The COVID-19 pandemic has upended normal life in Indigenous communities as it has throughout the world. And the unprecedented impact to public health, economic activity, and daily life is unique to everyone.
To offer news, advice, and resources to help Indigenous people and tribes during the coronavirus response, Arizona State University’s Labriola National American Indian Data Center and the ASU Library have produced a new guide: COVID-19 Resources for Indigenous Peoples.
The guide includes a bevy of resources particularly relevant to Arizona tribes. The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona provides tips sheets, news, and epidemiology data. The Navajo Epidemiology Center Coronavirus Response page includes data on the tribe and the disease’s spread in its region of Northern Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. The Tribal Epidemiology Centers’ COVID-19 site tracks similar data from tribes in other regions. The Arizona Department of Health Services and Maricopa County provide updates on coronavirus infection statistics, in the Important Links section at the bottom of the Home page. ASU has tips for students and the Phoenix area community on recognizing the disease, preventing infection, and fighting its spread, as well as information on the university’s response.
The new guide also delves into general Indigenous-centric resources, including information on tribal news, easy to follow tip sheets, and advocacy tools. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service explains on the federal response, including disaster relief and COVID-19 testing data. Organizations including ASU’s American Indian Policy Institute and the National Council of Urban Health track news and Indigenous perspectives on fighting the coronavirus outbreak. Also, women face particular challenges and dangers, and the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center helps protect survivors of domestic violence with tips and by coordinating support for assistance programs.
The guide moves beyond raw data to help people with the mental, spiritual, and social impact of the pandemic. It highlights feel-good resources and cultural strength as well as tips on managing stress and the boredom of social distancing, such as connecting with Native artists and YouTubers and celebrating culture. It also includes resources to for students and researchers to keep up with education and stay current on Native news. With schools committed to slowing the illness’s spread, the guide sends a lifeline to parents to keep children entertained and informed in quarantine, including full episodes of educational cartoons, lessons on Native languages, and story readings.
For informative visuals to promote healthy behavior, Johns Hopkins’ Center for American Indian Health distributes info sheets and images suitable for sharing on social media. Videos on the Labriola guide’s Home page, including one from the Tuba City Regional Health Care Corp., informs viewers about the situation in Northern Arizona and the nature of the coronavirus. Maps and statistical graphics provide further insight into the pandemic’s spread.
Finally, the guide helps people contribute resources to stand in together in solidarity, helping to distribute supplies and manage the crisis. One of the new guide’s cocreators, the Labriola Center, provides scholarship, news, and historical resources to preserve and promote Indigenous research and activism. ASU libraries are open for remote services during the pandemic. The ASU Law Library offers online resources, including a guide to promote wellness and mental health during the coronavirus. The Indian Law library guide further assists study of Arizona tribes, federal law, treaties, and cultural resources. To learn more, make an appointment to Meet with a Librarian via Zoom or email
Andrea Gass, Reference Librarian
