Lending a helping hand during the COVID-19 pandemic
As the pandemic rages on, Indigenous people like John Cutfeet and Yvette Nolan are making a difference
About two dozen skidooers from Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation in northwestern Ontario rang in the New Year by pulling toboggans full of supplies to neighbours in need, eight hours away.
The riders were heading to Bearskin Lake First Nation, a remote fly-in community that's been overwhelmed by COVID-19 in recent weeks. Of the 400 people in the community, more than half have tested positive for the virus.
The riders faced temperatures of -35 Celsius and below in their long journey to Bearskin Lake and back. John Cutfeet, who was part of the snowmobile convoy, described the mission as an act of true nationhood.
At a time when many remote communities across Turtle Island are facing COVID-19 outbreaks, the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug snowmobile riders showed extraordinary kindness, even when faced with considerable risk.
Difficult COVID-19 conversations
It can sometimes feel like a considerable risk to talk about COVID-19 with family or friends who don't want to get vaccinated. These conversations can feel awkward, tense or painful.
Inspired by a similar tough discussion with a loved one, Yvette Nolan's play, The Case of You, imagines the conversation she might have had if she had known in advance that this person was hesitant about COVID-19 vaccination.
The Algonquin playwright's work highlights the emotional toll it takes to speak with loved ones who don't see eye-to-eye about vaccinations. It also considers the roots of distrust for government-led initiatives among Indigenous communities.
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Made of - Nick Sherman