b'HEALTH & WELL-BEINGWHEN THE WORLD SHUT DOWNBy Bryan HaBnsye Bnryan HansenCHALLENGES FACED BY INDIGENOUS WOMEN DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMICDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, Indigenous communitiesparticipated also reported experiencing domestic violence disproportionately faced unprecedented challenges in accessingduring this period. health services. A research project conducted by the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition (OAC) resulted in a comprehensiveThe study further highlighted programs and services COVID-19 study that illuminates the unique experiences ofaccessible to Indigenous women in Ottawa throughout Indigenous women during the start of the pandemic. the pandemicand there were many. The Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health offered mental health and The OAC, an alliance of 10 service delivery organizations, repre- crisis counselling, wellness checks, housing support and a sents a unified voice for urban Indigenous communities in thesummer program that continued throughout the season. National Capital Region (NCR). Established in the early 2000s,The Minwaashin Lodge - Indigenous Womens Support they collaborate with various levels of government to advocate forCentres Street Team Outreach Mobile (STORM) provided Indigenous interests. immediate harm reduction and crisis interventions, while Housing First delivered critical support for housing issues. In 2021, the organization partnered with Ottawa Public HealthThe Outreach/Cultural Outreach initiative distributed food and the University of Ottawa Institute on Mental Health Researchboxes and harm reduction supplies. Tewegan Housing to conduct research looking at the first year of the COVID-19offered programming via Zoom and hosted mental health pandemic and the adverse impact on the Indigenous communityworkshops for the community. The Odawa Native Friendship in the NCR. According to Kyra Hagerty, a member of the CreeCentre delivered food through Meals on Wheels, imple-Nation and Research Assistant at OAC, the project aimedmented a fresh produce program to promote healthy eating, to provide an improved service response to the Indigenousand served 50 homeless people each day. The Inuuqatigiit community, understand strengths and gaps in services, and offerCentre for Inuit Children, Youth, and Families held a virtual specific feedback to health providers. Womens Healing Circle specifically designed to address the increased anxiety experienced during the pandemic. Further, Out of 1,077 survey responses, 570 were from Indigenous women:OAC member organizations adapted their programs and the study reveals a complex web of specific challenges faced byservices to the challenges of the pandemic, introducing safety these women. They ranged from childcare issues and domesticprecautions for direct outreach programs and transitioning violence to concerns about mental health and housing instability.services to online or phone delivery where possible. As Hagerty notes, [many of these women] took on multiple roles to meet their responsibilities, especially those with preschool andThe study highlighted widespread worries within the school-aged children. community, with 44% expressing very high levels of concern about job security and 49% sharing similar concerns The study also revealed important statistics that highlightedregarding mental health challenges. These statistics under-the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Indigenousscore the multifaceted challenges faced by Indigenous women, including that childcare accessibility issues affected threewomen during the pandemic; they are signifiers of real and out of five women with children of preschool to elementary- pressing issues that require targeted and comprehensive school age. Thirty-four per cent of the Indigenous women whosupport initiatives. feel more comfortable with getting their vaccination. Whatever that communityGreetings to our members, and to all of our healthcare providers.member needed, we provided it. We want to take this opportunity to seek your engagement as we continue to address Beyond vaccinations, the clinic offeredthe issues that are common when addressing Indigenous health outcomes for all traditional medicine and mental healthnations. To our Indigenous, and non-Indigenous, healthcare providers, we are support. A toll-free line was also set upinviting you to register as a member of CINA. We have just updated our membership to help Indigenous people throughoutenrollment and have provided a section for you to indicate your health expertise.the province find the closest safe and Indigenous-focused vaccination clinic.Why are we seeking your expertise? We are preparing committees based on our membership of those who have experience in a number of health topics.The Mindimooyenh Health Clinic first ran from March 2021 until early June. ByTake a moment to fill out the membership forms, and in the meantime, check out our September 2022, the team had adminis- website and social media platforms.tered 15,650 vaccination doses and helped countless more people through its toll-free line. Feedback from the community was overwhelmingly positive, with a largeCANADIAN INDIGENOUS NURSES ASSOCIATIONmajority saying the clinic was a vitalSuite 1004, 1 Nicholas Street, Ottawa, OntarioK1N 7B7resource during a difficult time. As oneT: (613) 724-4677 Toll Free: 1-866-724-3049 F:(613) 724-4718young mother told ONWA, I dont thinkWebsite: www.indigenousnurses.ca I could have asked for a more kind and pleasant experience than we received.Ontario Native Womens Association23'