“Aboriginal people from remote communities in lockdown are risking prosecution under biosecurity laws to go into regional centres to buy food and essentials, because their community stores can’t source enough supplies. A group of 13 Aboriginal organisations from across the Northern Territory is calling on the national cabinet to do more to guarantee food security for remote communities.”

“If Native American tribes were counted as states, the five most infected states in the country would all be native tribes, with New York dropping to No. 6, according to a compilation by the American Indian Studies Center at U.C.L.A.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated existing inequalities and human rights abuses that affect Indigenous Peoples around the world. At the same time, governments are taking advantage of the attention that is directed to virus response in order to proceed with projects and policies that further violate Indigenous rights.” Examples provided include: deepening health disparities, lack of access to information, violence against Indigenous peoples takes advantage of global attention on COVID-19, extractive industries greenlighted to continue operations despite threats to health and safety, government responses to COVID-19 exacerbate bad policing, exacerbation of poverty, increased food insecurity, increased land grabs, and mistreatment of migrants.

“The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has amended its Tribal Code to criminalize the act of defying COVID-19 quarantine orders or knowingly exposing fellow citizens in an effort to curb rising statistics on the Reservation. As of Tuesday, there were 307 cases among the Native American community in Neshoba County, representing 57 percent of the total cases here. The Tribe announced late last week that its leaders had amended two existing codes and crafted one new law in an effort to slow the spread. First, the Tribe amended Tribal Code Section 3-3-32 — which made it a crime to knowingly expose someone to tuberculosis — to include COVID-19. That crime carries a penalty of up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $500.”

“For generations, the federal government has failed to honor its promises to Native American people. Now, covid-19 is ravaging Native communities, killing young people and elders alike, and devastating tribal economies. We are fighting in Congress to ensure that sovereign Native nations have the resources needed to protect the health and well-being of their citizens during this pandemic. The novel coronavirus’s terrible impact in Indian Country underscores that the federal government must live up to its unique legal and moral obligations to Native nations and act as a partner to help build security and resiliency for the future.”

“Many Americans are now experiencing an erratic food supply for the first time. Among COVID-19's disruptions are bare supermarket shelves and items available yesterday but nowhere to be found today. As you seek ways to replace them, you can look to Native gardens for ideas and inspiration. ‘Working in a garden develops your relationship to the land,’ says Aubrey Skye, a Hunkpapa Lakota gardener. ‘Our ancestors understood that. Look at the old pictures. It's etched on their faces. When you understand it as well, a sense of scarcity and insecurity transforms into a feeling of abundance and control—something we all need these days.’ For several years, Skye ran a CDC-sponsored gardening program on Standing Rock, a reservation that straddles North and South Dakota. He created hundreds of productive plots, large and small, for fellow tribal members.” Standing Rock, SD

“On Monday, the New York assembly and senate held a Zoom legislative hearing to gather testimony on the impacted communities. Shinnecock Nation Vice President Lance Gumbs was called to speak about the effect of COVID-19 on his tribe, located 90 miles from Manhattan on Long Island. Shinnecock Nation was the only tribe among the eight federally recognized tribes in New York represented during the hearing…‘At Shinnecock, we have avoided that result only through stringent measures we put in place to protect our people. We cannot survive any curve, we must exclude it entirely,’ Gumbs testified.”

“Lumbee Tribal Chairman Harvey Godwin, Jr. gives a briefing on recent updates about COVID-19. Dr. Chamaine Brooks-Locklear also gives some important facts and safety tips about the virus. Chairman Godwin encourages the Lumbee People to support each other as well as protect our elderly.”

“The illness which permeates the atmosphere, impacting our health, may be part of the illness visited upon our Mother. Even in small ways, we can act to support her healing through our actions. May this be a time to renew our spirits. May we reflect on how to become better people- let us live with purpose, may we take the time to listen and understand. As we are spending more time together, let this be time to renew our connections. Be good to one another, let us live with love for one another. Be encouraged, let us emerge from this difficulty renewed in our traditions, that bring us joy.”

The International Indian Treaty Council hosts webinar on “Indigenous Peoples’ initiatives to defend the inherent and sovereign rights affirmed in Nation-to-Nation Treaties during the time of COVID-19.”

“Restriction of Tribal Events: The meeting on March 21st, Tribal Council Meeting for March, and Seminars are immediately postponed until further notice. This also includes all events that will have more than 10 people in attendance in the Tribal Administration Building or on Tribal Property until further notice. Restriction of Operation: The Tribal Administration Building is closed for the next two weeks for the safety of the staff and the Tribal Membership. The situation will be monitored and further closure may occur.”

“Thank you for joining us today and thank you for staying home. I speak to you today on behalf of the Shoshone Business Council and for those of you who don’t know me, I am Karen Snyder and currently serve as the Vice Chair for the Eastern Shoshone Tribe. First and foremost, the Eastern Shoshone Tribe sends our condolences to the families of those affected by the recent deaths on the Wind River Reservation due to the COVID 19. We extend our hearts and sincere prayers to the Wheeler Family and the Northern Arapaho Tribe. As you all know, these are challenging times and there is no playbook on how to deal with a global pandemic combined with a shutdown of the economy. Our goal today is to talk about some of the measures the Shoshone Business Council has taken and let our membership and all residents of our communities know we are very concerned and absolutely do not have all of the answers. One message that we want to send loud and clear to all of the listeners today is that COVID 19 did not start on the Wind River Reservation-- our tribal members were exposed through an exposure outside of our borders. Please do not place blame or point fingers, as that is the type of divisive behavior that creates barriers. I am a firm believer in unity, collaboration and open, candid discussions and that is how we flatten the curve and work to overcome this crisis.”

“The Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Council recognizes continued public health conditions caused by the COVID-19 virus, a communicable disease, require the development of “new normal” conditions until there is a vaccine and/or other measures to bring the disease under control. Additionally, it recognizes an orderly transition from self-isolation requirements to this new normal is in the best interests of the community as it will allow the Tribe to pivot more efficiently for increases in the number of infections based on the re-opening of operations… This order is granted under the Tribal Council’s inherent authority as a native sovereign nation, as well as the authority identified in its Public Health State of Emergency delegation on March 15, 2020, Resolution #044-20, and Chapter 26-A of Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Law, Communicable Disease, Vaccination, and Quarantine Ordinance.” Order expires June 13, 2020.

"Indigenous communities are resilient, and, empowered with ancestral knowledge, organized communities, Indigenous languages, and their own forms of communication and media, they are taking action."

"Radio stations can be a voice to call for a calm and unified community prevention strategy. Community radio stations have opportunities to also promote and defend human rights as many governments are abusing their power during the pandemic. Another example included is how radio stations can become educators and serve as a space for community teachers trying to reach children that do not have access to the internet and cannot attend online schooling."

"Known as Imbalu, in Bugisu sub region hangs in balance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cultural leaders are contemplating calling off event"

"Cody Two Bears, who is behind North Dakota's first 300-kilowatt solar farm, is bringing power to Standing Rock."

"Irkutsk Oil Company LLC, despite the crisis in the industry, provided assistance to tribal communities of small peoples of the north, public and cultural organizations of Yakutia."

"Young reindeer herders in Yakutia received the right to social benefits for the purchase and construction of housing, the press service of the head and government of the republic said."

“In the appeal to the head of the republic, we cited as an example letters from the junior medical staff of the Kobyai medical ambulance station of the Kobyay ulus, residents of the national Evenki kyuptsa of the Ust-May ulus and the primary trade union organization GBU RS (Y)“ Yakutmedtrans ”.

"Quarantine at the Chayandinskoye field in the Lena district of Yakutia was announced on April 17. There are 34 shift camps of Gazprom contractors, where more than 10 thousand people work. As of May 17, the regional department of Rospotrebnadzor confirmed 43 cases of coronavirus infection in the field. On May 20, the authorities of Yakutia left the coronavirus quarantine regime at two sites in the field, where the hospital, isolation ward and observatory are located."

"Pupils in Yakutia during the holidays will be able to learn the endangered Yukaghir language and get acquainted with the culture of this indigenous small people. To do this, summer camps are organized in the region with presidential grant funds, Valentina Akimova , director of the Kuzhuun Shorile (Rainbow) project, director of the Yarkhag Yukagir revival fund"The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg registered a complaint of the so-called Yakut shaman Alexander Gabyshev , who disputes his detention on December 10, 2019 during a trip to Moscow"

“We’ve had epidemics before. We’ve had viruses before. In general, we’ve had a lot of things attack us before,” says Freeland, who has since recovered fully. But this is “the worst case scenario.”

"For hundreds of years, indigenous groups have warned that destroying the environment leads to disease and adversely affects lives and culture. Is the world now ready to listen?"

“The WHO has declared the outbreak of COVID 19 as a global pandemic. The entire world has been caught unprepared to cope with this pandemic. Indigenous Peoples to healthcare, essential services, sanitation, information and other preventive measures like clean water, food, medicines etc. Indigenous Peoples possess their own distinct tradition, culture, and religion and have religious faith worshiper of ancestors, lands, territories and resources live in both urban and rural areas with their own identity. They have their distinct traditional livelihood and collective ways of life. They are the custodians of traditional knowledge, skills, practices, languages, culture and are in extreme poverty and thus more prone to infectious diseases. Many Indigenous Peoples have customary self-government systems that are effective in preventing pandemic but the government does not formally recognize such systems though Nepal is a party to ILO Convention no. 169 and the UNDRIP.”

"Now we hear that Corona virus is in town; that we cannot go there anymore. We fear to go to town. And if the disease cannot be treated traditionally, it will be a threat to our life,” Oloshuro Saruni, a member of the Akie community in Tanzania, said.

"Fears of the spread of COVID-19 in southern Libya expose the vulnerable circumstances of minority communities who have long struggled to enjoy equal access to health care."

"Amnesty International in collaboration with Advancing Rights in Southern Africa (ARISA), Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (SAHRDN), Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) are writing this letter to bring to your attention the worrying restrictive COVID-19 regulations presenting concerning ramifications for enjoyment of human rights, including livelihoods. "

"Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced an Emergency Food Response as a means of supporting indigenous and other vulnerable persons."

"After blocking the entrance to their village with logs, half the people of Jemeri fled into the surrounding forest in fear as the coronavirus spread in Malaysia, infecting the first indigenous 'Orang Asli' person."

"In 2019, Cultural Survival's Keepers of the Earth Fund provided a small grant to the Cordillera Peoples Alliance. This grant helped CPA and its collaboration with the Kaling Peoples of Kalinga province to launch the “Let the Chico River Flow Free” campaign, which aimed to educate Indigenous communities on their rights to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), particularly as it related to a series of hydropower projects carried out by the Philippine government that threatened the environment and livelihood of the Kalinga Peoples."

"The lives and cultures of A’uwẽ-Xavante and Boe-Bororo depend on the river’s vitality as well as on the flora and fauna that are also sustained by a healthy river. For this reason, the leaders demand their right to autonomy and independence in constructing the consultation process"

"in most cases Indigenous Peoples find or create ways to continue their languages, their culture, spirituality, worldview, and to successfully achieve autonomy by standing up to the state. This is due to the existence of a system of communally held lands which permits them to put together a way of life."

"Their victories include the subsequent demarcation of nearly half of their lands; enactment of Law 11,645 of 2008 which mandates inclusion of Indigenous culture and history in the national educational curriculum; acknowledgment of Indigenous Peoples’ rights to primary education in their native languages; and the growing awareness of Indigenous rights "

"As people across the world struggle to adapt their way of life to the unfolding COVID-19, the Maasai people of east Africa are already having to change ancient customs to minimize the impact of the disease."

""Thanks to Chief Kokama, we have a place here where we can maintain our culture, our sacred songs and dances, and make our manioc flour and our arts and crafts," said nurse Vanda, as she is known in her community."We will continue fighting to make his dream come true."

"In a country where most people visit healers, some are stepping in to bridge the trust gap between the old and the new."

"Dozens of Naga tribes yearn to reunite the 3 million living in India with their 400,000 estranged cousins in Myanmar"

"Ecuador Indigenous community fears extinction from coronavirus (1:48)"

"A person dressed as a Kusillo, a traditional Andean harlequin, reminds people to wear a face masks, gloves and maintain physical distance as a preventive measure against the novel coronavirus in Puno, Peru, on May 15, 2020 [Carlos Mamani/AFP]"

Pan American Health Organization warns the virus is spreading rapidly in Amazon areas between Brazil, Colombia, Peru.

"Communities in Peru and Ecuador warn their territory may be exploited as governments reboot coronavirus hit economies."

"One elder, his uncle, encouraged him to check in on indigenous people he knew. “That’s one of your medicines,” Rivas says his uncle told him. “You’re good at that.” Another, his friend Pualani Case, who is Hawaiian, reminded him that indigenous people practice solidarity."

"Nomadic pastoralists in Iran play an important role in national food security and sovereignty.1 Since the arrival of COVID-19, they have been deeply concerned about the impact that the pandemic is likely to have on them. Their recently established national platform, the Union of Indigenous Nomadic Tribes of Iran (UNINOMAD),2 is taking action. UNINOMAD outlined its members’ concerns and proposed solutions in a letter sent to key national authorities on 10 March. We will outline the main points of the letter and reflect on what the overall situation might mean for nomadic pastoralism in Iran."

"One of the happiest and most indigenous celebrations in Iran is the Qashqa’i wedding. The people of this tribe do their best to hold a glorious ceremony."

"The affected people roam with their cattle around the Ogaden Basin region, which is being explored by companies looking for oil and natural gas. "

"COVID-19 is revealing a great deal about the character of Central Asia’s people and their governments. "

"The Group of Friends of Indigenous Peoples are concerned over the risks faced by indigenous peoples, both in urban and rural areas, in particular over the health and wellbeing of elders, persons with underlying health conditions, persons with disabilities, women and children."

"These increased threats come at a time when Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, on 1 April 2020, issued shoot-to-kill orders targeting individuals and organisations seen as ‘troublemakers’, a general term that includes ‘communists’, ‘leftists’ or anyone seen as opposing his rule, including Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights Defenders."

HUM402 The Australian Government has launched a campaign to #keepourmobsafe. This image is of a screenshot of an ad for the campaign, which the government is using to educate Indigenous Australians regarding the risk of COVID-19. The ads appear to be targeting Indigenous Australians living in remote communities, giving them tips on how to stop the spread of COVID-19 and utilising indigenous artwork and slang to appear 'relatable'.