'I feel fine': Legendary activist Suzan Shown Harjo on living with COVID-19

Monday, June 22, 2020

By Acee Agoyo

Suzan Shown Harjo has been at the forefront of every major Indian Country battle. From protecting sacred sites to addressing cultural appropriation and racist mascots, the Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient has seen it all and has been celebrated for her role in advancing tribal causes.

The Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee activist is now facing a new challenge. Over the last two months, she's tested positive not once, but twice, for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

But as she spoke via phone from the nation's capital, Harjo sounded as strong as ever. She said she has been asymptomatic, meaning she hasn't experienced a high fever, shortness of breath or any of the conditions associated with the virus.

"I feel fine," Harjo told Indianz.Com on Sunday.

She repeated her assessment: "I feel fine."

"I FEEL FINE": Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne & Hodulgee Muscogee) has been diagnosed with #COVID19. The legendary activist remains as sharp-witted as ever. "Unfortunately, I haven't lost my appetite," Harjo told Indianz. @SmithsonianNMAI pic.twitter.com/21raAcbSlb
— indianz.com (@indianz) June 21, 2020

Yet as the coronavirus affects American Indians and Alaska Natives at disproportionate levels, Harjo remains concerned about her health. Prior to the pandemic, she has been receiving treatment for a pre-existing condition, in a facility where she has watched fellow residents, and even staff, come and go.

"I've heard of eight distinct people dying," Harjo said from her quarantine room at the facility.

Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian: A Promise Kept: Suzan Shown Harjo

Since Harjo has been in lockdown at the center since March, with no outside visitors allowed inside, she believes she contracted COVID-19 from within. But it's not clear to her, or her caregivers, why she has tested positive twice despite showing no serious symptoms.

"It is a total mystery," Harjo said after her second test returned positive on June 12 and she was isolated for another 14-day period at the facility.

"After this 14 days, I will have had this for a minimum of 40 days, which is really unusual, I thought," Harjo said.

People with mild cases -- Harjo believes she falls in that category -- recover in about two weeks, according to health experts. More serious cases can last for several more weeks.

Harjo said patients and residents at the facility were the first to be tested on May 19. It took nine days for the results, she recalled.

"I was one" of the positives, she said.

Having closely followed news about inaccurate results from testing, Harjo insisted on the second check earlier this month, on the thought that the first one could have been a positive. The latest results confirmed to her that she indeed contracted COVID-19.

But like many people, she has no idea when she became afflicted. She plans to ask her caregivers for more information about the type of testing that was conducted in May and June. She's also researching other options, such as antibody testing, another area of emerging science, in hopes of learning more about her journey.

"We haven't quite worked out what we're going to do with regard to testing" in the future, Harjo said.

Wow, she keeps going! I’ve been reading her usual stream of FB posts about current events.
Hope she gets through and recovers quickly.
— Emily Washines (@EmilyWashines) June 21, 2020

Dr. Jennifer Nez Denetdale, a citizen of the Navajo Nation, is looking forward to seeing her friend and colleague's recover from the disease. She broke into tears upon hearing the news of Harjo's condition.

"You know, there's so many of our people who are testing positive," Denetdale said, In several states, including Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota and Wyoming, Native Americans represent a disproportionate number of cases.

"I don't know which one I cry at most," said Denetdale, a professor of American Studies at the University of New Mexico who also chairs the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission.

"We just have so many people dying," added Denetdale. Her tribe alone has recorded more than 330 deaths as of Sunday.

Day 27 goes to Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne/Muscogee) In 1978, she lobbied hard & helped pass the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. In 2014, Harjo received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor. #WomensHistoryMonth #HonoringNativeWomen pic.twitter.com/eW7HRpMIFL
— weRnative (@weRnative) March 30, 2020

As Harjo spoke to Indianz.Com, the landline telephone rang in her room. It was a staffer, asking her what she wanted to eat for her next meal.

Though she misses being able to enjoy Native foods like green chile and posole while on lockdown, Harjo was happy for the interruption. In a sign that she is indeed feeling fine, her signature wit quickly emerged.

"Unfortunately, I haven't lost my appetite," Harjo said, noting that she's managed to avoid another symptom of the coronavirus.