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

• Published in: International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Main Authors: Lavoie, Josée G., Clark, Wayne, McDonnell, Leah, Nickel, Nathan, Dutton, Rachel, Kanayok, Janet, Fowler-Woods, Melinda, Anawak, Jack, Brown, Nuqaalaq, Voisey Clark, Grace, Evaluardjuk-Palmer, Tagaak, Wong, sabrina T., Sanguins, Julianne, Mudryj, Adriana, Mullins, nastania, Ford, Marti, Clark, Judy
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2023
• Subjects: Original Research Article; Circumpolar Health; inuit
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10538448/; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37752773; https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2023.2259135

We 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.