National Indigenous News July 10

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. Leaders of four First Nations in northern Manitoba have declared a regional public health emergency in response to the opioid, toxic drug supply, HIV, hepatitis C, and homelessness crises. The affected communities, including Red Sucker Lake, Wasagamac, Garden Hill, and St. Teresa Point, are located in the province's remote northeast corner where rising drug use, housing instability, and increasing HIV infections are placing further strain on already limited resources. Since 2017, 93 HIV cases were recorded across the Four Nations, with Garden Hill declaring an outbreak this past January. The issue of rising HIV cases across Manitoba prompted the province to declare a public health emergency to combat the rising cases, but some First Nations leaders say these situations could have been prevented with better access to resources and support. The Asinanu Okamawan Grand Council, which represents the Four Nations, is calling for immediate action. They're calling for formal federal and provincial recognition of the regional public health emergency, sustained multi-year funding to deliver community-based addictions medicine, harm reduction, HIV, and hepatitis C testing, and treatment across the Asinu Nations, investment in regional HIV, hepatitis C, and toxic drug supply surveillance and rapid response, capital and operating investment in prevention infrastructure, and recognition and funding of First Nations policing as an essential service. The Four Nations are calling on the Government of Canada and the province of Manitoba to enter a sustained treaty-based partnership to find solutions to the ongoing issues. Indigenous people in Canada experience widespread mistreatment and disrespect during pregnancy and childbirth, according to new data from Canada's first national survey examining respectful maternity care. The findings stem from Respect, a national study led by a UBC midwifery professor and a pan-Canadian team of research, clinical, and community partners. Between July of 2020 and February of 2022, the project documented the experiences of over 6,000 people across Canada who had been pregnant or given birth in the previous decade. Among 309 Indigenous participants, 63% reported experiencing at least one form of mistreatment during childbirth, while nearly 75% reported disrespect. Harmful experiences reported by Indigenous participants during pregnancy and childbirth included feeling neglected during childbirth, being left unattended, being ignored or refused care, having treatment withheld or imposed without their consent, being shouted or scolded at by a healthcare provider, and receiving negative comments about their ethnicity, heritage, or culture. The researchers also identified factors associated with more positive care experiences. Indigenous respondents who received care from a midwife reported lower rates of mistreatment than those who did not receive midwifery care. The researchers say the findings underscore the importance of indigenous-led and community-based approaches to maternity care, including expanded access to indigenous midwifery services and anti-racism and trauma-informed education for healthcare providers. Fire officials in the Northwest Territories say some rain in the Fort Simpson area has reduced the wildfire threat to the community, but the evacuation order likely won't be lifted for at least another week. Rain over the previous 24 hours has been an immense help to firefighters by lowering fire intensity. Some parts of the fire received between 16 to 30 millimeters of rain overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning. The fire, which was an estimated 36,380 hectares in size Thursday afternoon, is no longer expected to grow, and firefighters are seeing much less open flame. Officials said there are probably five to seven more days of work left to eliminate the wildfire threat, though they acknowledge things could change. A few more days could then be needed to dismantle structure protection equipment once the threat is gone. It will ultimately be up to the village of Fort Simpson to decide when it's safe for residents to return home. The mayor said he expects the village will need five to six days after firefighters have eliminated the fire threat to prepare for residence return. Officials said details about the plan for residence return will be finalized in the next day or two. That's a look at your National Indigenous News.