Indian Health Service takes down 'racist' poster but disavows link to coronavirus

Monday, July 6, 2020

By Rhonda LeValdo

A sign posted in an Indian Health Service facility in Oklahoma urged visitors to protect themselves from the “Kung Flu” -- a derogatory phrase President Donald Trump has used when talking about the COVID-19 pandemic.

A visitor to the Claremore Indian Hospital recently took a photo of the poster, which features the official IHS logo, and wanted to remain anonymous. But the person felt the need for it to be pointed out. The person also felt the sign was “racist."

According to the IHS, however, the sign has nothing to do with the novel coronavirus, which has affected Native Americans at disproportionate rates.

IHS POSTER: "He's out there. You cannot see him. You cannot touch him. But he will take you down." Courtesy photo

After being asked about the imagery, the IHS said the poster dates to a flu campaign from the Barack Obama era. American Indians and Alaskan Natives are at high risk for seasonal influenza, the agency said in a statement.

“A 2016 flu campaign at Claremore Indian Hospital had good intentions when communicating this important message but the materials that accompanied their initiative could be viewed as being offensive," the IHS said. "One poster from the 2016 flu season recently became visible when furniture in the facility was moved thereby displaying the image."

"The Indian Health Service regrets that this poster was displayed and offended individuals. Claremore Indian Hospital employees have checked the entirety of the hospital to ensure that no more campaign materials remained in the hospital," the statement read. "To our knowledge, the campaign materials have not been used since the 2016-2017 flu season."

"At the Indian Health Service our aim is to foster an environment that is free of discrimination and harassment," the agency added. "The IHS does not condone campaigns that demean any racial or ethnic group and we apologize to anyone we offended with this campaign.”

A marked up photo shows the location of the "Kung Flu" poster at the Claremore Indian Hospital, an Indian Health Service facility in Claremore, Oklahoma. Courtesy photo

Separately, the chief executive officer of the facility responded to an inquiry by saying: “Thank you for bringing this to my attention, the sign has been removed."

The labeling of COVID-19 as the “Kung Flu” has been linked to harassment of Asian Americans as the President of the United States has repeatedly used the term during political rallies and public speeches. He's also called it the "Chinese virus" in reference to the disease's origins in China.

The Claremore Indian Hospital lies within Cherokee Nation territory in the northeastern part of Oklahoma. It is run directly by the IHS, an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The first person in Oklahoma who succumbed to COVID-19 was Merle Dry, a Cherokee citizen who passed away on March 18 and was the earliest confirmed coronavirus death in the state. On Sunday, the tribe mourned the loss of Edna “Dolly” Raper, a fluent speaker of ᏣᎳᎩ ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗ, Tsalagi Gawonihisdi.

"When we lose our language, we lose our identity, and COVID-19 has been the single most threat to our language in this generation, taking from us speakers such as Dolly," Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. said in a statement. "Dolly’s life and her death are deeply meaningful to her family, community and our Nation."

"We can give her life and passing even more meaning by recommitting ourselves to language preservation and keeping each other safe by wearing masks, social distancing and listening to health experts so that we do not lose any more of our most precious resources," Hoskin said of Raper, who was 67 when she passed.

Cherokee Nation mourns the loss of one of its fluent Cherokee speakers and elders to COVID-19. Our thoughts and prayers...
Posted by Cherokee Nation on Sunday, July 5, 2020

As of July 4, the latest date for which data is available from the IHS, more than 21,000 tests across the nation have returned positive for COVID-19. The data reflects 100 percent of tests administered at federally-managed facilities, such as Claremore.

According to the data, more than 1,500 COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the Oklahoma City Area, which serves the states of Oklahoma and Kansas, along with portions of Texas. Overall, 2.7 percent of tests in the region have returned positive, which is one of the lowest rates within the IHS.

Speaking of Donald Trump, insensitive #COVID19 flyer was spotted @ Indian Health Service facility, bearing president's racist term for #Coronavirus & @IHSgov logo. It's apparently been removed--after facility was contacted. @IHSDirector @IndianCommittee @SecAzar @IndianCommittee pic.twitter.com/SmqT968xE9
— indianz.com (@indianz) July 1, 2020

Indian Health Service Statement

American Indians and Alaska Natives are at high risk for flu complication. Every year, the Indian Health Service communicates to its communities the risks of the flu, especially to young people and the elderly, and encourages everyone six months of age or older to get their flu shot.

A 2016 flu campaign at Claremore Indian Hospital had good intentions when communicating this important message but the materials that accompanied their initiative could be viewed as being offensive. One poster from the 2016 flu season recently became visible when furniture in the facility was moved thereby displaying the image. The Indian Health Service regrets that this poster was displayed and offended individuals. Claremore Indian Hospital employees have checked the entirety of the hospital to ensure that no more campaign materials remained in the hospital. To our knowledge, the campaign materials have not been used since the 2016-2017 flu season.

At the Indian Health Service our aim is to foster an environment that is free of discrimination and harassment The IHS does not condone campaigns that demean any racial or ethnic group and we apologize to anyone we offended with this campaign.