Mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Inuit living in Manitoba: community responses

• Published in: International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Main Authors: Josée G. Lavoie, Wayne Clark, Leah McDonnell, Nathan Nickel, Rachel Dutton, Janet Kanayok, Melinda Fowler-Woods, Jack Anawak, Nuqaalaq Brown, Grace Voisey Clark, Tagaak Evaluardjuk-Palmer, Sabrina T. Wong, Julianne Sanguins, Adriana Mudryj, Nastania Mullin, Marti Ford, Judy Clark
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023
• Subjects: Epidemic; Arctic; primary health care; health care system; non-government organisations; voluntary sector; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Canada; Circumpolar Health; International Journal of Circumpolar Health; inuit
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2023.2259135; https://doaj.org/article/9f3127526b82428e87947f837ff5613f

ABSTRACTWe document community responses to the COVID-19 pandemic among Inuit living in the province of Manitoba, Canada. This study was conducted by the Manitoba Inuit Association and a Council of Inuit Elders, in partnership with researchers from the University of Manitoba. We present findings from 12 health services providers and decision-makers, collected in 2021.Although Public Health orders led to the closure of the Manitoba Inuit Association’s doors to community events and drop-in activities, it also created opportunities for the creation of programming and events delivered virtually and through outreach. The pandemic exacerbated pre-existing health and social system’s shortcomings (limited access to safe housing, food insecurity) and trauma-related tensions within the community. The Manitoba Inuit Association achieved unprecedented visibility with the provincial government, receiving bi-weekly reports of COVID-19 testing, results and vaccination rates for Inuit. We conclude that after over a decade of advocacy received with at best tepid enthusiasm by federal and provincial governments, the Manitoba Inuit Association was able effectively advocate for Inuit-centric programming, and respond to Inuit community’s needs, bringing visibility to a community that had until then been largely invisible. Still, many programs have been fueled with COVID-19 funding, raising the issue of sustainability.