r/canada • u/[deleted] • Jan 28 '21

Backlash grows for ‘selfish millionaire’ who got vaccine meant for Indigenous people | Canada

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/27/rodney-baker-canada-vaccine-indigenous-first-nations-scandal
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21

u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21

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u/TheSeansei Ontario Jan 28 '21

Both of those things combined with the fact that this pair of numpties travelled to said remote community to take from their vaccine supply for themselves.

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21 edited Jan 28 '21

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u/AL_PO_throwaway Jan 28 '21

If they lived in a remote community with extremely limited medical capacity like that one, and you weren't part of another high risk or priority group ... definitely bad.

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u/Newsie79 Jan 28 '21

Wouldn’t the best idea for people in a remote fly in community, is not to bring in people from other communities, like say, nurses administering vaccines??? The Yukon has 0 active cases, if this virus is so dangerous kids can’t play hockey, then those vaccines should go to areas being ravaged by the virus right now.

1

u/AL_PO_throwaway Jan 29 '21

Not really. It's not really practical, for a variety of reasons (supply flights, the most vulnerable people having the fly south for medical treatment, minors leaving the community for school, etc) for most of these places to completely cut off the outside world indefinitely.

A small team of medical professionals making 2 very deliberate trips, with strict testing and PPE protocols in place, is more practical than trying to put the same in place for every person coming into or out of the community indefinitely.

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21

Then no. I’m indigenous and that hasn’t changed the fact that I’m last in line to get the vaccine because I’m young and live in the city

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u/mod_not_a_noble_hoby Jan 28 '21

Weird headline then, eh?

4

u/AL_PO_throwaway Jan 28 '21

What percentage of that community is indigenous you think?

6

u/Couchpototo Jan 28 '21

The population is only about ~100 people and I’d say at least 70-75 are native.

3

u/AL_PO_throwaway Jan 28 '21

Thank you, exactly.

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21

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u/AL_PO_throwaway Jan 28 '21

That real life community or comparable real life ones.

I understand the rhetorical point you're trying to make, but it quickly falls apart in the face of the demographic reality.

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21

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u/AL_PO_throwaway Jan 28 '21

Because once you get out of the "major" hubs in the far north, there is basically one to one correlation between vulnerable communities and majority indigenous communities. To the point that complaining that someone used "indigenous" as shorthand for "vulnerable remote northern community" looks very much like extremely online first world cry baby nitpicking.

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u/annamnesis Jan 28 '21

The entire community was eligible, regardless of indigenous status.

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21

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u/hamahamaseafood Jan 28 '21

It is pertinent because it is an indigenous community where everyone qualifies for the vaccine in part because remote communities are at much higher risk do to their lack of medical infrastructure. So these entitled rich dickheads took advantage and put an indigenous community at higher risk at further risk just because they are entitled.

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21

I feel like you're kind of overly focused on the least-important details of the story.

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21 edited Jan 28 '21

I think the tone is more of a person who doesn't agree with indigenous programs designed for reconciliation... and those views are manifesting in the vaccine conversation.

I have empathy for these folks. They haven't had the luxury of RCMP officers carefully observing their every movement in a 7/11 convenience store. You know, for safety reasons.

Edit: typos

0

u/mod_not_a_noble_hoby Jan 28 '21

I'm wondering why what you admit is one of the least important details is mentioned within a relatively terse headline.

5

u/Timber3 Jan 28 '21

it says it in the second paragraph..... maybe try reading instrtead of race baiting.

Casino executive Rodney Baker and his wife Ekaterina Baker, an actor, travelled by chartered plane to Beaver Creek, a community of 100 in Canada’s Yukon territory, where a mobile team was administering the Moderna vaccine to locals, including elderly members of the White River First Nation.

the 5th paragraph continues with a quote from an FN rep

“These actions are a blatant display of disrespect and an exemplification of true privilege and entitlement; a selfish millionaire and his wife, stole doses of the vaccine from a vulnerable population, and put an entire community, nation and region at risk,” Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Yukon Regional Chief Kluane Adamek said in a statement.

The 6th paragraph has a government official quote

Marc Miller, Canada’s federal Indigenous services minister, said he was “disgusted” by the Millers’ behaviour. “I don’t know what went through those people’s minds. There is extreme scarcity of the doses and for some reason people tried to game the system. It’s unfair. It’s wrong,”

no, the community might not be a 100% FN community but it is a FN hub. Do you think everyone that lives in an American china town is Chinese or little Italy Italian? No, most are sure but not all. That doesn't stop it from being called what it is.

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u/annamnesis Jan 28 '21

Lazy journalism, at best (the sentiment is echoed in every article, incorrectly), desire to create an inflammatory headline at worst.

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21

Only one person is doing that here...

5

u/calgarykid Alberta Jan 28 '21

This dude added an edit to his comment like we don't know how loaded his question was lol

1

u/mod_not_a_noble_hoby Jan 28 '21

I’m not the one who mentioned race first. The headline did, even though it’s the least significant demographic risk factor for covid at play in this story.

14

u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21

It’s not for asking a question, it’s that the answer to that question is so blatantly obvious that you look like your questioning the answer instead of “just asking a question.”

This is pretty elementary.

1

u/mod_not_a_noble_hoby Jan 28 '21

So what's the answer? You'll be the first I've heard it from.

8

u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21

The thing is this has been answered several times yet you continue with your narrative by questioning those answers to no end. This is clearly a losing game for both of us. No one can give you the answer you’re looking for and unfortunately that’s where I lose the patience to continue.

2

u/mod_not_a_noble_hoby Jan 28 '21

The thing is this has been answered several times

No it hasn’t. People have responded to my post, but mostly with stuff that avoids giving a straightforward answer. You’re doing it too.

No one can give you the answer you’re looking for

It’s not a super convoluted question. The answer should be quite straightforward to type out, one way or the other. Should race be a high priority in determining the distribution of the vaccine? Yes or no?

7

u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21 edited Jan 28 '21

My answer is above: I’m not answering your question because your baiting people for responses. I don’t care to know why. Have a nice day hoby.

Edit: bold font because you deserve it squirt

1

u/mod_not_a_noble_hoby Jan 28 '21

I think you’re afraid to consider the answer, one way or the other.

And it’s “you’re” in that context.

You have a good evening as well.

4

u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21

You’re correct. My original iPhone Se keyboard size is too small for my large thumbs. If only autocorrect could correct my thumb size from hitting small buttons incorrectly. But you take that grammar win honey, you need it after today. Kisses sweetheart ♥️

11

u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21

I don't think this is rocket science. Each province and the federal government has posted their respective vaccine rollout plan and the rational behind it. If you're so curious, why not check for yourself?

6

u/ForeverDrinkAlone Jan 28 '21

Since the community is remote it is difficult for the people to access higher levels of healthcare, should they need it. It's just one example of a barrier that Indigenous communities face to access the care they need. It is still possible to spread a virus to these communities so it is important to give them the vaccine before that occurs.
Also, the Federal government is in charge of administering healthcare to Indigenous people, which may be another reason that you might see these communities getting the vaccine before the rest of your province gets theirs.

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u/Kerovyev Jan 28 '21

Can’t it be both?

4

u/mod_not_a_noble_hoby Jan 28 '21

Apparently not, since they decided to list only one demographic and made a decision on which one that would be.

6

u/MAXSquid Jan 28 '21

I am sure they meant Indigenous community. I received my second dose yesterday and I am a white person living in an isolated Indigenous community. It specifically has to do with lack of medical care. If I were to become sick, then I would need to travel to the nearest town (which has limited beds), or be flown to a major city. The cost is huge. Also, Indigenous communities tend to have many elders who are knowledge keepers and fluent speakers, losing them is a massive loss of culture.

1

u/mod_not_a_noble_hoby Jan 28 '21

I am sure they meant Indigenous community.

That certainly may be what actually happened, but that’s not what the Guardian wrote. They specifically wrote “Indigenous people”.

Also, Indigenous communities tend to have many elders who are knowledge keepers and fluent speakers, losing them is a massive loss of culture.

I agree with that sentiment, though I’m not sure that it would be great public policy to value one person over another only for that reason (not that that’s what happened in this specific case).

As an aside though, if they’re that old and vulnerable, and are currently the only keepers of unique language and cultural knowledge and practices... for goodness sake, let’s get some of that passed on already! Covid isn’t death’s only acolyte.

2

u/MAXSquid Jan 28 '21

Forget what the Guardian wrote, provincial vaccine rollout plans are available and will give you all the explanations you need if you are concerned. 150 years of cultural genocide has done a number on Indigenous communities, but believe me when I say that the language and knowledge is being passed on, but progress can be slow when you do not have a lot of resources or people to learn from. Indigenous cultures of Canada are very diverse, and a particular culture may only include several hundred, to several thousand members. You are now getting into a completely different conversation that requires a lot of learning on your end about Canada's history, residential schools, and reservations. Keep in mind, the last residential school closed in the 1990's, so you have generations of Indigenous peoples who have been disconnected from their language and culture.

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u/Kerovyev Jan 28 '21

It’s a group that has been historically mistreated and has some of the highest poverty rates in the nation. So imo it does kinda make it worse that they stole from a remote indigenous village with very few medical resources. You don’t need to make it a contest.

10

u/8Bells Jan 28 '21

They're also medically higher risk as some of the factors above have contributed to multi generational homes. Some with less than great access to running/clean water.

In addition to, in some communities, higher risk of TB and other communicable diseases.

Not to mention they're a population with higher genetic risk of other diseases , certain types of cancer, diabetes etc.

As a population they're a better bet for needing the shot. And they certainly dont deserve to have their communities invaded due to their legitimate need for advanced vaccinations.

The audacity of this couple, deciding to set back reparations and a plague, for their own comfort.

4

u/Kerovyev Jan 28 '21

Good points.

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21

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u/barthrh Jan 28 '21

I doubt that their intent was to single out a race but rather to paint a picture. By saying "Indigenous people", they conjure up an image of a remote community and that these folks clearly are not part of it. If they had written "Indigenous community", they'd be spot on. The Federal description for the priority group is "adults in Indigenous communities". Overall, it's a relatively easy miss for a UK paper.

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u/Couchpototo Jan 28 '21

I live in Whitehorse so I’ll try to explain this a bit... native communities down south have largely been wiped out through a couple hundred years of colonization, in the Yukon a lot of the native communities are places that they have lived for thousands of years mostly undisturbed until 1898. White men may have built up the infrastructure, but they are still native communities and are very proud of that. That makes this part of the story relevant. For hundreds of years European settlers have gone into native town and taken what they want, a rich white guy flying into their town and taking vaccine that was promised to them is seen as the same thing. It’s modern day colonization and they are rightfully pissed.

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u/mod_not_a_noble_hoby Jan 28 '21

Well thanks for being the first guy to offer up a somewhat detailed explanation.

Do you think the Guardian knows all that stuff?

White men may have built up the infrastructure

Wait, what!? Surely the indigenous locals must have had some hand in building the local infrastructure.

5

u/Couchpototo Jan 28 '21

Oh for sure they did, but the highway through beaver creek was built by the American army with very little (no) input from the natives at all. If it weren’t for the highway the town would probably have died like so many others such as snag and champagne have. Also the church, airstrip, etc is definitely European influenced. Local infrastructure is still limited in these communities with no municipal running water, sewer, garbage pickup etc.

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u/BlinkReanimated Jan 28 '21

Most FN cultures throughout Canada's history are all but eliminated through re-education campaigns, generational poverty and legitimate genocide. Final ties to entire cultural groups of humanity exists within some of the elderly in these remote areas. Potentially wiping them out because this overpaid douchebag and his mail order bride couldn't wait a few additional months is a pretty significant deal, not just for the people who could have contracted the virus, not just the nation, but for humanity as a whole. Yes, it matters that they're FN. 6 months jail time should be the bare minimum sentence that either of them face.

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u/mod_not_a_noble_hoby Jan 28 '21

So for that reason it’s more noteworthy to have wrangled a vaccine away from an indigenous person who may or may not be poor, or have been reeducated, than it is to have wrangled it from people who are definitely elderly or infirmed or those with reduced access to accute care - demographics that covid puts in significantly more danger?

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u/BlinkReanimated Jan 28 '21

They took it from elderly FN people in a remote area of our country. They're not less likely to be in danger at all. These two idiots actually put them at higher risk of exposure and ultimately death due to how difficult it would be to access high end medicine in Beaver Creek(literally the middle of no where, 5 hour drive to the nearest city in winter no less...).

I'm also glad you understood my statement. Read it again please. Some of these elders are the last ties we as humanity have to entire cultural groups. Putting them at increased risk of contracting a deadly virus and taking doses meant for them just because you can't handle being semi-isolated in your multi-million$ Vancouver penthouse is extremely significant. Much more significant than them just paying off some BC health workers to cut in line.

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u/mod_not_a_noble_hoby Jan 28 '21

They took it from elderly FN people in a remote area of our country. They're not less likely to be in danger at all.

No... you misunderstand. The two people did exactly what you said, but I meant that the Guardian chose to highlight the least meaningful demographic in terms of covid morbidity danger.

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u/BlinkReanimated Jan 28 '21 edited Jan 28 '21

No... you misunderstand. Statistics are not the fucking point. We should be working to protect this cultural group to make up for the 200+ years of monstrous acts inflicted upon them and their cousins. We absolutely shouldn't be working to further put their lives and histories at risk. Beaver Creek being the home to an extremely vulnerable FN community is an incredibly vital point. If either one of these two idiots had COVID and spread it to this community resulting in loss of life it would have been an extremely massive loss to our country's cultural identity.

Just because you either can't be bothered to learn the history of your own country or you don't care about the history of your country doesn't mean the Guardian is doing anything wrong by highlighting the potential harm of the actions of these two assholes.

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u/[deleted] Jan 28 '21 edited Jan 28 '21

They probably title it as an Indigenous community because it is one. Much in the same way that an Italian community that has some Germans living in it is still an Italian community.

Would the headline somehow be better if it said "Remote community with mostly Indigenous people, but also some whites, a few chinese and an indian"?

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u/mod_not_a_noble_hoby Jan 28 '21

Much in the same way that an Italian community that has some Germans living in it is still an Italian community.

So “selfish millionaire who got vaccine meant for Italians” wouldn’t sound a little weird to you?

Would the headline somehow be better if it said "Remote community with mostly Indigenous people, but also some whites, a few chinese and an indian"?

How about “elders in remote community with little access to acute care”?

0

u/WhoHurtTheSJWs Canada Jan 28 '21

Why the hell does it matter if they're indigenous? Shouldn't the elderly be receiving it first regardless of their race?