Desert Messenger

November 18, 2020 www.DesertMessenger.com 21 How COVID-19 has impacted tribal communities Read Desert MESSENGER ONLINE @ DesertMessengerOnline.com (StatePoint) With COVID-19 infec- tions at an all-time high, medical experts urge the public to make safety their number one priority throughout the holiday season. "Nearly a year into this pandemic, people are yearning for a return to normalcy. However, COVID-19 cas- es are surging and with fl u season already upon us, bringing together people from different households during the holidays is far too great a safety risk," says Susan R. Bailey, M.D., president of the American Medical Association (AMA). During this unusual year, the AMA is sharing top tips for a safe and healthy holiday season: 1. It may not be the way you're used to celebrating, but consider limit- ing this year's gatherings to just the people who live in your household. 2. If you live somewhere warm, you may be able to add a few people to your plans, but only if your get to- gether is outdoors and safely physi- cally distant. 3. Take advantage of the video conferencing technologies avail- able at your fi ngertips to bridge the distance between you and family or friends. Whether it's watching holiday movies, unwrapping gifts or sharing recipes together, many of these traditions can still happen virtually. 4. Interested in holiday deals and discounts? Shop for bargains from home. And if you must go to the store in person and you're at-risk, check ahead of time to see if there are special hours for you. 5. Consider additional outdoor ac- tivities that can bring together oth- er people in your circle without the dangers of dining inside. Go apple picking, leaf peeping or hiking. Think beyond the traditional holi- day activities and start new tradi- tions. 6. Disappointed that your usual large dinner is for a smaller group? You can still cook a large meal and share a portion with neighbors or friends. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recom- mends "delivering them in a way that doesn't involve contact with others." 7. Continue to follow everyday safe- ty guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19: wash your hands, maintain physical distancing and #MaskUp. More health resources, along with tips to prevent the spread of COVID- 19, are available at ama-assn.org. "Missing holiday traditions is diffi - cult, but with top scientists and re- searchers working round the clock to combat this virus, I'm hopeful that by this time next year, friends and family will be together again, one way or another," says Dr. Bailey. (c) Jovanmandic / iStock via Getty Images Plus This holiday season, doctors urge public to make safety a top priority (StatePoint) While the current health and economic crisis has im- pacted Americans nationwide, it has disproportionately affected the Native American/Alaska Na- tive (NA/AN) community. Not only have chronic economic inequalities and systemic lack of infrastructure in many Indigenous territories put tribes at high risk, but these prob- lems have been exacerbated by the loss of revenue experienced by tribal businesses shuttering their doors. Here are some of the persisting problems Native territories face, steps being taken to address them, and what you can do to help. • Infrastructure: Signifi cant num- bers of people in tribal communities lack basic utilities (electricity, run- ning water) critical to adhering to federal COVID-19 prevention guide- lines. Clinics, testing sites, personal protective equipment and other health essentials are also in short supply in Indian Country. Through funding and support, donors can help protect tribes from immediate health risks and mitigate the spread of the virus. • Information: Important govern- ment updates and virtual healthcare services are especially critical dur- ing this crisis. However, informa- tion access is a persisting problem in many tribal territories due to their largely remote and rural locations. The FCC reports that 628,000 trib- al households lack standard broad- band access, a rate over four times that of the general population, and a 2019 study by the American Indi- an Policy Institute found nearly one in fi ve reservation residents has no internet at home. • Economics: Tribal governments, which were already largely under- funded before COVID-19, are under incredible strain today, with ma- jor revenue streams, such as tribal casinos and gaming businesses closed down. Efforts are already providing some relief. In the case of housing, Wells Fargo announced $600,000 in grants to tribal hous- ing programs via the Native Ameri- can Indian Housing Council in May and $1 million across more than 20 nonprofi t organizations since the start of the pandemic. Economic relief from many sources can also help address food insecurity, boost Native-owned businesses and fund other necessities. • Data Collection: A continued national response to the pandem- ic is dependent on accurate data. However, over 70 percent of those in tribal communities live in urban areas, where many use county and state health services. As a result, data black holes have emerged. Through accurate data collection, aid to support the NA/AN commu- nity will be possible. • How to Help: "Across the country, the pandemic has exacerbated health, housing and economic disparities, as well as food insecurity within diverse communities -- especially tribal re- gions," says Diana "Dede" Yazzie Devine, CEO and president of Na- tive American Connections, an Ari- zona-based Native American service and development organization. "We cannot forget all of this once COVID subsides. We need to focus on build- ing a better future." In the case of Native American Connections, volunteering is criti- cal. On-site volunteerism (currently limited by COVID 19) like providing offi ce support, preparing meals for local families or supporting housing needs, can help the lives of residents and community members, while virtual-online donations can deliver much-needed funds. Other ways to help include making fi nancial dona- tions or donating to food banks that service tribal lands. One example includes a recent St. Mary's Food Bank event in Arizona on Navajo Nation territory, where Wells Far- go's Drive-Up Food Bank provided support in mid-August 2020. To learn more about what Wells Fargo is doing to help fi ght hunger in lo- cal communities, visit welcome. wf.com/foodbank. As the COVID-19 pandemic en- dures, addressing the needs of vul- nerable tribal communities is criti- cal to sustaining and strengthening them, and to the forward progress of future generations.

• Cover