San Felipe Pueblo in New Mexico. Photo: David Coulter

In an “emergency message” on April 9, 2020, Governor Anthony Ortiz of the Pueblo of San Felipe confirmed 54 COVID-19 cases within the New Mexico-based tribe.

The number of positive cases is only slightly higher than the 52 that were reported two days ago. The initial data caused widespread alarm among tribal leaders, state officials and the New Mexico Congressional delegation.

In his update, Ortiz agrees with the assessments, which came after the state Department of Health began widespread testing in Pueblo communities.

“The situation has become dire within our community with positive COVID-19 cases rising on a daily basis,” the governor wrote.

“I cannot stress enough that everyone must adhere to the stay at home order that I issued recently,” Ortiz told his people. “Stay at home order means to stay within the house that you currently live in. It does not mean it is ok to visit other relatives or friends residing in other homes”

“You cannot visit relatives or friends, babysit children from other houses or go out of the Pueblo for any reason,” Ortiz added. “By not isolating yourself, we are spreading the virus to other members of the Pueblo who are otherwise healthy. You must stay at home to protect our elders. You do not need to know the status of others tests. We must all protect each other by acting as though we all have a positive test and stay at home. This is not a game, we need everyone to strictly adhere to directives that are given by the Administration and health officials.”

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Ortiz noted that San Felipe citizens who test positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, or are exhibiting symptoms, can request to be taken to the Pueblo of Pojoaque. The tribe  — at the request of the state — has turned its Buffalo Thunder Resort into an alternate care site.

“Our goal is to prevent virus spread and reduce risk to tribal families by providing tribal members with potential illness, who are referred by DOH, a comfortable, safe place to stay,” Joseph Talachy, the governor at Pojoaque,  said in an April 8 news release. “Buffalo Thunder Resort is an ideal housing solution for this emergency situation.”

According to Pojoaque, only “low-risk” tribal citizens who are referred by the state can be housed at Buffalo Thunder, located about 50 miles north of San Felipe.

On April 8, Governor Ortiz at San Felipe noted that the pueblo has closed access to outsiders. He asked for the public to respect the tribe’s sovereignty.

“The Pueblo of San Felipe has taken immediate measures to protect tribal members and the public,” Ortiz wrote. “We ask that the State of New Mexico, surrounding communities, and news media respect our tribal sovereignty and confidentiality as we work hard to stop the spread of the Coronavirus.”