Native populations across the U.S are being disproportionately affected by the coronavirus. In one South Dakota county, Native people account for over half of confirmed cases. In addition to the disproportionate illness and loss of life in Native communities, the health and economic crisis borne by COVID-19 could stall or reverse years of advocacy, rights campaigns, and cultural reclamation. With funding support from the Open Society Foundations, Return to Heart Foundation (@return2heart)—an Indigenous, women-led grant-making organization—is working with grassroots tribal leaders to protect elders and Indigenous wisdom by supporting the procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment and COVID testing. Earlier this year, they supported a massive testing event in in Rapid City, South Dakota. Much of Rapid City’s homeless population is Native, and many Native families live in multigenerational homes where self-quarantine may be difficult. The support will continue to provide testing and relief to these populations, while building up their infrastructure and capacity to respond to the crisis. Photos by Arlo Iron Cloud (@arloironcloud) for The Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Health Board #opensociety #covid19 #confrontingcovid19 #southdakota #greatplains
