b'COVID-19FSIN Talking Stick App: Continuing Efforts toIncrease First Nation Vaccination UptakeIt is accepted by medical experts that the best means of defeating COVID-19 is through widespread universal vaccination. Vaccination uptake in First Nation communities is among the lowest in Canada and the developed world. In this current sixth wave, its imperative to find more solutions for vaccine hesitancy and mental health issues that have arisen out of the pandemic. As such, TryCycle Data Systems and the FSIN partnered to bring the Talking Stick app to Saskatchewan for First Nations, by First Nations. The Talking Stick app is an anonymous chat platform connecting First Nations individuals to culture-based support and confidential conversations. Community-based First Nations Peer Advocates in Saskatchewan help advance First Nations vaccine uptake with direct peer discussions regarding vaccine anxiety/hesitancy, mental wellness,our Treaty territories are included. We With the growth of gangs, the emotional health, isolation, traumawant to stress the importance of ourunfortunate result is the explosive and grief.young people taking an active role asrate of abuse of illicit drugs, such health advocates, defenders/protectorsas crystal meth, crack cocaine, Other Communication Efforts and champions of our most vulnerableopioids, fentanyl, intravenous FSIN is cognizant of the need forand elderly. drug use, etc. These drugs are a public awareness campaign towreaking havoc on families and stress the need for preventativeOther States of Emergency communities. and continued safety measuresAs the COVID-19 pandemic winds In Saskatchewan, there were that curb the spread of COVID-19down and becomes an endemic,464 deaths from confirmed or and mental health issues. Theother pressing issues that havesuspected drug overdoses in 2021. FSIN is working directly with Firstbeen developing for many yearsThis number is up from 2020, Nations leadership, Tribal Councils,are becoming continuously morewhere 327 died, and 2019, where Knowledge Keepers and communityapparent. As stated previously, and of179 died.members to ensure were assistingwhich most First Nations leadership with their emergencies as requested.are acutely aware, First Nations have HIV transmission in We have implemented an extensivesuffered from chronic underfundingSaskatchewan is the highest in the communications public awarenessof the Social Spending Envelope. Thiscountry, with 237 cases in 2021 campaign with a series of radiochronic underfunding has led to a highand 184 cases in 2020a result and newspaper ads. Weve alsolevel of poverty in First Nations, whichmostly attributed to widespread highlighted messaging on FSINshas in turn led to other problems thatintravenous drug abuse.social media sites and website. are continuing to grow, such as:Indigenous Languages The proliferation of gangs Sexually transmitted diseases Communications in urban and rural settings,are another major concern. In accompanied by high levelsaddition to HIV, other sexually Weve also highlighted theof violence. A number oftransmitted infections such languages of the Nhiyawak (Cree),First Nations communitiesas gonorrhea, syphilis and Dnsin, Saulteaux, Dakota,have declared formal States ofchlamydia are all diseases that Lakota and Nakota for ads andEmergency due to the disruptioncan be prevented with proper graphics for social media. We wantof peace and the overwhelmingprecautions and public education to ensure all geographic corners ofneed for community resources. and awareness.20OUR PRIORITY Issue 12021/22'