Indigenous communities see rise in COVID-19 cases
By Dan Kraker/MPR News When vaccines for COVID-19 first became available early this year, Minnesota’s tribal communities were quick to make them available to their members. One of the first to get vaccinated was White Earth chair Michael Fairbanks. He’s 58 and in pretty good health, so he was surprised in October when he tested […]
Covid pandemic gives mixed business results
By Lee Egerstrom A year after the death of George Floyd caused riots in Minneapolis and after the global COVID-19 pandemic shuttered businesses across the nation, two Native-owned construction related businesses in Minnesota show how economic turmoil can produce greatly mixed results. For Raven Construction Inc., a Minneapolis-based design-build construction company, the past year produced […]
COVID-19 still infecting Native Minnesotans
Lee Egerstrom Minnesotans were told they can return to more “normal” activity as April came to an end although, it appears, the new “normal” also means a cautious lifestyle in the months ahead. Readers can get swamped by COVID-19 news and statistics that change daily. At month’s end, however, Minnesota data kept by the Minnesota […]
‘Our hearts are heavy’: COVID-19 deaths of tribal elders leave a void
By Dan Gunderson/MPR Anton Treuer calls himself an Ojibwe language warrior. He’s been working to preserve and share the language for two decades. He spends a lot of time learning from elders, and over the past year COVID-19 has claimed many. “It’s been hard. We’ve simply had a lot of deaths,” said Treuer, whose work takes […]
Wrapping up 2020 but not the end of COVID-19 pandemic
By Lee Egerstrom As the year 2020 winds down, the outlook for the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota can be described as improved but far from controlled. That is especially so for the Native American communities where relatives and friends may have gathered for the Christmas season or are planning to do so for New Year’s […]
Indian Health Service, MN Department of Health ready plans for vaccines
By Lee Egerstrom Health officials at both the federal and state levels are developing plans to assist Indian health providers in accessing and administering vaccines for the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless which treatments gain approval for release to the public. Three potential vaccines now appear promising. Clinical trial data are being examined for federal health approval […]
COVID has everyone pondering where, and how, to start school
By Lee Egerstrom Most Minnesota public school districts have explained to parents and students how they plan to start the new school year in September but the coronavirus pandemic has some schools going right down to the wire before making a final call. On top of this uncertainty, startup plans may prove only temporary. Under […]
Minnesota guidance for re-opening, starting businesses to counter Native unemployment
By Lee Egerstrom There has been a partial recovery from the massive unemployment that followed the closing of businesses and industries this spring when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Minnesota and most of the country. That is only modest good news. Native Americans are still disproportionately jobless. These are findings by researchers at the Federal Reserve […]
COVID-19 Testing and Contact Tracing: Its Importance to Native Communities
By Maurita Begay Native American communities have been one of the most affected groups throughout history when it comes to widespread pandemics. The dire circumstances of the Navajo Nation during the COVID-19 pandemic has proven that this is still true today, which is why our native communities must be informed of the importance of testing […]
Covid-19: Indian Health Service increases testing, funds for tribal and urban health programs
By Lee Egerstrom In a pair of announcements in late May, the Department of Health and Human Services announced it is awarding $1.25 billion to the Indian Health Service (IHS) in new funding for tribal and urban Native American hospitals, clinics and health programs fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial announcement, on May 19, said […]
Will COVID-19 emergency relief trickle down to Native entrepreneurs?
By Lee Egerstrom Native American entrepreneurs operate what clearly are small businesses – either alone or with family members and with no more than a handful of employees. Until now, they have mostly been out of sight. That might change as of April 23. Congress approved nearly $500 billion in fresh aid for small businesses, […]