Tribal communities hit hard by COVID-19 not seeing promised federal aid

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —Tribal communities are being hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, and the U.S. federal government is bound by treaties to help them.

"We're the first citizens of the United States of America, but yet we haven't seen one penny come to the Navajo Nation," President Jonathan Nez, of the Navajo Nation, said. "Army Corps of Engineers were here to help do some assessments, federal programs helping out, but in terms of dollars coming in, for let's say aid packages to those directly impacted by the virus, we still haven't seen any of that."

The federal government has individual treaties with tribes that require the government to provide health care services and other services to native people across the country.

"It's hospitals; it's education; it's housing," said Stephanie Salazar, the general counsel of the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department. "Any of those responsibilities due to a state would also be due to a tribal nation."

New Mexico state senators Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall said they're continuing to push the Trump administration to make sure native people get the support that they need.

"We were able to get $8 million for direct payments to tribal governments for relief from coronavirus, in additional about a billion for the Indian Health Services, and $450 million for operation of essential tribal programs," Heinrich said. "Right now, what we're really focused on is getting those resources out to the field. We need the administration to focus on Indian Country as much as they are focused on New Orleans and New York City."

Both Heinrich and Udall said they also got millions for education, food distribution and housing.

"Native Americans are on the frontlines of this pandemic, we're seeing the dangers play out on the Navajo Nation, and elsewhere in Indian country," Udall said. "We need to get them the resources, so that Native Americans in our communities are taken care of. I'm very worried that this administration is putting hurdles in the way in terms of getting money out."

Earlier this week the Arizona National Guard set up a 50-bed medical facility in the Navajo Nation. It also sent out 300 sets of personal protective equipment.