From Australia to Canada, how Indigenous people are coping with isolation one year into the pandemic

It has been almost one year since the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic. Its effects are still being determined, but one thing remains true, Indigenous ways of connecting are evolving.

This week on Unreserved, how Indigenous people are turning to digital communities, storytelling and culture to feel connected, and get rid of the isolation blues.

Dene writer, Richard Van Camp, has been on a one-book-a-year pace for two decades. His latest book, Gather: Richard Van Camp on the Joy of Storytelling, shares his secrets to great storytelling. During this time of heightened isolation, Van Camp says that storytelling is particularly important right now. 

Mataya Gillis and Cassidy Lennie-Ipana started Nipatur̂uq magazine to give youth in Beaufort Delta, N.W.T. a platform to share their stories. The third issue is centred around mental health and the challenges youth face. 

For Indigenous youth living in the north, it can be hard to access sexual health education at the best of times. That's why Candice Lys, who is Métis, co-founded both FOXY and SMASH, programs designed to help youth express themselves and feel confident.

Candace Scott-Moore, from Chippewa of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation, Ont. and Richard Scott-Moore, from the Yuin Waddi Waddi Nation in Australia, have been together for over a decade. Last January, Candace returned to Canada for work and Richard stayed behind in Australia. They should have reunited months later, but the global pandemic has kept them apart for over a year. Despite the distance, they manage to find a way to stay connected.

Community members from Maniwaki, Que. have been tuning into online cooking classes to learn new recipes and stave off pandemic isolation. The classes are part of a program called The Collective Kitchen, and are taught by chef Justine Deschenes.

This week's playlist:

Digawolf — Cabin Fever

Samantha Crain — Bloomsday