During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments took urgent measures to limit the spread of the disease, including school closures. These impacted Indigenous Peoples in ways that were unforeseen, but which could have been prevented if they had consulted with Indigenous Peoples.
Amnesty International carried out a survey on the impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous Peoples, collecting responses from over 80 interviews and emails/surveys with experts, Indigenous activists, representatives of Indigenous organizations, or organizations working with Indigenous Peoples. This survey looks at what the consequences of lack of consultation were, and how things could be improved in similar situations in the future.
Amnesty International hopes that this briefing will serve to underscore the past and continuing impacts of the pandemic on education particularly for Indigenous People, the inequalities highlighted by the pandemic, and the lessons learned for future emergencies which are likely to have a disproportionate impact on Indigenous Peoples and racialized communities.
Read “What If Indigenous Consent Is Not Respected? Access to Education for Indigenous Children During the Pandemic.”