Jukasa News Update – Monday, April 20, 2020
The Native American woman on the packaging of Land O Lakes butter, cheese and other products since the 1920s has been removed.
The woman was shown sitting in a landscape of lakes and woods. The landscape remains but the woman is replaced by photos of Land O Lakes members farmers.
In a statement Land O Lakes says they wanted packaging that better connects customers to the story behind the products.
The woman was depicted by an Ojibwe artist Patrick DesJarlait from Minnestota where the company is headquartered. He says he understands the motivation to be politically correct and stop using the image but has mixed feelings about her removal.
The federal government will provide $306 million in funding to help small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funding will allow for short-term, interest-free loans and non-repayable contributions through Aboriginal financial institutions, which offer financing and business support services to First Nations, Inuit, and Metis businesses.
The money will be administered by the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the money will help thousands of businesses bridge to better times, including many that are owned and run by Indigenous women.
These measures are expected to help 6,000 Indigenous-owned businesses get through the financial challenges that the pandemic is having on companies forced to close their doors or those suffering major drops in business due to public safety and physical distancing restrictions.
Trudeau said this is just a first step and that more help for Indigenous businesses would be coming soon.
Prisons need to step up COVID-19 testing and sanitary measures to help prevent mass outbreaks among incarcerated populations, as well as release some offenders immediately, urged more groups Saturday, as case loads grew at several institutions.
The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies released a statement Saturday as it “raised the alarm” about the infection rate at Joliette Institution for Women in Quebec.
The women’s facility, about 75 kilometres north east of Montreal, has 50 confirmed cases, the group said — up from 10 on April 7.
That means 60 per cent of prisoners are infected, as only 80 people are incarcerated at the facility currently, according to the group, which acts as an advocate for federally incarcerated women. It notes the number of cases could be higher due to test result delays.
The Grand Valley Institution for Women in Kitchener has nine confirmed cases now, the group said, while the Fraser Valley Institution for Women in Abbostford, B.C., reported its first confirmed case Friday.
The group’s call was echoed by the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, saying in a statement Friday that it has been appealing for action for over a month.
It has heard inmates describe prison conditions that include failing to follow social distancing protocols and lacking sanitary products, among other troubles.
Six Nations of the Grand River Emergency Control Group are calling for increased enforcement measures at the entry points to Six Nations after reports of several large gatherings on the territory came into police over the weekend.
The EGC warned that large gatherings of 5 or more people are banned across the province and can result in criminal charges and a fine of up too $100,000.
ECG cautioned the community saying infected people can spread the coronavirus when they are not showing symptoms for several days before they know they are sick.
Six Nations Police are investigating the incidents.
- Previous Jukasa News Update – Thursday, April 16, 2020
- Next Jukasa News Update – Thursday, April 23, 2020
0 thoughts on “Jukasa News Update – Monday, April 20, 2020”