Nation to Nation

Ottawa can spend billions in a pandemic, so when will it pay First Nations children what they’re owed for being in care?

Minister Marc Miller says that will still take several months.

Hear the full interview the on the season finale of Nation to Nation.

NDP MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq says the novel coronavirus pandemic has proven to everyone that jobs typically viewed as less essential than others before the pandemic are deserving of a living wage.

She said the pandemic has also put a spotlight on other gaps.

In this episode of Nation to Nation, we also spoke to Cindy Blackstock and where she gets some of her inspiration to fight for First Nations children.

Are there more cases of coronavirus on-reserve than Canada says?

A new report from Yellowhead Institute says yes.

Canada responds to that report on this episode of Nation to Nation.

There were 118 people under the age of 30 in long-term care homes across Ontario as of December 31.

Forty-two of them were between the ages of 18-20.

In comparison, there were more than 74,000 above 60 years old.

So how did these homes, geared for geriatric care, also become a place for young adults?

That and more in this episode of Nation to Nation.

‘Namgis First Nation recently lost a member to COVID-19.

The community is on Alert Bay island in British Columbia that has 26 confirmed cases.

A Cree doctor explains how things have gone.

That and more on this episode of Nation to Nation.

Three Indigenous people were killed by Winnipeg police in 10 days.

It’s sparked calls for an Indigenous police oversight board.

Grand Chief Jerry Daniels explains how it could work.

That and more on this episode of Nation to Nation.

This prisoner advocate says she keeps hearing from inmates across the country about COVID-19.

In particular, Saskatchewan Penitentiary.

Sherri Maier forwarded the complaints to Canada’s prison watchdog.

That’s on this episode of Nation to Nation.

Three perspectives on COVID-19.

Dr. Tom Wong says Indigenous services is doing what it can.

In the united states Patty Talahongva is dismayed at its spread.

And NDP MP Leah Gazan is staying in touch online.

Dr. Jane Philpott has returned to the hospital where she worked for 17 years before getting into politics helping out during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Philpott is also assisting First Nations in northern Ontario as part of a “task team” organized by Nishnawbe Aski Nation in response to the pandemic.

She said many communities were quick to restrict access and curtail large gatherings.

But the virus is getting close.

With leaders preaching across the country for Indigenous people to take the COVID-19 pandemic serious, one nation in Quebec has five confirmed cases but can’t pinpoint the source.

That means Kahnawake’s numbers could go up said Lloyd Phillips, commissioner of public safety for the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake.

Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said people can’t take any risks and need to treat this virus seriously.