COVID-19 in Indian Country
The 24TH NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL Office of the Speaker FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 16, 2020 Navajo Nation Council rejects $3 million appropriation on Department of Emergency Management deficiencies WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — At the special session of the 24th Navajo Nation Council, a $3 million appropriation request by President Nez was not approved due to deficiencies […]

USDA Announces Feeding Program Partnership in Response to COVID-19 Collaboration will provide nearly 1,000,000 meals to rural children (Washington, D.C., March 17, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced a collaboration with the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, McLane Global, PepsiCo, and others to deliver nearly 1,000,000 meals to students in […]

Native Learning Center COVID-19 Notice   Due to the current Public Health Emergency declared by the State of Florida and Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the Tribal Council has declared an emergency closing tribal wide, , including the Native Learning Center (NLC), beginning March 16, 2020 until further notice. The NLC will continue to monitor […]

MEDIA ADVISORY March 17, 2020 (Oneida Nation Reservation) – Press Conference today, March 17, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at the Main Oneida Casino located at 2020 Airport Drive. Please enter off the casino parking ramp, the event will be just beyond that entrance.  Chairman Tehassi Hill and Gaming General Manager Louise Cornelius will announce Oneida […]

NEWS ADVISORY 3/17/2020 Quapaw Chairman: Saracen Annex in Pine Bluff to Close Through End of March After discussions with Governor Hutchinson, we will follow his public health guidance and order to temporarily suspend operation of the Saracen Annex venue in Pine Bluff, Ark., effective noon today and extending through the end of March. We will […]

Here’s the most recent COVID-19 update from the Indian Health Service, dated March 16, 2020: https://www.ihs.gov/newsroom/announcements/2020-announcements/covid-19-update-as-of-march-16-2020/ Also on Monday, the IHS released a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) about the coronavirus: https://www.ihs.gov/sites/newsroom/themes/responsive2017/display_objects/documents/IHS_COVID-19_FAQs_03162020.pdf

MARCH 16, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OKLAHOMA INDIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN MATTHEW L. MORGAN RESPONDS TO ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM TRIBES EVALUATING, MODIFYING OR SUSPENDING CASINO OPERATIONS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 “The leadership of Oklahoma’s tribal gaming community remains in constant communication with local, state, and national officials and each other to monitor developments. Each sovereign Tribal […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 16, 2020 THE POKAGON BAND TO CLOSE ITS FOUR WINDS CASINO LOCATIONS IN MICHIGAN AND INDIANA DOWAGIAC, Mich. – March 16, 2020 – In consideration of recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and requests from both federal and state governments to help prevent the spread and minimize the potential […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 16, 2020 Senators Warren and Udall Unveil Bill to Guarantee Tribal Health Authorities Access to the Strategic National Stockpile Indian Health Service and other tribal health organizations currently lack guaranteed, direct access to federal repository of drugs and medical supplies for emergencies Legislation would allow the Indian Health Service, tribal health […]

News Release March 16, 2020  Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison Announce Temporary Closure Due to COVID-19 MADISON, WI March 16, 2020 – Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison announced today they will temporarily close their casino beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 7:00 a.m.  “Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison determined the best course of action to protect our employees and guests, as […]

The National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers has postponed its upcoming conference, which was set to take place May 11-15 in Louisiana, hosted by Coushatta Tribe. Following is an update sent out March 16, 2020: ### 21st National Tribal Preservation Conference POSTPONED Dear Conference Participants and Colleagues, It is with sincere regret that we […]

For Immediate Release March 16, 2020 Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), the U.S. House Assistant Speaker, announced plans to self-quarantine after a brief interaction with an individual who was at the time asymptomatic but later tested positive for COVID-19.   Congressman Luján is exhibiting no symptoms, and health professionals have advised […]

ICYMI: The National Indian Gaming Association has postponed its 2020 Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention, which was scheduled to take place March 24-27 in San Diego, California. https://www.indianz.com/IndianGaming/2020/03/16/national-indian-gaming-association-postp.asp

From the First Nations Development Institute: Dear Friends, Partners, Colleagues and Supporters, The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is presenting the world with an unprecedented situation that will have immediate and longer-term impacts on our communities, including the Native communities we serve. At First Nations, we are doing our part to protect the health and safety of our […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE EPA Expands COVID-19 Disinfectant List, Adding Nearly 200 Additional Products (Lenexa, Kan., March 16, 2020) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing an expanded list of EPA-registered disinfectant products that have qualified for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The list contains nearly 200 additional products—including 40 […]

The Yankton Sioux Tribe remains closed through March 20 following a case of the coronavirus on its homelands in South Dakota. The tribe shut down operations last week after the Indian Health Service confirmed the case. The state had only said the patient was from Charles Mix County. The federal agency later informed Indian Country […]

News Release: Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos Announce Temporary Closure Due to the serious public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos will be temporarily closed for a two week period effective at 6am, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. To be clear, there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos to […]

Vision Maker Media has postponed its biennial film festival, originally scheduled to take place April 22-30 in Lincoln, Nebraska. The organization, which works with Native producers to create indigenous programs for television and radio, has tentatively rescheduled the festival for August 27-September 3. “The well-being of the community is our priority,” said Alana Stone, project […]

The U.S. Supreme Court, in an unprecedented move, is postponing arguments that were to take place between March 23-25 and March 30-April 1. The action, announced on Monday, does not immediately address what will happen to the only Indian law hearing on the docket: McGirt v. Oklahoma, whose outcome will determine the jurisdictional status of […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 16, 2020 BAY MILLS ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO ENTERPRISE OPERATIONS BAY MILLS — In an effort to preserve public health and protect employees, Bay Mills Indian Community has announced the following changes to enterprise operations: —       All restaurant dine-in services will cease operation today, aligning with the Governor’s action. Hotel […]