This photograph of this cross stitch sums up the stigamized racism provoked by COVID-19. The outbreak has already happened and if it could have it been prevented or not, it is pointless at this point to put blame on anyone. We just have to keep moving forward.

My life experience during this pandemic and how it has changed. Though many have had the opportunity to have access to resources I have not which has become a challenge! #CSUS #HIST15H

This is a local beach in southern Tasmania that was closed by the Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) in an effort to curb non-essential travel and enforce social distancing restrictions. The image and the actions taken by the PWS indicates the extent to which COVID-19 impacted various facets of society and everyday life.

HUM402 This article discusses reverse culture shock and the likelihood that many Australians will experience this as restrictions are gradually relaxed. I feel this article will resonate with many people worldwide, and also clearly highlights the turbulence of emotions felt during this period of COVID-19.

A selection of images from around the Greenville SC area all by the street artist BLINDERS. They address Coronavirus awareness, public safety, masks wearing, social distancing and government distrust. All posters are signed BLINDERS 5/20 YOTP (Year Of The Plague)

A selection of images from around the Greenville SC area all by the street artist BLINDERS. They address Coronavirus awareness, public safety, masks wearing, social distancing and government distrust. All posters are signed BLINDERS 5/20 YOTP (Year Of The Plague)

Biography

“The resiliency has been passed down to further generations, so we are able to survive these times of struggle.”

Image of notice at local Shaws market restricting occupancy to a max of 50 shoppers at a time.

Image of food pantry stocked with fruits, vegetables, munchies, sweets and wine, after new warning from Gov. Baker.

Image of cleaning/disinfectant supplies in stock for home use, after new warning from Gov. Baker.

“ICC’s Circumpolar Inuit Health Steering Committee (CIHSC), composed of representatives from the four countries met last week via teleconference and discussed the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee notes that high rates of overcrowding and insufficient housing have already proven worrisome with the elevated respiratory conditions faced by many in our communities. Coupled with the high rates of food insecurity experienced by many, our concerns are real and complex. The gaps in accessible medical services are also a very real and an even more pressing concern. If not addressed, they will contribute to increased risk of infection and potential loss of lives. While those outside of the Arctic are simply turning to technology for work and otherwise, access and availability to basic and affordable broadband across much of Inuit Nunaat, especially during this time of a global pandemic, has created an unfortunate and stark disparity. Connectivity is essential. These disparities have been seen to have adverse effects in other populations and have shown to increase the rates of COVID-19.”

Image of DIY project to make masks at home

Image of DIY project to make masks at home

Image of DIY project to make masks at home.

"As the world community initiates response to increasing number of coronavirus outbreaks, ICC expresses concern about how our rural, remote communities are potentially at much higher risk and exposure to such epidemics due to the chronic lack of basic infrastructure, including lack of sewer and running water in many of our communities."

Business Insider article describing discovery that blue shop towels provide significantly better filtering as liners inside masks

Image of shoppers forming new social distancing line at local Shaws market.

Image of my husband Tom O'Brien wearing his newly home-made cloth mask and standing in the new social distance line formation outside the local Shaws.

Email from Fitbit with advice on fitness during the new stay-home period

I began this journal March 9, 2020, two days before New Mexico's first confirmed COVID-19 cases. March 9 was my husband and my 19th wedding anniversary and the day we last shopped for groceries. This originated as a Pages document on my iPad. I am writing to document this experience, not knowing how things will turn out for us and our family. I am writing as a way to explore my own responses to the pandemic. I have shared responses from my daughter to my journal in a couple of places in the journal. 3/09/2020 through 5/10/2020 and ongoing. My husband and I are retired and recently moved to a new neighborhood. We have absolutely LOVED our time here. We are located just a block from the University of New Mexico and just four short blocks from the Nob Hill district. We are within walking distance of many restaurants and are just minutes from several bus lines. We would often hop on the bus to downtown or uptown. We haven't ridden the busses since early March, we haven't been to a restaurant either. Our granddaughter is living with us full time, now, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her mother, my daughter, is a respiratory therapist at a hospital. [curator's note]: from the "Tell us More" page on Omeka net.

My daughter wrote this note expressing the fears around the virus, why she didn’t send flowers, and even a note is scary now, fear of contagion. My grandsons made the card.

“Now, past suffering of Alaska’s native people is shaping emergency actions that aim to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. In tiny villages and across the sprawling North Slope Borough, authorities acted early to enact some of the nation’s toughest travel limits. The borough, for example, barred entry to its eight communities for everyone but individuals with special waivers. There is a practical reason for the restriction—the limits of local health facilities—but history also plays a role.”

My grandma lives alone and has not gone out since a shelter in place order has been implemented. So for mother's day, some of us gathered in her garage and backyard to spend some time with her. Sadly, we could not hug her or eat lunch indoors with her, but at least we got some time with her face-to-face.

"Several Native American tribes sued the federal government Friday, seeking to keep federal coronavirus relief for tribes out of the hands of for-profit Alaska Native corporations."

South Dakota governor threatens tribe with legal action unless they remove reservation checkpoints. Cheyenne River Sioux chairman responded with a press release, citing that it is a sovereign right of the tribe to protect it's people and "We will not apologize for being an island of safety in a sea of uncertainty and death."

Biography

With the Navajo Nation in crisis, much needed supplies--from diapers to bottled water--are collected by urban Indian center and delivered to the reservation.

A photo journal of a family in Florence Italy during Covid19 pandemic

Typically I visit this taco shop with my friends after skateboarding at a nearby skate park. Now, after skateboarding by myself, I stop by Taco Nazo, alone, to find a very organized system of delivering food to customers. The bustling atmosphere of the restaurant has been replaced by gentle reminders to wear a mask (even though I am in my car—I’m fine with this!) and orderly direction where to park to await my order. While the aromas, textures, and flavors of food are still comforting, the companionship, laughter, stories, and closeness to friends makes once banal gatherings seem distant, even impossible. New rituals of eating have emerged. What was once a ritual of culinary communion is now one of reflection and solitude.

“With North Carolina starting to ease restrictions, Harrah’s has announced it too will begin with its first phase of reopening. In a press release, the company said that extensive health and safety precautions will be in place.”

A personal account of the pandemic.

“Under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance program, emergency work, including Direct Federal Assistance, is authorized at 75 percent federal funding, leaving Indian Tribal governments responsible for the remaining 25 percent. Maintaining this cost share during the COVID-19 pandemic – as Tribal economies and health systems struggle – places severe pressure on Tribal budgets and limits critical resources that are desperately needed to protect the public health of Native communities. The Tribal COVID-19 Disaster Assistance Cost Share Relief Act would waive the cost-sharing requirement and grant 100 percent funding for all Indian Tribal governments.”

“Instead of being thrown by such an unorthodox teaching situation, Julissa Garcia and others at the school have gotten very creative. ‘One particular highlight was Soboba Spirit Week while quarantined,’ she said. ‘Each dress-up day was dedicated to the various people in our communities who are affected by COVID-19.” One of the first dress-up days was to honor the elders who had been struggling. “Julissa dressed up as an elder and made a video of circle time as Mrs. Doubtfire. She is such a team player.”

“The outbreak on the huge Navajo reservation, the nation's largest with 175,000 people, have made people in Gallup nervous. Many see hints of the long-running racism that has divided people in the town for centuries. ‘They targeted the people around here. They're going to be coming to Gallup to shop, so they put a stop to that,’ said Johnnie Henry, who said two of his relatives on the Navajo Nation were apparently infected with COVID-19 while working at a hospital in Gallup. ‘We kind of look at each other and say, are we the ones bringing it? No, it's all over. There's a lot of people who want to go back into Gallup, but they're afraid that they're going to call us names ... say that we are the carriers.’”

“KUYI Hopi Public Radio reported that the Hopi Tribe held a digital town hall with Hopi Health Care and Indian Health Service officials where they said out of the 39 positive test results from Hopi Health Care Center, more than 20 were confirmed cases of Hopi Tribal members…As of April 27, the confirmed positive cases on the Navajo Nation reached 1,769. Fifty-nine people have died, one of whom was former Miss Western Navajo Nation 2015-2016 Valentina Blackhorse, who was from Kayenta, Arizona.”

Journal entries about the seesaw emotional toll that news and info about the pandemic have on the sheltered.

“The COVID-19 pandemic poses a great danger to humanity, including the indigenous peoples of Africa. If the spread of the virus is not urgently arrested and is allowed to infect African indigenous communities, the virus may decimate our member communities. Africa’s Indigenous Peoples are extremely vulnerable to the dreaded virus, owing to a lack of essential resources such as clean water, food, housing, medical supplies and even basic information.” IPACC is a network of 135 Indigenous peoples' organizations in 21 African countries.

Story

The Northville-Lake Placid Trail is the one long distance hiking trail (136 miles) in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Each year, hikers can receive an award for completing their hike of the trail, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Adirondack Mountain Club cancelled the challenge.

Explains the measures that have been taken to protect tribal citizens "from this deadly virus," including adjustments made to funeral services. "Let's choose faith over fear."

Tribal Chairman Anthony Roberts on the State of Emergency, COVID-19, and securing the Nation's long-term welfare. "We took these steps because it was the right thing to do."

Lab expansion provides new opportunity to offer blood tests to both Native and non-Native patients with a 99.1% accuracy rate.

“The emergency communications system is only one of the ways the Nation is informing its citizens. We are also using our Facebook page, news media and the website to keep everyone up to date.”

“The Little River Health Service Center continues to maintain extreme cleanliness and sterilization throughout the clinic. The examination rooms and public spaces are maintained continuously throughout the day and evenings. We have implemented several devices to help filter and circulate the air space…Thank you everyone for your patience and understanding during this unusual time. Please continue to stay healthy. We will be fine. This will resolve. During this time, remember your loved ones both current and past. Care for one another and give support where it’s needed. Be conscious of your personal hygiene and continue to eat well, sleep well, and be well everyone! Bless you all and continue to remain strong!”

“Out of an abundance of caution and the Stay at Home order issued by the Governor of California due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Susanville Indian Rancheria Powwow Committee has decided to tentatively reschedule the 2020 Powwow originally scheduled for May 29, 30, 31, 2020 in Susanville, California to August 21, 22, 23, 2020…We are hopeful that the Stay at home order is lifted by August and we can gather together to Honor our Elders and Veterans.”

"For any senior or diabetic Native Way user who would like to exercise at home during the COVID-19 closure, we have therabands and body bars along with instruction sheets that may be borrowed." #IndigenousStories

Finding balance between the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health to remain healthy during the pandemic.

Indian Health Services offers prescription delivery and other services to elders and tribal members with special needs.

“With the doors closed at the Ojibwa Senior Citizens’ Building, on the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Reservation in Baraga, Michigan, the delivery list got much larger. Dianne McMahon, Elderly Nutrition Director, said, ‘We now have an additional 100-plus deliveries since the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Council closed the doors here at the Ojibwa Senior Center due to COVID-19. With this additional load of transporting meals to the homes of the Tribe’s elderly and disabled, we needed more help!’”