Of our native communities. As part of our hearing, microphones will be set on mute. Members and witnesses, you will need to unmute your microphone each time you wish to speak. Documents can be sent to rebecca at the email address weve provided. And all documents will be entered into the record at the conclusion of the hearing. I recognize myself for five minutes for an opening statement. Let me find that, now that ive said that. I believe that todays hearing is long overdue. Day after day, our nations tribal communities are suffering inequality, unequal access to Drinking Water, energy grid, broadband, and other problems that have created unnecessary hardship and turmoil. And covid19 is exacerbating the existing problems now. And the Navajo Nation has seen rates higher than wuhan, china, during the height of the pandemic. And weve heard repeatedly about the struggles of the native communities to protect against covid19. As the pandemic rages on, access to ppe and testing and proper san
Provided and into the record to the conclusion of the hearing. I recognize myself for 5 minutes for Opening Statements. Let me find my Opening Statement here. I believe this hearing is long overdue. Suffering terrible inequalities. Unreliable access to the energy grid, little or no broadband connectivity, and reliable funds for the federal government and other systematic problems that created unnecessary hardship and turmoil and covid19 is exacerbating these long existing problems. One third of tribal members are at high risk of serious covid19 complications due to Underlying Health factors and Navajo Nation has seen higher infection rates than those in china at the peak of the pandemic. Despite this stark reality the impact of covid19 on tribal communities, weve seen the struggles of tribal communities and access to personal protective equipment and testing to protect against covid19. Is this pandemic redesign and covid19 cases continue to rise in many areas of the Country Access to p
A lawful and appointed as a state Department Advisor during Barack Obamas presidency says this is increased native americans is vulnerability to coronavirus something seemingly being swept under the rug in the face of allegations they are being left out of the Demographic Data shannon a citizen of the truck the nation of oklahoma joins me now via skype from clarksville in maryland usa thanks so much and of coming on we know that in britain which has a much worse because of their growth of ours official rate in the us a covert its the vulnerable how is it Indigenous Peoples of the usa thank you for having me and it has been devastating in any infantry here in the United States unfortunately we dont have all the data we need to truly assess the damage that the coronavirus is generating to the native American Population there are 574 federally recognized tribes that means theres 570 or tribes in the United States has a go. Government to government relationship with and most Public Health
Clarksville in maryland usa thanks so much and of coming on we know that in britain which has a much worse because of their growth of ours official rate in the us a covert its the vulnerable how is it Indigenous Peoples of the usa thank you for having me it has been devastating in any infantry here in the United States unfortunately we dont have all the data we need to truly assess the damage that the coronavirus is doing to the native American Population there are 574 federally recognized tribes that means theres 574 tribes in the United States has a government to government relationship with and most Public Health care facilities are not checking the box or understanding often who they are serving when it comes to coronavirus so we dont have a. The numbers we do know that the Indian Health service most of those Indian Health Service Locations are within tribal lands and tribal reservations and those numbers are clear theres getting close to 18000. 00 cases of corona virus out of abou
Serving when it comes to coronavirus so we dont have all the numbers we do know that the Indian Health service most of those Indian Health Service Locations are within tribal lands and tribal reservations and those numbers are clear theres getting close to 18000 cases a coronavirus out of about 233000 individuals who have been tested but testing is the amount of testing that is being given to Indian Health service has been very low in fact ive just recently heard. Donald trump mention that indians should be happy with what theyve gotten so far in fact he sent 250 tests to the Indian Health service 50. 250 yes just to be clear this is in the context of some statistics that weve got that in arizona 16 percent of. The coronavirus deaths in arizona are Indigenous Peoples while there are only 6 was of the population new mexico greater than a 3rd with only 10 percent how many state Health Departments are actually recording Indigenous Peoples deaths that have actions and we dont know that inf