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Island Health and the First Nation Health Authority (FNHA) have released an open letter in response to recent commentary about the Cowichan Tribes and COVID-19 case numbers.
On Sunday, North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring expressed concern over social media posts regarding a COVID-19 outbreak among the Cowichan Tribes community.
“Some of the posts I've seen are vile; filled with racism and an 'us/them' mentality. They are fear-based, and they are inappropriate,” Siebring said.
He explained that the posts were in response to the health authority publicly releasing the number of cases in the community, and putting a “shelter in place” order in place for Tribes members.
“But this whole thing has prompted some very inappropriate responses from the broader community, including demands that off-reserve employers fire any First Nations workers who may come into contact with the broader community purely on the basis of their membership in Cowichan Tribes,” Siebring said.
“That, folks, is racism. Plain and simple. And it's wrong.”
The CEO of the FNHA, Richard Jock, as well as Island Health President and CEO Kathy MacNeil condemned the commentary in a statement released today.
“We are deeply saddened by the racist commentary which has arisen within the community in response to the hardship being experienced by Cowichan Tribes,” the statement said.
“FNHA and Island Health strongly condemn these inappropriate actions. We commit to ensuring this racism has no place in our support for Cowichan Tribes.
We would also like to raise our hands in gratitude to the many community and health care leaders in the Cowichan Valley who stood up and called out this unacceptable intolerance. We must continue to stand together in our refusal to allow racism in all its forms.”
Island Health has secured 600 doses of Pfizer vaccine for Cowichan Tribes members who are most at risk from COVID-19, those aged 60 and older, and immunizations will begin today.
“However, we know vaccines are not an immediate remedy, and a couple of weeks are required for protection to develop,” the health authorities added.
“That is why the most critical steps we can take right now are the ones proven to make an immediate difference in slowing the transmission of COVID-19. As Dr. Henry has said, we will need to observe these public health measures until a sufficient level of immunization is achieved throughout the province.”
“COVID-19 knows no boundaries and now, more than ever, we need to be kind to each other and support each other. We will get through this, together.”
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