Native Response to COVID-19 

April 17, 2020 – Tribal leaders across New Mexico are urging their citizens to respect and follow COVID-19 orders as they work with local, state and federal agencies on response efforts. Last week, state health officials reported clusters of the coronavirus in two small, tightknit Pueblo communities north of Albuquerque at San Felipe and Zia, while Zuni Pueblo near Gallup is addressing positive cases. Tribes are working to slow the spread as state, national and congressional leaders are raising concerns about devastating impacts COVID-19 has had on tribes across the country.  Correspondent Antonia Gonzales talks with New Mexico’s Indian Affairs secretary and two tribal leaders about COVID-19 and the state’s Native communities.

And, be sure to tune in Sunday night, April 19th at 6pm MDT on Channel 5.1. for a virtual town hall on COVID-19 and our state’s tribal communities. More information and an archived version of the show are available on the NMPBS website.

Correspondent:
Antonia Gonzales

Guests: 
Michael Chavarria (Santa Clara), Chairman, All Pueblo Council of Governors 
Carleton R. Bowekaty, Lt. Governor, Pueblo of Zuni 
Lynn Trujillo (Sandia), Secretary, New Mexico Indian Affairs Department 

This story is part of a collaboration with FRONTLINE, the PBS series, through its Local Journalism Initiative, which is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.