Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

March 23, 2020

New cases bring total to 29 Navajos with coronavirus

Navajo Nation First Responders in Kayenta area. Photo by Navajo Nation.

Three new positive COVID-19 cases reported among Navajo people

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer
Censored News 

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer were informed by the Navajo Department of Health and Navajo Area IHS that the number of positive tests for COVID-19 has reached a total of 29 for Navajo people. This includes cases from Navajo County and Apache County in Arizona, and McKinley County in New Mexico.

A Public Health Emergency “Stay at Home Order” remains in effect requiring all residents of the Navajo Nation to remain home and isolated and all non-essential businesses to close to prevent the further spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

“To prevent a massive public health crisis, every person must remain home. The fact is that the number of positive tests is growing. We know some may need food, medicine, or other essential items, but beyond that we shouldn’t have anyone traveling or going out into the public. This includes public gatherings and meetings,” said President Nez.

On Monday, President Nez and Vice President Lizer held a tele-conference call with the Navajo Health Command Operations Center, Navajo Nation Council members, Navajo Area IHS, counties, states, federal agencies, and others.

“Stay home, stay safe, save lives! Everyone needs to stay home to protect our communities from further spread of COVID-19. We are praying every day for our people who are sick and their families. We are also praying for our people, the first responders, and everyone else on the front lines,” stated Vice President Lizer.

First responders continue to deliver care packages to residents of Chilchinbeto. Additional resources including coal, firewood, water, and other essential items have arrived for local residents including the elderly and high-risk. The Navajo Police Department is also on the ground informing communities using public address systems from police units. If Chilchinbeto residents have questions or need assistance, please call (928) 871-6271.

To contact the main Navajo Health Command Operations Center, please call (928) 871-7014.

March 22, 2020

Navajo Nation has 26 cases of coronavirus as stay at home order goes into effect

President Jonathan Nez offered his appreciation and prayers by phone to a group of Navajo firefighters as they prepare to enter the community of Chilchinbeto to deliver care packages to residents, including elderly and high-risk. The first responders will be wearing protective gear when they enter the community and will not make person-to-person contact to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Photos Navajo Nation President's Office)
Related coverage: Shonto  Preparatory staff and students told to shelter in place after one case of coronavirus reported



Navajo Nation reports 26 cases of coronavirus, as cases also are confirmed in surrounding areas of Flagstaff and Page in Arizona and McKinley County in New Mexico

Total confirmed COVID-19 cases reach 26 as Navajo Nation’s “Stay at Home Order” goes into effect

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer

Censored News

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer were informed by the Navajo Department of Health and Navajo Area Indian Health Service on Saturday, that the number of positive tests for COVID-19 has reached a total of 26 for residents of the Navajo Nation.

This includes 18 cases from the Kayenta Service Unit, four from the Chinle Service Unit, three from the Tuba City Service Unit, and one from the Crownpoint Service Unit. As of Saturday, there are no confirmed deaths related to COVID-19 for residents of the Navajo Nation.

A Public Health Emergency “Stay at Home Order” is now in effect requiring all residents of the Navajo Nation to remain home and isolated and all non-essential businesses to close to prevent the further spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The previous shelter-in-place order for the community of Chilchinbeto in now expanded to the entire Navajo Nation.

March 21, 2020

Mohawk Nation News 'Welcome to the Reservation!'



Mohawk Nation News 'Welcome to the Reservation!'
MNN. March, 21, 2020. COVID19 is another cleansing of turtle island by our mother to rid herself of another disease brought here by the invaders.  Numerous diseases brought here were smallpox, bubonic plague, chickenpox, cholera, the common cold, diphtheria, influenza, malaria, measles, scarlet fever, sexually transmitted diseases, typhoid, typhus, tuberculosis, influenza, polio, meningitis and pertussis, among others.

THE 500 YEAR WAR CONTINUES.
From 1616 onward we onkwehonweh indigenous have suffered fatal diseases, such as small pox infested blankets, the favorite method by the invaders.

Sweet Journey my Friend Bessie Taylor McKay, Dineh



Photo: Bessie at the Indigenous World Uranium Summit in Window Rock in 2006 by Brenda Norrell.
Sweet Journey My Friend

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News

My friend Bessie Taylor McKay, who I often lived with in Crystal in the Chuska Mountains on the Navajo Nation, passed to the Spirit World on Monday night following an injury from a fall.

Bessie traveled the world in her lifetime, traveling through China and hitchhiking on trucks to Tibet, riding camels in Saudi Arabia and living in Kenya. Together we traveled by truck to be with the Tarahumara in Copper Canyon in Mexico.

I'm remembering her now, watering the corn down by Lake Assayi in summer in the Chuska Mountains, where there are eagles and wild turkey. She was always there when the snow piled up around my log cabin when I lived across the road. In good weather, she was picking pinyons and wild plants. We welcomed many friends, including our friend Inuit Maynard Eaken who came down from Alaska. We taught him to build a fire with wood in winter.