Native American tribes and urban communities are being affected by the COVID-19 virus in ways that are unique to their population in regards to health care needs, economic impacts, and access to daily essentials.
Jerilyn LeBeau Church, CEO of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Health Board, says, “Indian Health Services and many other tribal clinics are not adequately prepared. I don’t think the rest of the nation is adequately prepared either, but it is even more amplified in our tribal communities.”
With resources limited, tribal leaders are innovating ways to stop the virus's spread. Here in Montana, reservations have imposed strict curfews and are requiring people to stay home or face arrest. In other areas, tribes have set up roadblocks to prevent outsiders from infecting people on reservations. But despite Native leaders' best efforts, coronavirus will continue to acutely impact Native Americans without support from the federal level.
There’s lots of fear in Native communities regarding infectious disease. Consider how tuberculosis and smallpox have historically impacted the population—-this crisis is, understandably, triggering intergenerational trauma. A recentfrom Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health found that traumatic experiences leave physical traces in a person’s genes. In other words, PTSD can be inherited.
Many native communities are facing urgent needs in accessing food, water, medical supplies, and household items. The
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Navajo Nation reports 69 new Covid-19 casesThe Navajo Nation reported 69 new coronavirus cases and two additional deaths on Monday, according to a news release from the Navajo Nation president and vice president.
Read more »
Players union slams Cricket Australia's Covid-19 cost-cuttingChairman of Australia's professional cricketers' union questions the national board's gloomy financial outlook, saying the game had 'yet to experience a significant negative revenue event
Read more »
For DJ Black Coffee, COVID-19 signals pause to rethink music businessHe rose from South Africa's poorest province to become one of the world's most successful DJs, entertaining millions in dance clubs all over the globe, but the COVID-19 lockdown has got DJ Black Coffee wondering about the future of the music business.
Read more »
Lisa Kudrow's heartache as she banned hugging at mum's funeral due to Covid-19Friends actress Lisa Kudrow, 56, has opened up on her mother's 'heartbreaking' funeral service back in February as she banned hugging due to the pandemic
Read more »
Op-Ed: How the COVID-19 pandemic has created dire legal problems for the poorThat's why Congress' new coronavirus relief measure needs to increase funding for free legal services by $1 billion.
Read more »