National Indigenous News June 19

Darrell Stranger takes a look at some of the latest Indigenous news making headlines across the country. 

Transcript

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This is a look at your National Indigenous News. I'm Daryl Stranger. Changes in the environment are leading to the establishment of infectious diseases such as tick and mosquito-borne diseases in new regions of Canada, impacting the health and well-being of people across the country. There can often be disproportionate impacts on Indigenous communities compounding existing public health challenges and widening health inequities. On Thursday, Rebecca Alte, Minister of Crown Indigenous Relations, announced $3.3 million over three years for five projects in collaboration with First Nation Inuit and Metis communities. The projects will help communities prepare for and respond to the growing health impacts of climate change on the spread of infectious diseases. The five projects, funded through the Public Health Agency of Canada's Infectious Disease and Climate Change Fund, will support community-driven initiatives that integrate Indigenous knowledge with Western science. The work will raise awareness, build surveillance capacity, and empower communities to monitor, prevent, and respond to climate-sensitive infectious disease risks. Funding recipients include Aurora College, the Canadian Pharmacists Association in collaboration with the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross in collaboration with the Nunatsiavut government, the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay, and Les Femme Michif Otapimsawak. Advocates to save the Anishinabe Moan language say they have a bigger and better plan that will create younger and more fluent speakers right across 21 First Nations and Robinson Huron Treaty territory. Trustees of the Robinson Huron Treaty Litigation Fund have approved spending a total of $16 million in interest accrued from the specific Collective Purposes Fund over the next three years for the benefit of the member communities. Work is currently being done with language representatives from each community on which initiatives to prioritize. The pillars of the strategy include reclamation, revitalization, strengthening, and preserving the language. It will rely on immersive experiences for children as well as adults, both on and off reserve. The plan includes land-based learning programs, along with certification for language teachers and a mobile language unit to bring immersion to all 21 First Nations, among other activities. Friendship centers will also offer language lessons. On Thursday, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, or IRC, and Housing Northwest Territories formalized a commitment between the two groups to work together on housing development. The agreement establishes a working group to include both the IRC and Housing Northwest Territories staff. The group will meet at least four times a year under the agreement and may invite other advisors such as youth or elders to attend meetings when possible. The meeting and signing of the MOU marks another milestone. It's the first time in years the Northwest Territory's government and IRC have had a bilateral meeting. Northwest Territory's Premier RJ Simpson estimates it's been about 10 years since the last one, adding he is optimistic about future collaboration and how it will benefit residents. Housing was a key point of discussion, but Simpson said the meeting covered other topics as well, including child and family services. The MOU lays out coordination on land acquisition, research, and data sharing regarding engineering and architecture information. The Memorandum of Understanding has a four year lifespan. That's a look at your national Indigenous News.