In early 2021, the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH) presented a four-part virtual series looking at the experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and communities with COVID-19.

Held over four Wednesdays in January (13, 20, and 27) and on February 3, 2021, the series explored themes including: Indigenous governance and self-determination in planning and responding to COVID-19; socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on the health and well-being of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples; data collection on COVID-19 cases in First Nations, Inuit and Métis populations and communities; and innovative public health messaging on COVID-19 and Indigenous Peoples.

Virtual Session 3 — January 27, 2021

This session, Data collection on COVID-19 cases in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations and communities, brought together expert speakers who work in data collection, ethics and sovereignty, including:

• Dr. Jonathan Dewar and Maria Santos, First Nations Information Governance Centre - Presentation (PDF)

• Tasha Shields, Well Living House, and Cheryllee Bourgeois, Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto - Presentation (PDF)

• Dr. Robyn Rowe, Laurentian University - Presentation (PDF)

• Pamela Wolfe-Roberge, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (ISC) - Presentation (PDF)

The panel presentations looked at how data collection for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples and communities had been done over the course of the pandemic. Speakers highlighted the challenges related to ethics, tracking, reporting and understanding of data. The panelists also discussed what lessons could be taken into public health emergencies going forward.

Watch webinar recording on YouTube

Read program with speakers' biographies (PDF) | Listen to webinar recording on SoundCloud