Pause sweat lodges and pipe ceremonies, restrict contact to stop COVID-19, say Indigenous doctors

As the number of people with novel coronavirus in Canadagrows,Indigenous doctors are warning community members to temporarily halt ceremonieslike sweat lodges that could spread the virusand put elders at risk.

"We need to fly in a new way," said Dr. Evan Adams, who is the chief medical officer of B.C.'sFirst Nations Health Authority.

Adams, who is from theTla'aminNation on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast,lost three grandparents to tuberculosis.

"Some of our old practices like ceremony, or how we gather for funerals to show respect for individuals, needto change."

Heechoed instructionsfrom provincial health officer Dr.Bonnie Henry telling people to keep one or two metres from each other andnot hold gatherings withmorethan50people.

He also explained that, while critical to mental health and healing, some practices are particularly risky.

"There can be physical contact [involving]saliva when you're ... passing a pipe where you could have transmission," Adams said.

Henry has also cautioned the public that being in a hot room surrounded by sweaty people is the perfect way to spread a virus.

Survivingan outbreak

Dr. James Makokis, fromthe Saddle Lake Cree Nation in centralAlberta, says ceremonies that pose a risk need only be stopped until the spread of coronavirus in Canada is contained.

He also askedIndigenous people to remember how their ancestors survived the small pox and Spanish flu outbreaks by social distancing.

"So yes, socially distance,modify some of your ceremonies and cultural practices or conduct them just with the family you live with, and also listen to what the health authorities are telling us," Makokis said.

Nitanis Desjarlais, a Cree and Metismother living inNuu-chah-nulthterritory with her husband and their ninechildren, said she is worried about the safety of elders, some whom are theonlyfluent Indigenous language speakers in their communities.

"Ourelders are so precious to us,they hold so much knowledge andwe don't want to see thembeing affected by this virus sowe have to be very careful," Desjarlais said.

Desjarlais thinksis a good time to connect more with immediatefamily and the land.

"This is a great time for this pause in the country to critically think about how we're living with the planet and how we live with one another and how we take care of one another," Desjarlais said.

Communities bar outsiders

Meantime, someremote communities like Ahousat and Alert Bay, both located off the shores ofVancouver Island, and the B.C. Central Coast communities ofBella Bella and KingcomeInlet haverestricted non-residents from entering.

Willie Moon,the elected council chairman of the Dzawadaenuxw First Nation in KingcomeInlet, says hiscommunity put out an advisory closing itsborders.

"One of the things that we would do, if people are not living in the community and tryto come in, is we would certainly be calling the RCMP," Moon said.

He is particularly concernedfor people in the community who have suppressed immune systems people with diabetes and heart conditions.

He is alsopleading with residents who are notat hometo come back as soon as possible.

Most Indigenous communities have limitedhealth care facilities. Communities that do havehospitals, like Bella Bella, are testing for COVID-19, but those capabilities are also limited.

Ottawa will send tents

The federal government is prepared to use isolation tents and temporary shelters for screening and testing incommunities that lack adequate infrastructure to deal with COVID-19. Adams said he thinks that's a good idea.

"If you're going to set up a temporary facility where people are going to be assessed, the best place to see them is in a tent like structure," he said.

Adams is hopefulthat Ottawa will rise to the challenge ofgettingtents and other equipment needed to Indigenous communities in a timely matter. He also hopes all Canadians will step up to protect each otherby being disciplined to keep social distance.

If you have a COVID-19-related story we should pursue that affects British Columbians, please email us atimpact@cbc.ca.