.

Many of the steps that help stop the spread of COVID-19 can also help protect against flu, but the best way to help prevent flu is to get vaccinated every year. Flu vaccination is especially important this year to help protect individuals and prevent additional strain on an already overburdened healthcare system. Check with your local community health nurse to see when the flu vaccine will be available to you.

Launch of Canadian Contact Tracing Training

The Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada are pleased to announce the release of the three new courses to support training of Canadian contact tracers:

1) Introduction to Contact Tracing

This introductory course looks at the who, what, when, why, and how of contact tracing. This course is intended for public health volunteers and professionals who will support contact tracing activities and who have no previous training in contact tracing.

Estimated time to complete: 60-90 minutes

2) Introduction to Case Interviewing

This course provides a general introduction to interviewing best practices and aims to leave participants comfortable with conducting public health interviews.

Estimated time to complete: 60-90 minutes

3) Introduction to Public Health in Canada

This module provides an overview of public health in Canada, including key roles and functions, history, scope, and jurisdictional considerations. The course may be used to provide public health context for training on other topics.

Estimated time to complete: 40 minutes

To register for any of these courses as part of the Contract Tracing Learning Path, please visit https://training-formation.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ and click on “Health Emergency Management”.

COVID Alert App

The COVID Alert app is an exposure notification app that tells people if they may have been exposed to COVID-19. By letting people know of possible exposures before any symptoms appear we can take care of ourselves and protect our community.

The app is available for free to Canadians and can be downloaded on the App Store and on GooglePlay.

Canadians can be confident in the knowledge that the app is secure. It does not collect any personally identifiable data about you and no information is shared without your consent.

The more Canadians who install the COVID Alert app on their phones, the better we can limit the spread of COVID-19.

Accessing Additional Funding

Canadian Institutes Of Health Research(CIHR) Announces New Funding Opportunity On Harm Reduction

"On October 9, CIHR launched a new funding opportunity:

Operating Grant- Evaluation of Harm Reduction Approaches to Address the Opioid Crisis in the Context of COVID-19.

This evaluation-focused funding opportunity aims to address harm reduction approaches to the opioid crisis and to better understand its compounding intersection with the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on two key components: Safe Supply Pilot Projects (SSPPs) and supervised consumption site (SCS).

CIHR is accepting applications until November 12, 2020, with funding set to begin by January 1, 2021."

Click here to review the funding opportunity details.

Call For Proposals: Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities Project (Heritage Canada)

The application period for Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities Projects is now open through Heritage Canada.

Sport for social development is defined as the use of sport for social development for the purpose of achieving targeted social outcomes.

Click here to see more information

Indigenous Peoples And COVID-19 Knowledge Synthesis, Evaluation And Assessment Grants Rapid Research Funding Opportunity Is Now Live!

This funding opportunity will support projects relevant to one or more of the following research areas:

Indigenous Peoples’ Understanding and Experience with Respect to COVID-19, including cultural responses grounded in Indigenous Knowledges and self-determination; intersections with, and impact on, on-going health, social, economic and climate crises; and/or perspectives of (or participation in) vaccine research, sero-surveillance studies, and clinical trials.
Delivering COVID-19 Testing, Contact Tracing, Self-Isolation and Other Management Practices, and Policies Related to Indigenous Peoples and the COVID-19 Pandemic, including culturally safe approaches and challenges.
Culturally Safe COVID-19 Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery for Indigenous Peoples, including design and delivery of programs and services that are grounded in Indigenous Knowledges, self-determination, and local community context.

For more information and to apply, please click here.

First Nations Webinars

A number of Partner and National Indigenous Organizations are and have been producing webinars in order to continue supporting First Nations in a changing landscape.

To view more please follow the links below and be directed to that organization's webinar page.

Supports & Regularly Updated Resources

FIRST NATIONS PANDEMIC PLANNING TOOL from FNHMA

FNHMA is pleased to announce the Pandemic Planning Tool for First Nations Communities. This tool is available to all First Nations communities, free of charge, in order to help them create their very own pandemic plan efficiently and effectively.

Click here to access your free copy.