COVID-19 in Indian Country
The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board of Directors recently approved a direct services program to help Sault Tribe members.

Rep. Tom O’Halleran (D-Arizona) introduced bipartisan legislation that would extend the coverage of Coronavirus Relief Fund payments allocated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to tribal governments from December 30, 2020 to December 30, 2022.

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board of Directors approved a direct services program to help tribal members. It will be funded with $3.5 million in Covid-19 CARES Act monies.

A dispute over $8 billion in COVID-19 relief continues, with tribes pursuing an appeal in hopes of preventing Alaska Native corporations from gaining shares of the fund.

'On behalf of the 24th Navajo Nation Council, I wish to recognize our local leaders across the Navajo Nation that have continued to be on the front-lines of the COVID-19 pandemic,' said Speaker Seth Damon.

'We must follow the rules and regulations that are attached to the CARES Act Funding or any federal grants or federal financial assistance,' says Chairman Matthew Komalty of the Kiowa Tribe.

The Bureau of Indian Education welcomes tribal leadership and stakeholders to attend an informational virtual meeting on July 8 to hear plans for distributing Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to schools to support the COVID-19 Pandemic recovery.

The Trump administration and its failed response to the Covid-19 pandemic has left Native Americans behind.

Citizens of the Wyandotte Nation are eligible for a $1,500 financial assistance payment from the tribe's general welfare program.

The Choctaw Nation announced plans for distribution of $200.8 million of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding.

The Navajo Nation Office of the Controller confirmed to the Office of the Speaker that deposits to the Navajo Nation from the Department of the Treasury totaled $714,189,631.47 as of June 26, 2020.

The National Congress of American Indians continues to believe that Congress intended for Title V CARES Act funding to be distributed to Indian tribal governments.

'Alaska has a unique history of tribal self-governance and Native self-determination,' said Alaska Federation of Natives President Julie Kitka.

'The ANCSA Regional Association and Alaska Native Village Corporation Association applaud the D.C. District Court’s Decision to uphold the Alaska Native Regional and Village Corporation’s right to receive much-needed funding from Title V of the CARES Act.'

A federal judge on June 26, 2020, sided with the Trump administration, holding that Alaska Native corporations are eligible for shares of the $8 billion coronavirus relief fund.

 Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer commend the Navajo Nation Council’s passage of Legislation 0116-20, which creates a path forward for the three branches of government to work together to begin using the $600 million in CARES Act funds.

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on June 18, 2020, opened a docket for Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation v. Mnuchin, one of the lawsuits challenging the Trump administration's handling of the $8 billion coronavirus relief fund.

Every one of the 5,400 Quapaw Nation enrolled members is about to receive a lump sum of Covid-19 stimulus money directly from the Nation’s Northeast Oklahoma office, Quapaw Chairman John L. Berrey announced.

The Northern Cheyenne Tribe so far has received $19,465,503.73 from the CARES Act coronavirus relief fund.

The Trump administration on June 17, 2020, filed a notice in Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians v. Mnuchin, announcing distribution of an additional $679 million from the coronavirus relief fund.