The NDN Collective has announced the second phase of the NDN Covid-19 Response Project, a $10 million project focused on providing immediate relief to Native people, organizations, and tribes that have been impacted by COVID-19. The second phase is focused on transition and resilience within Indigenous communities.
The Nevada National Guard aided tribes and rural communities around the state in testing and tracking of COVID-19 over the summer. The Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe, and others have worked with the Nevada National Guard to set up 27 mobile, drive-through testing sites – 10 of them on tribal land. These “strike teams” collected more than 10,000 test swabs in rural and tribal communities over the summer.
Starting tomorrow, September 2, the Yurok Tribe will be offering free drive-through COVID-19 tests in the Redwood Hotel Casino parking lot. The tests will be available every Wednesday from 9 A.M. until 2 P.M. until the end of September.
Navajo Nation officials signed a proclamation recognizing the month of September 2020 as “Navajo Nation Census Month” in an effort to boost the low 18.2% self-response rate from the Nation. Navajo Nation officials are also working closely with Census Area Office Manager Arbin Mitchell to reach as many Navajo elders as possible, especially those residing in rural areas.
Four Directions, a national Native voting rights organization, and six Navajo Nation citizens have filed a voting rights complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona in order to secure equal access to absentee voting by mail. The plaintiffs allege Arizona’s requirement that Vote By Mail ballots be received – not postmarked – before 7:00 pm on November 3, 2020 to be counted is an unconstitutional burden on their right to vote at Navajo Nation as applied during the COVID-19 pandemic and United States Postal Service reorganizational issues.
The American Indian Graduate Center is launching Rising Native Graduates, a program that will offer academic coaching opportunities specifically designed to support Native undergraduate students from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington in their pursuit of a graduate or professional school education.
Keep reading for a full news update.
CARES Act:
Oklahoma Native American Tribes Receive Over $14.2 Million Of CARES Act Funding
OKC Fox, Destiny Washington, August 31
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded a total of $100 million to Tribes across the Nation as part of HUD’s Indian Community Development Block Grant Imminent Threat program (ICDBG-CARES).
COVID-19:
The Erasure Of Indigenous People In U.S. COVID-19 Data
High Country News, Kalen Goodluck, August 31
Indigenous peoples are bearing the brunt of COVID-19 infections. But in the sea of demographic, health and economic data collected by governments, academic institutions and research organizations, they are regularly excluded from study or put in the catch-all miscellaneous category of “other.”
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation Protects Our Elders In This Difficult Time
Indianz.com, Chuck Hoskin Jr., August 31
At Cherokee Nation, putting elders first is simply our way of life. Each year the Council of the Cherokee Nation, the Deputy Principal Chief and I make serving our elders a priority in the government’s budget. However, with new federal dollars in our COVID-19 Respond, Recover and Rebuild plan, we will be doing even more to help our elders get through whatever lies ahead.
Monday Navajo Nation COVID-19 Update: 20 New Cases & 1 New Death
Native News Online, August 31
On Monday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 20 new COVID-19 positive cases for the Navajo Nation and one more death. The total number of deaths has reached 503 as of Monday. Reports indicate that 7,078 individuals have recovered from COVID-19 and 94,743 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 9,820.
Tribes, Nevada Guard Combine Efforts For Covid-19 Testing
Indianz.com, August 31
From the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe in Nye County to the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe, the Nevada National Guard aided tribes and rural communities around the state in their efforts to track the spread of COVID-19 this summer. During the last two months, the Nevada National Guard setup and operated 27 mobile, drive-thru collection sites with 10 of them on tribal land. These “strike teams” collected more than 10,000 test swabs in rural and tribal communities.
Yurok Tribe collaborates with Del Norte County to bring important service to the community
Indianz.com, August 31
Starting on Wednesday, September 2, the Yurok Tribe will be offering free drive-through COVID-19 tests in the Redwood Hotel Casino parking lot. The Yurok Tribe’s Incident Command team and Public Health Officer collaborated with Del Norte County to bring this much-needed resource to the reservation
National Census:
With Deadline Looming, Navajo Officials Designate September “Navajo Nation Census Month”
Native News Online, August 31
High numbers of COVID-19 cases on the Navajo Nation have severely slowed the response to the 2020 Census on the largest American Indian reservation in the United States. To bring awareness to the problem, Navajo Nation officials signed a proclamation recognizing the month of September 2020 as “Navajo Nation Census Month” to encourage the Navajo people to participate in the 2020 Census to ensure a complete count of all citizens on the reservation.
Politics:
Will Vote-By-Mail Leave Out Native Americans?
Indian Country Today, Joaqlin Estus, September 1
Observers and pundits are predicting record-setting voter turnout in the coming election. But the number of votes from Indian Country may be underwhelming because of systemic problems.
6 Navajo Nation Residents File Voting Rights Complaint Against Arizona’s Secretary Of State
Native News Online, August 31
Four Directions, a national American Indian voting rights organization, assisted six Navajo citizens in filing a voting rights complaint last week in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona in order to secure equal access to absentee voting by mail.
Other:
American Indian Graduate Center Unveils Inaugural Academic Coaching Program
Alaska Native News, Lindsay Mahaney, American Indian Graduate Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico – August 31, 2020 – American Indian Graduate Center is launching Rising Native Graduates, which will offer academic coaching opportunities specifically designed to support Native undergraduate students from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington in their pursuit of a graduate or professional school education.
White House Council On Native American Affairs Meets Quick Demise Under Donald Trump
Indianz.com, Acee Agoyo, August 31
The White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA) was left without a leader after Tyler Fish, a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation went on a prolonged “leave of absence” as executive director of an initiative that’s supposed to be one of Trump’s major achievements. According to Fish, tribal leaders who want to engage with the WHCNAA in his absence can continue to do so through “subcommittees” that have been established.
NDN Collective Announces Transition & Resilience Grants For Indigenous Communities, Tribes And Indigenous-Led Non-Profits
Indianz.com, August 31
As the world continues to endure the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, NDN Collective announces the second phase of the NDN COVID-19 Response Project, a $10 million project designed to provide immediate relief to Indigenous people, organizations and Tribal Nations uniquely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bureau Of Indian Affairs Officer On Leave After Fatal Shooting Of Brandon Laducer
Indianz.com, Jenni Monet, August 31
The lack of information surrounding the tragic shooting of Brandon Laducer, a Turtle Mountain tribal citizen, is leaving many to wonder what caused police to enter Laducer’s home in the first place, including Laducer’s family. A lack of media coverage following the fatal shooting is in direct contrast to recent shootings by police around the country.
Oneida, Ojibwe Performance Artist Joins Peace Project
Indian Country Today, Sandra Schulman, August 31
Grammy Award-winning performer Ty Defoe, a citizen of Oneida and Ojibwe Nations, has joined a campaign that is uniting creatives from around the globe to explain what peace means to them during the coronavirus pandemic and protests for racial justice. The New York City-based Peace Studio launched “100 Offerings of Peace” last month. The campaign is supported by world-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and others.