Lakota, Navajo and Hopi volunteers rush to deliver food and water in grassroots efforts

Preparing hot meals for 'Meals for Relatives COVID-19 Rapid City Community Response' in South Dakota, Laura Schad said, "I spent the day doing what I truly enjoy, cooking for friends and relatives. Tom Whillock provided some amazing elk meat (marinated in lime and cilantro) serving as the inspiration for Indigenized Fajitas."

Censored News celebrates Lakota, Navajo and Hopi volunteers, raising their own funds and delivering to the homes of those most in need: elderly, those sick with the virus, and those who are in quarantine because of exposure.

Lakota Volunteers Deliver Hot Meals

Karissa Ortman Loewen‎ photo stir fry 
Meals for Relatives COVID-19 Rapid City Community Response

In Rapid City, South Dakota, Natalie Stites Means, Lakota, said, "We serve COVID-19 positive families committed to quarantine. Especially the families whose matriarchs are sick and cannot cook for their families for 14 days. While need is not necessary for aid, we ask that people who can physically cook for themselves do so and we will assist with groceries." Lakota volunteers deliver meals, groceries, masks and cleaning supplies. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rapidcitycovid19communityresponse/

Read more at Censored News about Meals for Relatives


Dine' deliver in the way of Hozho

Bitahnii Wilson, Dine', and his son have been delivering water to Navajos on the Navajo Nation, where about one-third of the Dine' have no running water. Navajos are now in the fifth month of the pandemic. Donate at https://www.gofundme.com/f/din039e-relatives

Bitahnii Wilson, Dine' said, "Being and doing the Work for the Great Spirit is a physical prayer in action because we all have His-or Her Divine Presence within every individual and everyone we assist and help upon mother earth and under universal father sky, every day that we wake up we're given free will to do as we choose to spread the labor of love, and praise to the Great Spirit, Creator, Almighty, God. For me, this is the only way to live and be in Hozho!"

Bitahnii Wilson  says, "To'h Bei iina at'eh ( Water is Life )  We had an urgent S.O.S call for help that echoed through the internet and phone call from a friend of, a friend of, a friend as we heard of a family in distress that brought us together as a team and lead us a little further southwest to our distant cousin relatives so we went to deliver to a family living on the White Mountain Apache Reservation, at Carrizo Community where there was a family in distress as they were quarantined by their tribe and in need of loving medicine within our actions in delivering in food, water, and supplies as their running water and electricity were turned off due to economic hardship so we went down there and delivered to them making it a quick and safe drop off. After our delivery, we went to Salt River Canyon to vent and pray near the Salt River after being in a C-19 hot spot."

  Navajo and Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief

Cassandra Begay of Navajo and Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief said, "Flights 5 and 6 of our Navajo Air Bridge program with Airserv International carrying nearly 6,000 lbs of relief supplies successfully landed in Shiprock, New Mexico, and Chinle, Arizona, today. Thank you to Delegate Amber Crotty, Walton Yazzie and team, and Cathy Manus and team volunteers for making this happen. Supplies will be delivered to remote Navajo communities in New Mexico and Arizona. We are so grateful for this incredible partnership and for our incredible flight committee who work diligently and hard to get relief supplies to Navajo community members. We appreciate all of your hard work and dedication. We are also very thankful for everyone who donated. Shoutout to Chewy for donating dog food so we can help bring food to pups on the reservation as well." 
Read more and donate: https://www.navajohopisolidarity.org/

Navajo and Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief flight delivery.

.

Navajo and Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief purchases
quality foods and delivers to homes of elderly
and immune-compromised.
Photo in Cornfields, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation by
Glenda Tsosie Wheeler.

Navajo and Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief with Kinship Care Packages on the 
Navajo Nation in Cornfields, Arizona. Photo Glenda Tsosie Wheeler.

Navajo and Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief, preparing pinto beans purchased in bulk,
on Navajo Nation. Photo Glenda Tsosie Wheeler.
Vanessa Tullie, Dine', in Phoenix heads up purchasing.

Hopi volunteers serving relatives

On the Hopi Nation, Navajo  and Hopi COVID-19 Relief
delivers Kinship Care packages. Photo Lilian Hill.

McKinley Mutual Aid

McKinley Mutual Aid, which services McKinley County Navajo, Zuni Pueblo, migrants and others in need in New Mexico, delivers to the eastern Navajo Nation. As the relief effort continues their months-long effort, McKinley Mutual Aid said, "Our other cargo van took off down Sundance and Superman Canyon with retired Headstart teacher (of 30 years!) and community volunteer, Louise. We spent 4.5 hours delivering to 34 elders. Thank you Louise for your dedication to serve your community!" McKinley County includes Gallup, New Mexico, portions of eastern Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo. Read more and donate: https://ourindigenouslifeways.org/

McKinley Mutual Aid said, "Thank you to Leroy from Strong Families and Sonlatsa for delivering food boxes to families in the Twin Lakes" on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico.
 

McKinley Mutual Aid based in Gallup, N.M. said on Monday, "Thank you Ben E. Keith Foods New Mexico Division for cooking our volunteers lunch today! With nearly 2,500 volunteer hours logged, our volunteers work hard and REALLY enjoyed the professionally cooked meal today. Thank you for not only supplying food for our community but for fueling our team."

-- Brenda Norrell, Censored News
brendanorrell@gmail.com