First Nations face overlapping crises and inadequate support during pandemic – Policy Options

September 24, 2020

COVID-19 will plunge some First Nations further into debt and its people into poverty. The underlying solution is control of our resources and land.

For six months now, the people of the Matawa First Nations have been living in a state of emergency. The communities of Webequie, Nibinamik, Neskantaga, Eabametoong, Marten Falls, Aroland, Long Lake #58, Ginoogaming and Constance Lake have been locked down, and their movements in and out are still restricted and monitored in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Fears around the pandemic came to our communities during the first weeks of March, when 60 people from First Nations of the Matawa Tribal Council (Matawa) attended the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada’s annual convention in Toronto, with its 23,144 attendees from around the world. Another 551 people from nine First Nations in Matawa and six First Nations from Keewaytinook Okimakanak attended the 13th Annual Matawa Education Conference in Thunder Bay.

Read More: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/september-2020/first-nations-face-overlapping-crises-and-inadequate-support-during-pandemic/

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