Items
Mediator is exactly
Rural Voices
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2020-08-22
COVID 19 and its impact on a small town in Hawaii
The COVID 19 pandemic is devastating to even to a small community like my own. People continue to live in fear of the virus and it is only worsening for my own small community. This picture helps to show one of the positives of this devastating disease which is being able to get closer to my family members. During isolation I ended up spending a lot of time with my grandparents and we were actually able to get closer. I feel this says a lot about the pandemic. It shows that times are tough to people and this disease has got everyone concerned. During these harsh times it is now more important than ever before to have a good support system. The support from families and friends I feel is what kept me going and a lot of my other colleagues felt the same way. Through COVID 19 then I was able to get closer to my own family and I think this one positive despite these difficult times helps to make my time during this pandemic a little more manageable. I think both this picture and story helps to document both the effects of COVID 19 on a small town and one way that people have adjusted to the new environment. -
2020-08-23
Alex Hinely Internship Portfolio
As a second-year graduate student in the History MA program at Arizona State University, I found myself enrolling in the HST 580: Professional Experience course after viewing an online announcement outlining the unique experience of a remote internship. With prior experience as a digital archivist with the National Archives and Records Administration, the Smithsonian Institute, and the California Digital Newspaper Collection, in addition to years spent as an undergraduate research assistant at the UCLA Center for Korean Studies digitizing reels of microfilm, I initially believed this internship to be hours of busywork without much substance. I was quickly proven wrong, however. Unlike the previous archives mentioned, A Journal of the Plague Year is a living and breathing archive, recording stories as they occur. This constant fluctuation resulting from live submissions created a dynamic, and sometimes turbulent, workspace that required interns to possess flexibility, problem-solving, and innovation skills. Far from my initial understanding of the internship, the archive provided curatorial interns with a wide-ranging set of skills applicable in any professional environment. Using Omeka-S, Otter.ai, and Slack, interns learned to enhance accessibility to historical documents by curating and transcribing crowdsourced items into a searchable resource. Curatorial interns carefully handled thousands of photographs, articles, and recordings, while assisting with branding, legal compliance, and writing for diverse platforms. Through archival collaborations with international universities and institutions, interns were able to advance their communication skills to convey necessary, time-sensitive, and fluctuating information concerning the live curation of items. This interactive and innovative internship challenged my understanding of public history and pushed me to appreciate the archival process in a new light. As calls for submissions urged individuals to share their everyday experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic, I recognized the importance of documenting daily happenings and confronting historical silences. As a result, A Journal of the Plague Year reignited my determination to support rural K-12 students and ensure that their stories are documented alongside their urban and suburban counterparts. While I have no immediate plans to become a public historian, I have learned an innumerable amount of skills that will surely advance my career in the educational sector. -
2020-08-19
Clinton P. Roberts Internship Portfolio
The Journal of the Plague Year will become a lasting memory and not just because it is preserved inside of an archive. One of the most memorable aspects will be the way our internship class grew to become a team. As we all look back to our first weeks, little did we know the scope of pedagogy we would need to experience before arriving upon these final days. Dr. Kole gave us the support we needed, but wasn’t afraid to introduce us to the “rapid” nature of a rapid response archive. The conversations of “wearing hats” became common terminology to describe all of the evolving jobs this internship would entail. Some days we were scholars thinking deeply about the concerns of silences. Other days we felt more like roving reporters gathering stories as they were developing. Our “marketing hats” were often in use as we promoted our Calls for Submissions. Undoubtedly, there were days we were required to stack our hats four high. As fledgling public historians, we accomplished all of these things and we did it together as a team. The word “team” seems the most obvious description, but for our group the most fitting term is “family.” This moment has already come and gone, yet it’s preserved for those that look toward it. I felt the need to devote my individual time to preserving those things that were at propinquity. That being said, the “Rural Voices” collection is something near and dear to me. Near because I live in the community that inspired this collection. Dear because it’s so much more; it’s home. I created it because of this familiarity, a familiarity that was disrupted by COVID-19 and I experienced firsthand. Moving forward, future interns will have the opportunity to continue what I have started. This collection was never meant to have only one voice and is only a reflection of its first voice. Every rural community has a wealth of history occurring and with each passing moment those voices fade. The “Rural Voices” collection was, and should always remain, a direct response to that silence. -
2020-04-11
During Pandemic, Community Adapts "Reverse" Parade to Honor 90th Birthday in Memorable Way
Local resident Genelle Richey retired in 2012, dedicating 62 years of her life to teaching the youth of Blanchard, Oklahoma. Since then, Mrs. Richey's status of being a local educator and mentor as only grown in appreciation. On April 11, 2020 during the peak of COVID-19 shutdowns, the community of Blanchard expressed its gratitude to Mrs. Richey by organizing hundreds of participants to drive past her in a "reverse" parade celebrating her 90th birthday. She and her family gathered on North Main Street to greet the cheerful crowd as they passed. The event was organized by her family and mostly through Facebook to preserve the surprise to Mrs. Richey herself. The event took place between 3:00 and 4:00 PM on that Saturday, April 11. The parade featured vehicles displaying signs and decorated "float" style trailers. The line of vehicles were led by Blanchard Police and Fire Departments. Parade vehicles dropped off birthday gifts and took photographs to preserve the special event. During an otherwise quiet and uneventful month of pandemic closures, the community of Blanchard resiliently came together to adapt a memorable day for a very special woman. Submitted for the #ruralvoices collection. Contributed by Clinton P. Roberts, curatorial intern for Arizona State University, HST 580. -
2020-06-28
COVID-19 Cancels the Oklahoma State Fair, Rural Attendee Tells Her Personal Story of Breaking Tradition.
Sharon Annesley of Blanchard, Oklahoma tells the story of how the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the traditions of the Oklahoma State Fair. Her text document story chronicles how the State Fair changed over the years, but had never been canceled. She details how this will affect the local economy of vendors, agriculture, and local tourism. She also describes what a typical day for her and her husband would be at the fair and the long-standing tradition it has become to them. Text document authored by Sharon Annesley. The story is titled under the heading “COVID-19 CANCELS THE OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR” (June 28, 2020) The story features personally gathered information and accounts by Sharon Annesley. This document was hand-submitted in a physical form for submission to Clinton P. Roberts for the #ruralvoices collection. Contributed by Clinton P. Roberts, curatorial intern for Arizona State University, HST 580. -
2020-08-09
Oklahoma School Reopening Requires Teachers to Be Creative with Their Precautions
With the reopening of Oklahoma schools, teachers are doing their best to create preventive measures in their classrooms. Dibble, Oklahoma third grade teacher Ms. McDaniel was inspired by online plans for creating class dividers out of PVC pipe and transparent shower curtains. The dividers allow the students to interact with one another, see the classroom board, and see the teacher without being able to breathe directing on other students. Oklahoma schools have not instituted a regulation for masks or other protective measures and only have offered recommendations. This has left individual school districts to provide their own rules. In this particular school some students wear mask, some do not, and others have opted for virtual learning. These desk dividers become a way for teachers to have structural PPE where individual PPE may not exist. Ms. McDaniel made five large cross section dividers that can protect up to twenty children. Ms. McDaniel researched, purchased, and fabricated all of these on her own. Her ingenuity is an example of how rural schools and rural teachers have had to be more creative with their methods of precaution. Submitted for the #ruralvoices collection. Contributed by Clinton P. Roberts, curatorial intern for Arizona State University, HST 580. -
2020-08-13
Distance Learning Parent Conferences
Unable to resume in-person instruction, for the time being, the first day of school for students at Princeton Joint Unified School District in Princeton, California looked quite different this year. Instead of having students on campus, parents were asked to attend a scheduled conference to pick up supplies, technology, and information. The white papers hanging around the perimeter of the gym list every student in attendance, and the items placed below each sign were left for students to use at home. Parents attending the meetings felt overwhelmed and frustrated by the inability to return in-person but recognized that the local school district did not make this decision. Over the summer months, distance learning strategies were completely overhauled to improve on the lackluster results of last spring. Teachers at Princeton Joint Unified School District will be offering live instruction throughout the day using several new platforms. Parent conferences will continue into next week before daily live instruction begins on August 20, 2020. -
2020-08-14
Rural Arizonans gain more access to mental health resources, but only if they have an internet connection
Sarandon Raboin/Luce Foundation: Southwest Stories Fellowship -
2020-08-14
Amador County Report Major Coronavirus Surge
An article reporting on the surge of COVID-19 cases in a rural California county close to Sacramento, Amador County. -
2020-08-11
Mayors in rural Arizona debate the pros and cons of mandating masks in their communities
Sarandon Raboin/Luce Foundation: Southwest Stories Fellowship -
2020-08-07
The Tale of the English Major and the Plague
I have uploaded a written story about how my university adapted to the Covid Pandemic. I wanted to tell the impact it had on my academic career, my personal life, and how my professors adapted to the change. -
2020-08-03
Non-Profit "Local First Arizona" provides necessary financial support to rural small businesses in need
Sarandon Raboin/Luce Foundation: Southwest Stories Fellowship The COVID-19 Pandemic has hit rural small businesses especially hard. Owners are struggling to pay their bills, and even survive. These owners don't necessarily get the same financial support from the federal government as owners in metropolitan areas. The non-profit "Local First Arizona" started providing financial grants to small businesses, especially focusing on those in rural areas of Arizona. These grants have been the saving grace of some rural small business owners. Reporter Sarandon Raboin spoke with some of the owners who were helped by "Local First Arizona". -
08/01/2020
Carrie Brown Oral History, 2020/08/01
Carrie Brown is currently a flight nurse employed with Mercy One- North Iowa in Mason City, Iowa. Carrie has worked a Mercy One- North Iowa since getting her degree in nursing (then called Mercy Medical Center- North Iowa) and has worked as a flight nurse since 2012. Carrie’s day to day life is currently outside the normal as she is living with her husband, Don, and their dog in a camper for the summer while they build a new house. In this interview, Carrie reflects on her interactions with friends and family and how her routines at her job have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Carrie offers a unique insight as to the current state of the pandemic by providing firsthand knowledge and perspective as a medical care provider. Carrie also addresses her personal stance on the pandemic as seen through the eyes of a medical professional and through conversations with other medical professionals. -
07/25/2020
Phillip Hoile Oral History, 2020/07/25
This is an interview of Phillip Hoile about the impacts that COVID-19 pandemic has on his job. He also speaks about questioning the information and why there's so much conflicting information in the media about COVID-19. Phillip offers his thoughts on why he and his family chose to take preventive measures such as masks and social distancing during COVID-19. He also talks about what it's like to live in a small community like Blanchard, Oklahoma instead of a larger city and the benefits it provides during a pandemic. He also explains the ways COVID-19 has altered his family plans and what he has done to create new activities to spend time with his granddaughter. Phillip offers advice about living through other crises, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, and his optimism that these things will eventually pass too. -
2020-07-25
Deborah Hoile Oral History, 2020/07/25
This is an interview of Deborah Hoile about her day to day life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Deborah is retired and speaks about spending time taking care of her granddaughter. She offers her thoughts on the effects of the pandemic upon her community of Blanchard and ways that it has responded to COVID-19. Deborah also talks about the ways COVID-19 has affected seeing some of her children and grandchildren, as well as her thoughts about how the community of Blanchard could benefit from its current desire to watch over its more vulnerable population. -
2020-05-18
Covid as a collage
I wanted to make something that was colorful and cheerful to remind people of the good things that are still happening in the world and that it is okay to find a light even in the darkest of times. None of this is to take away from the grim situation we are facing on a global level. It is hard to ignore the lack of medical supplies, the millions of people who have lost their jobs and that the economy is at a historical low point. I want to continue to help in any way I can, focus on the positive and hope that we as a nation can come together and beat this pandemic. -
2020-07-24
Sonora Restaurants Take Over Alleyways to Allow Outside Dining Compliant with COVID-19 Restrictions
These photos from the Union Democrat show how some downtown businesses in Sonora, California are innovating to allow table service that complies with California safety standards regarding COVID-19. These pictures show the new outdoor dining spaces for the Diamondback Grill and Sonora Brewing Company. -
2020-07-23
Mother Lode coronavirus cases, hospitalizations continue to increase
This article reports on increasing cases in the Mother Lode and a the first death from the virus in Calaveras County. There had been 104 cases in Tuolumne County at the time this article was published and cases are continuing to rise. The county is now very close to being put on California's monitoring list for areas of the state with high COVID-19 cases. Doctor's interviewed urge people to get tested to help keep other members of the community safe. -
2020-07-27
Tuolumne County outpaces Calaveras County in new COVID-19 cases
The local newspaper reports on increasing COVID-19 cases in Tuolumne County as opposed to the neighboring Calaveras County. These communities are in rural California and Tuolumne County has a fairly large population of COVID-19 skeptics and deniers correlating with their largely republican voting habits. This article discusses how the county must remain under 53 cases over 2 weeks to not have more public spaces closed according to state standards. If trends remain as they are it could mean a return to a heavier lockdown for the county. -
07/25/2020
Cody Brown Oral History, 2020/07/25
This is an oral history interview I conducted with a law enforcement officer and fellow ASU intern. He is in the History Master's program at ASU with me and it gives the perspective of not only a law officer but also one who lives in a very rural area in the United States during the pandemic. -
07/11/2020
Clinton Roberts Oral History, 2020/07/11
Clinton Roberts grew up in the small town of Blanchard, Oklahoma. He has lived there the balance of his life and continues to work the family-owned Insurance business his grandmother started. In addition to working as an insurance agent, Clinton is also a graduate student of History at Arizona State University. In the interview, Clinton discusses what it means to live and run a business in Blanchard during the COVID-19 crisis. He discusses the challenges he has faced and the changes he has personally made. He further discusses the changes he has witnessed in his local community, within his family, and his relationship with his long-time girlfriend, Kelly McDaniel. He also reveals the toll these changes have taken on his mental health, relationships and livelihood; the fear of “not knowing” his diagnosis after falling ill in recent weeks, and the stresses of taking care of his grandmother during this illness. -
5/14/2020
Grace Neugebauer Oral History, 2020/05/14
This interview was completed for a class project at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. The project was to contribute to a COVID-19 database while also working on a university database to show the importance of rapid response collection. The class was a research methods course called History 486 taught by Dr. Cheryl Jimenez Frei. -
2020-07-02
On Wheels Work From Home
Being in the province during the community quarantine is both an advantage and a challenge. Advantage that I was able to be with my family during the pandemic, moreover, being in an island and rural area in this kind of crisis lessens the possibilities of exposure to the virus. Also because of the abundance of natural resources, food supply was not as horror as to those who are in the urban areas. It was then a challenge if you are working far from your head office especially in the times of following the work from home system. Mobile network provider isn't always present in all areas. Unfortunately we are located at the place where barriers are abundant. The low land area and trees are just among them and not to mention the congestion of the users in the area where a tower can supply. In situations like this, creativity is the key to fulfill the commitments you promised to your work. With my motorcycle, I was able to go to the places where there is a stable signal for a certain period of time and locate another place depending on factors affecting move such as heat, wind, rain and time. Finally, it is a beautiful dishevelment when time is your enemy. It compensates all your effort to reach the places you think are impossible to walk by the wheels. These photos are just a few of the many creative stories crafted by this pandemic. -
05/22/2020
Darcy Brossow Oral History, 2020/05/22
University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Public History Seminar Covid 19 Project -
2020-07-13
Reopening presents additional challenges for Northern Ontario schools
"In one school, she said, there’s one full-time teacher, a part-time teacher and an education assistant. There’s no administrator, which raises a new host of problems during a pandemic. “'When there’s no administrator on site, and a kid gets sick, what do you do?' Douglas said. 'Who’s gonna be responsible for that child?' "But the barriers to remote learning are also greater up north, she said. “'A lot of us don’t have Wi-Fi abilities at our homes,' Douglas said. 'We pay an exorbitant amount of money to get Wi-Fi. And for us to do online learning, it’s been a challenge for many members. I’ve had members who have paid upwards of $700 for their Wi-Fi, just to do the distance learning.'” -
2020-07-13
B.C. Indigenous groups keeping borders closed to limit COVID-19 spread, despite growing economic impact
"Indigenous bands along the west coast of British Columbia say their borders will remain closed to tourists and non-residents, despite the economic impact, as they work to raise awareness about the threat COVID-19 poses to their communities." "'A lot of our communities are remote and testing is not easily available,' she said. 'If you’re in Port Alberni, or Nanaimo, or Victoria, or somewhere (else), you can get testing and get results in 24 hours. It’s not the same with our communities.' "The closures have resulted in disputes between Indigenous groups and local businesses. "The Haida Nation in Haida Gwaii have turned away non-residents at the ferry terminal, discouraged leisure travel and called on two local fishing lodges to rethink their reopening plans." -
2020-07-06
Colusa County Lands on State's List After Increase in Coronavirus Cases
After a local spike in cases, the California Department of Public Health placed Colusa County on a data monitoring list. -
2020-04
Choctaw Nation Paper
My dad sent me this paper from his tribe. I was worried that the tribe had been affected like some other tribes. But the papers really just had basic information about Covid-19 and hand-washing. It was a relief to see. -
2020-06-06
Local High school stands up for BLM and social injustice
We live in a small town. Our city of Moriarty NM has a population of about 1800 people, and the town next to us, Edgewood NM has close to 6100 people. This is a town that you can hide your true feelings because you're not around a lot of people, especially people of different backgrounds and nationalities. On June 6th, 2020 our local High school kids put together a peaceful protest to speak up against police brutality and racial injustice. They had been personally affected by this because they are of different nationalities, or are close friends with people who have been racially profiled before. They went through the proper channels, speaking with the local police department and securing a protest permit. When the Facebook page was created, it spread like wildfire, and the people who have hidden their hatred in this small town for so many years were now outraged at the thought. My daughter, Faith Ridenour was apart of the group setting up this protest. She and her friends were proud to speak out and we were proud of her for raising her voice but that pride turned into fear real quick when we started seeing the things our community members were saying about them on Facebook. A page called, "Torrance County Bulletin Board" posted the event and the comments were frightening, "Stand in my way and I will run you over" said one community member, and another chimed in with, "We will be there to clean up the mess after you take them down." I commented on every post I could to let them know that these are kids from our High school standing up for injustice. I begged people to remember that they're young and our next generation and we must lift them up and allow them to have voices or we are doomed as a society. I was immediately responded to with, "If you play with the big dogs, you will get hurt." Because of the hatred that was being spread online, my husband and I were in fear of our daughter's life and chose to stand out there with her. In one of the pictures, you will see our daughter standing with her sign, and my husband standing behind her to protect her. As a mother, it made me proud to see my daughter standing up for her fellow man, and my husband standing behind her to keep her safe. As an American, I was devastated at the idea that we have not grown from racism and are still against people who will stand up to it. As we arrived on the day of the protest we quickly saw the opposition. The picture attached only shows one of them with their automatic weapon, but the truth is, all of them were armed. As our kids shouted "Use your voice, black lives matter" the other side of the street shouted back, "All lives matter." Keeping in mind that this is all happening during the Covid-19 pandemic, our protestors wore masks to keep everyone safe, where the "All lives matter" group, did not. I found that to be pretty ironic. I am proud of these kids who stood up to adults. I am proud to know them and lift them up, and I believe our future will be better because of this generation. -
2020-06
Wilton, Connecticut 2020 High School Graduation Parade and Student's Newspaper Column
Wilton is a small town in Connecticut where I grew up. Due to the Coronavirus, their traditional graduation was canceled. Instead, they got together and had a graduation parade on the school grounds. I also included a column from a graduating senior -
2020-05-15
"The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes to Provide Tax-Free Emergency Relief to Tribal Members in Response to the COVID-19 pandemic."
"The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes intends to provide some much needed emergency relief to tribal members in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tribe's Executive Committee adopted a series of laws establishing new oversight infrastructure for its various benefits programs and approving emergency relief payments for tribal members and their families devastated by the COVID-19 crisis." -
2020-05-15
"The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes Extends Temporary Closures of Casino, Child Care Development Centers and the Tribal Government until May 31, 2020"
"Andarko, Oklahoma-The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes during their Executive Committee meeting on Thursday, May 14, 2020, made the decision to extend the Declaration for the State of Emergency and Temporary Closure for the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes through May 31, 2020." -
2020-04-06
"A message from Chief Friend."
"At the Wyandotte Nation, we have taken across-the-board action to dull the impact of the virus and keep Wyandotte citizens, employees and our customers safe." -
2020-05
"A New Reality Wyandotte Nation makes changes to help stop spread of virus"
"At the Wyandotte Nation, we have taken across-the-board action to dull the impact of the virus and keep Wyandotte citizens, employees and our customers safe. In mid-March, we announced the closure of a number of Wyandotte facilities. These closures included our Title VI Program (Elder Nutrition Center) inside meals, Preschool and Childcare Facilities, Wyandotte cultural sites and all Wyandotte casinos." -
2020-05-27
Push Back in Rural America
Podcast about the push-back by rural Americans against restrictions. -
2020-06-19
"See You Next Year"
"We wanted to say thank you campers for joining us these last two weeks for virtual camp! We hope to see you next year for camp June 7th-11th, 2021! Make sure to fill out an application by June 30th so you can receive your summer fun pack after you watch all of the camp videos!" -
2020-05-28
"Delaware Nation Official Statement"
"Currently, we are working on emergency assistance programs that will assist qualifying tribal citizens. The guidelines and application process for these programs will provide the Tribe with the needed documentation to support our expenditures and keep us in compliance and good standing with the funding sources." -
2020-06-19
Juneteenth Prompts Voter Registration in Black Communities
The recent protests and Black Lives Matter Movement have sparked America's interest in promoting Black culture and historical events. One such event, Juneteenth Day, has captured the attention of many people. Juneteenth celebrates the day when the slaves in Texas were freed by incoming Union soldiers who were enforcing the Emancipation Procaliamtion Executive Order while also stating that the Civil War has ended (June 19th, 1865). Juneteenth was primarily celebrated in Texas until it spread to other cities and states during the 20th century. This was especially true during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Men and women who had participated in the Poor People's March on Washington D.C. began to host Juneteenth celebrations when they eventually went back to their respective states and cities. Today, Juneteenth "celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while [also] encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures." One way African American organizations have promoted this 'self-development' is through voter-registration. In Navassa, a large black community near Wilmington, NC, two organizations have come together to do just this. As the news article states, "Women with [social sororities] Alpha Psi Omega Chapter and Alpha Kappa Alpha are sponsoring [a] three-day...voter-registration drive." People who come to this event are required to wear face masks and maintain a 6ft distance between themselves and others at all times. Although the Coronavirus has negatively impacted the Black communities in America, this Juneteenth Day will hopefully incite a rise in black-voter-registration and raise awareness for this important day in history. -
2020-06-01
Oneida Nation Broadcasts Updates and Extend Condolences to Tribal Citizens Who Lost Their Lives Due to Covid-19
“People need to continue wearing their masks…We would also like to express our heartfelt condolences because in the past few days, we have lost at least six of our own.” -
2020-04-28
Local Campsite Permanently Closes Short-Term Camping
Scioto Post article about a local campsite and popular nature retreat closes overnight and temporary campsites due to COVID19 permanently. Cabins and rental reservations were not canceled. -
2020-03-31
Menominee Tribal Council Announces First Case on Reservation, Non-Native Living in Community
“The individual is reported as a non-native and resides in within Menominee County, which shares the same boundaries of Menominee Indian Reservation. The individual is a resident of Menominee County. Given this individual is a non-native, this case is reported by Shawano-Menominee County public health and to Wisconsin DHS. This person is not in the care of Menominee Tribal Clinic or Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin… The protection and security of our Menominee Tribal members and surrounding community member is important to our Tribe.” -
2020-06-05
“On Tribal Lands, a Time to Make Art for Solace and Survival”
“As the pandemic wreaks havoc on millions of lives, it has had a devastating impact on the livelihoods of Native American artists and artisans, who are collectively responding with a creative resolve born from centuries of adversity.” -
2020-04-30
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma Addresses Tribal Elders
“Tribal Elder, During this time, I find myself filled with emotion as I watch the COVID-19 coronavirus overtake thousands of people across the nation including Indian Country. Our ancestors endured challenges like this and still survived. We, the proud people of the Cheyenne and Arapaho, will face this challenge together if we take all precautions and stay safe. We have set forth a plan for this health crisis unlike anything most of us have seen in our lifetime. This administration stands by our principle since day one that ‘Tomorrow Starts Today.’” -
2020-06-11
Express Oaxaca Updates
Municipal Markets have a huge place in Latin American culture. They are not only a place to buy the necessities that are needed day to day, but also a place to socialize, gossip, and connect with one's community. This tweet announces that one of the markets in the community of Oaxaca in Mexico is closing so that it can be sanitized and then cleaned to minimize the risk of Covid-19 -
2020-05-14
Red Cliff Tribal Council Rejects Wisconsin’s Move to Reopen Businesses and Exercises Sovereign Right to Extend Tribal Stay at Home Resolution
“While we support economic prosperity for all during normal times, the Red Cliff Tribal Council does not consider these to be normal times with the coronavirus pandemic still putting lives at risk across the country. In following the advice of our medical professionals, we issued our own Tribal Stay at Home resolution.” -
2020-05-15
Sokaogon Chippewa Mole Lake Band Community Notice
“Everyone Plays An Important Role in Keeping Our Community Healthy and Safe.” -
2020-06-11
Comanche Nation Chairman Issues Statement on Funeral Home Closure
“The recent mandate for quarantine of our own Funeral Home is warranted. The Comanche Nation is following the Center for Disease Control (CDC) protocol and practices. The Nation has been proactive in all situations that calls for safety of every Comanche Nation member. This event is no different, and should be looked upon as 100% safety first… We are all saddened by numberous issues that the entire world has no control over. We will always honor our loved ones that have gone home. We will one day overcome this virus and normalcy will return. Until that day we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this situation has caused.” -
2020-06-13
Virtual Colusa County Fair Junior Livestock Auction
On June 6, 2020, the California Department of Food and Agriculture informed the Board of Directors of the Colusa County Fair that an in-person junior livestock sale would be prohibited to combat the spread of COVID-19. As a result, local students who raised livestock with 4-H and FFA were left with little choice but to participate in a virtual auction hosted by EZ2Bid. For students who were unable to care for their livestock at home and relied on school facilities, raising animals quickly became difficult as campuses closed. Having already purchased their livestock well before the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, local students had to adapt to the shifting climate to avoid losing thousands of dollars in invested time and money. In Colusa County, agriculture is an integral part of the educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the local economy. In an all-too-real scenario, students received an irreplaceable life lesson on the unexpected challenges faced by farmers and ranchers. While COVID-19 might have negatively impacted the education of K-12 students overall, there are some lessons that could not have been taught any other way. -
2020-06-12
Abandoned Student Belongings
When the Princeton Joint Unified School District campuses unexpectedly closed on March 17, 2020, students were unable to collect personal belongings left in lockers and desks. As a school employee, I was tasked with collecting these items, placing them in plastic bags, and making them available for pick up. From the well-kept lockers of eager freshmen to the trash-filled desks of fifth graders, removing student belongings felt like an invasion of privacy, looting personal spaces thought to be their own. These belonging bags contain much more than physical items, however. They contain the last sense of normalcy for these students, the final laughs shared before an extended summer vacation, and the unfounded security in knowing that tomorrow will be just another school day. -
2020-06-14
Preparing for the Public Again: Supplies Needed for Reopening Oklahoma Business in Phase 3 During COVID-19
Starting June 1st, Oklahoma Governor Stitt's Phase 3 of Oklahoma's reopening began. The Richey Insurance Agency of Blanchard, Oklahoma has still not opened partly due to the company's employees being in the vulnerable categories. One of the other reasons is the difficulty in obtaining much needed cleaning supplies and the creation of new office protocols to maintain CDC suggested safety measures. Being a small independent business in a rural area, we are not given strict corporate or state regulations to enact. Instead, we are reliant on state and CDC information as well as our own ingenuity of how to best observe these suggestions. Some of the items that we've recently obtained include: plexiglass barriers for two desks, new easily cleanable office chairs, automated hand sanitizer stations, 70% isopropyl alcohol for spray bottles, bulk bottle of hand sanitizer, brightly colored tape for marking distancing locations on the floor, emergency masks, emergency gloves, and document exchange trays. All of these items are newly purchased and weren't necessary before COVID-19. The barriers will help maintain sanitary work spaces and create social distancing gaps. The chairs are especially important because they are replacing the previous cloth chairs. These new chairs' entire surface is either vinyl or metal, making it easier to clean after every customer. The social distancing rules will be a maximum of four customers in the office. This is approximately one third of its usual heavy customer points normally. All of these changes are based on a downward progression of COVID-19 cases to prevent our employees from unnecessary risk. Right now, three of the employees work from home and will continue until the office is officially open. Currently the new COVID-19 cases are on an upward trend in Oklahoma, with 225 new cases on Saturday June 12th, the single largest day since the beginning of the outbreak. With numbers like these, Phase 3 seems to be more of risk than we had planned. Much of the ramp up to open will be stalled until Oklahoma numbers show a significant decline. Personal story submitted for the #ruralvoices collection. Contributed by Clinton P. Roberts, curatorial intern for Arizona State University, HST 580.