The increasing cases of new variants of Coronavirus in India has resulted in much suffering and despair. Though the virus does not discriminate, India’s 104.30 million indigenous peoples largely concentrated in the seven states of North-east India, and the central tribal belt stretching from Rajesthan to West Bengal, have been more adversely impacted, due to the lack of awareness and precautionary measures and due to ongoing obstacles in accessing government services.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic poses a grave health threat to Indigenous peoples around the world. Indigenous communities already experience poor access to healthcare, significantly higher rates of communicable and non-communicable diseases, lack of access to essential services, sanitation, and other key preventive measures, such as clean water, soap, disinfectant, etc.
Produced by
Shaldon Ferris
Interviewee: Shani Mangola (Hadza)
Music: Whispers by Ziibiwan, used with permission.
Image: Shani Mangola
After months of clinical trials by many companies in different countries, several vaccines, which are 94-95% effective, have finally been approved and are now making their way to hospitals, clinics and doctors rooms. Successful trials of the vaccines have taken place with medical professionals and the elderly. Vaccines against COVID-19 will be available to us soon.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris
Voice: Jayd Smith
Covid-19 is still a grave reality, now with a new strain of the virus spreading across the world. When the pandemic first began, we did not expect it to last this long, and no one expected that it would spread so widely and have such a disastrous impact. As we move into 2021, it continues to be crucial to maintain social distance, avoid large groups of people, wash or sanitize our hands and wear masks consistently to stop the spread of the virus.
Limited access to basic health services remains a big problem for Indigenous communities across all continents. Indigenous populations in many countries have experienced poorer health outcomes compared to non-Indigenous populations. Mainstream health services have not adequately met the health needs of Indigenous Peoples in both rural and urban settings.
Covid-19 is still a grave reality, now with a new strain of the virus spreading across the world. When the pandemic first began, we did not expect it to last this long, and no one expected that it would spread so widely and have such a disastrous impact. As we move into 2021, it continues to be crucial to maintain social distance, avoid large groups of people, wash or sanitize our hands and wear masks consistently to stop the spread of the virus.
Cultural Survivals Indigenous Rights Radio got in touch with Professor Michael Yellowbird via Skype in July 2020 after hearing about how indigenous peoples in Brazil and indeed other places in the world, are struggling to come to terms with the less obvious effects of COVID-19.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris
Interviewee: Professor Michael Yellowbird
Music: Lights in the Forrest by Yarina. Used with permission.
"Burn Your Village to the Ground" by A Tribe Called Red. Used with permission.
Because of colonisation, many Indigenous Peoples face issues of discovering who they are, in terms of identity. Sometimes, this is as a result of education or religion.
Sometimes we question our own indigeneity, and perhaps, in some cases, there are reasons for this.
Each of us has a different past, a different coming together of events, that has led to who we are, and where we come from.
Cultural Survivals Avexnim Cojti spoke to Cathy Fournier, from the University of Torronto, in Canada.
As Covid-19 sweeps across the globe, it is wreaking havoc and leaving behind a trail of destruction. In this radio program we check in with Nelson Ole Reiya, CEO of the Nashulai Maasai Conservancy in Kenya, to find out about the current situation of the Maasai people in his region.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris
Voices: Nelson Ole Reiyia
Image: Nelson Ole Reiyia
Music
"Anania2" by The Baba Project
"Burn Your Village to the Ground" by A Tribe Called Red. Used with permission.
Links:
Coronavirus, World Health Organization
"Within each body is an archaeological site that holds the details and wisdom of our extraordinary life story, composed of generational, spiritual, and personal experiences. Historical amnesia locks these stories in the body, manifesting as pain, disease, addictions, emotional patterns, and repetitive circumstances. Somatically excavating your personal legend unearths memories of the past that can be reconciled and healed in order to create a new myth-for your body and for your Earth."
The above quote describes a book, My Body, My earth, by Dr. Ruby Gibson.
This is a public service announcement about the coronavirus or Covid-19 disease outbreak.
The Covid-19 Pandemic is upon us, and we all need to adhere to all the hygiene protocols.
While it is important to ensure the well-being of our elders in the time of this global pandemic, let us take care of our children too. If this is new for us, imagine the psychological impact it has on our young ones. Take the time to explain it to them, first hand, as opposed to what they see and hear on social media, television and radio.
This is a public service announcement about the coronavirus or Covid-19 disease outbreak.
While countries all over the world are on lockdown, and panic is the order of the day, this is a time when Indigenous Peoples around the world are encouraged to stay calm, and be strong, in the face of severe adversity.
What is most important to note, is that our elderly are the most vulnerable. We need to take extra precaution to save the lives of the ones who are dear to us, and the ones who have shown us the way to go, who have guided our feet on the path that we all walk.
In this program, Indigenous Rights Radio producer Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan, South Africa) speaks to Janene Yazzie (Navajo, USA), Sustainable Development Coordinator at International Indian Treaty Council, about the impacts of COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris
Interviewee: Janene Yazzie
Music
"Burn Your Village to the Ground" by A Tribe Called Red. Used with permission.
The COVID-19 pandemic poses a great danger to humanity, including the indigenous peoples of Africa.
If the spread of the virus is not urgently arrested and is allowed to infect African indigenous communities, the virus may decimate our member communities.
Africa’s Indigenous Peoples are extremely vulnerable to the dreaded virus, owing to a lack of essential resources such as clean water, food, housing, medical supplies and even basic information.
Freelance Journalist Maria Clara Valencia talks to us about the vulnerability of Indigenous Peoples in Colombia in the face of COVID-19. Maria also gives us an in depth description of the social ills that the Indigenous Peoples in this region are facing. More importantly, we hear about the resilience of these communities and how they are planning to survive.
In a time when Indigenous Peoples who are already plagued by inadequate health facilities and long distances to hospitals because of their remote locations, awareness of the disease is of the utmost importance.
Jemimah Kerenge re-emphazes this message in the Maasai language.
Jemimah is the Sub-Saharan Coordinator as Land Is Life.
Visit land is life here: http://landislife.org/
As covid-19 is sweeping across the globe and humanity as a whole battles with the consequences of this pandemic, one cannot help but to be reminded of the epidemics of the past, particularly the ones that caused pain and suffering and death amongst Indigenous Peoples.
Aneeqa Duplessis from Voice of The Cape Radio went to Hangberg in CapeTown, where she spoke to local residents to find out how the restrictions placed on them by being locked down is affecting poor communities.
CapeTown is home to a population of people of whose ancestry includes that of Indigenous Khoi and San people, as well as those of slave ancestry.
Voices: Aneeqa Duplessis
Radio Station: Voice of the Cape, South Africa
Jayd Smith from Eldos FM introduces this program, where presenter Diana Morat interviews operations manager for epidemic preparedness Dawn Kgaje.
This program is produced by Eldos FM, a community radio station in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Music
"Burn Your Village to the Ground" by A Tribe Called Red. Used with permission.
Saxaphone by Tyso
Production and editing: Jayd Smith
Voices: Jade Smith, Diana Morat
Image: Mixer at community radio station
Interviewee: Dawn Kgaje
As we commemorate World Health Day on April 7th, we are faced with a pandemic. Dr. Myrna Cunningham reminds us how to stay safe, and how to practice personal hygiene in this time of crisis.
According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause diseases ranging from the common cold to more serious diseases. Covid -19 is a type of coronavirus that now affects more than 162 countries out of 195.
This outbreak is serious! And in this program you can find more information and ways to prevent the spread. Listen, download and share for free.
Voice: Natalie Jackson
Image: Washing Hands
Music
"Burn Your Village to the Ground" by A Tribe Called Red. Used with permission.
Links: