The death toll on #NavajoNation has reached 298 due to #COVID19. That’s 298 Navajo lives including 5 Medicine People gone w/in 2.5 MONTHS. Each night I shed tears for my people as I read my Nation’s daily reports - it’s not easy learning of new deaths that could’ve been prevented 
I type updates to keep folks informed hoping they, too, recognize why it’s so concerning for a Native community fighting so hard for the sacred knowledge & teachings that we have left & MUST protect, especially in my Navajo community where we’re doing all we can to combat
this monster but it’s still taking precious lives, precious loved ones. It’s especially hard knowing that over 65% of these deaths due to COVID are our elders 60+ years old - our Cheiis & Másánís who we’re still learning so much from. Másánís are still teaching us how to
weave & speak our Diné Bizaad (Navajo language). It makes me sad & angry b/c the hotspot is the region where uranium & coal mining contaminated us for decades causing respiratory diseases - cancers, black lung, asthma - putting us in a very vulnerable place to combat COVID-19.
Essentially, a large population of the region where energy corporations/ the extraction industry raped our lands, dried up our lakes, & contaminated our waters, were left to fight a losing battle. It is all gross injustice & these energy corporations should be held accountable
for these preexisting health conditions & now, deaths that could’ve been prevented. But b/c we won’t see this accountability or just reparations anytime soon, what we can do right now, what we must do right now, is hold ourselves & each other accountable as our border towns open
up & lockdowns lift. We must continue being diligent in abiding by public health safety measures & taking all precautions to ensure the safety & vitality of our elders & people. Together, we can bring this daily death count down to ZERO & stop the death toll before it gets
too far over 300. Together, we can really flatten the curve & slay this monster. Together, we are #NavajoStrong!
