When the pandemic struck the Navajo Nation this spring, it arrived temporarily and furiously, spreading “like gunpowder,” according to its president Jonathan Nez, and ravaging long-impoverished communities through years of systemic racism and neglect.
But the virus and efforts to involve it now have an effect on the Navajo on some other critical front: the vote.
With less than two months to go until the 2020 election, the network is mobilizing to enroll the electorate and hopes to play a decisive role in the contests in the thirteen counties that its members in Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona’s undecided state.
“Right now what is happening is this assessment of the pandemic: the lack of resources, the lack of an initial reaction and so many and so many people going on. I mean, it’s just overwhelming. ” Jaynie Parrish told ABC News host Martha Raddatz.
While COVID-19 hit the Navajo Nation later than the maximum states, the network suffered an infection rate consistent with the country in May.
“The members of the box lost their family. I lost my family,” Parrish said, preventing tears in his eyes.
The Navajo Nation is the largest Indian reserve in the country, nearly 3 times the length of Massachusetts, but its members had higher rates of unemployment and lack of food confidence before the pandemic, disparities that increase their vulnerability to coronavirus, as well as the close nature of Navajo families.
“Once the virus sneaked into the Navajo Nation, you know, it took credit for our strengths,” Nez said in an interview this week. “And we like to have our families in a house for several generations. “
On Thursday, 530 Navajo lost their lives. But the country has taken a 180-degree turn in recent weeks, largely thanks to a strict masking policy and curfews established through Navajo leaders.
Last Tuesday the first day without new instances reported since the first one arrived.
Nose, a Democrat, and his Republican vice president, Myron Lizer, characterize his other people’s culture of respect for leadership and data.
“The leaders here are with our warriors on the line of this pandemic,” Nez said, pausing between food and water distribution paintings to neighbors in need.
Nez and Lizer’s bipartisan alliance attracted the country’s attention, especially after conversing at the conventions of their respective parties, which characterize it by doubling its ability to succeed in its states and Washington in the face of old desires across the country.
“It’s been effective. You know, they gave him the keys to the White House, I didn’t,” Nez said, in reference to Lizer’s appearances in the White House with President Donald Trump. “I often go out and attend a lot of national meetings while I stay home and take care of the domestic issues here, just like I do outdoors here to supply food and materials to our citizens. “
Alongside the aid, Nez, Lizer and a volunteer organization distribute over the vote.
With more than 300,000 inhabitants, most of whom are in arizona’s undecided state, Navajo have an impact.
“The Navajo electorate has mobilized,” said Parrish, crusader manager for Navajo County Democrats, who lives in Window Rock, Arizona. “I see the enthusiasm of our young people and other elderly people like my mother. . . I feel smart about it. “
But referring to the pandemic, he added: “If something is motivating other people more than ever. “
This power has encountered some obstacles, with a retrial accusing Arizona of restricting its ability to vote.
The country filed a lawsuit last month for a new state law that requires ballots to be won by mail before Election Day.
The mail here can take five to six days, and is sent through remote villages before arriving at the county headquarters where the ballots are compiled by mail. Many citizens don’t have a mailbox or mailbox nearby.
But Nez told ABC News that he hoped that the Navajo Nation’s food distribution sites could soon serve as polling stations to make it less difficult for members to vote and do so safely, with minimal contact.
“I am very involved because there is a lot of negative discussion about the fact that we intend to vote early. But I tell everyone I’m talking to vote early, just ask for an early choice,” Joanna Peshlakai said. , an organizational floor for Navajo County Democrats.
Some Navajo members have been motivated in this cycle not only by the lack of federal to indigenous tribes and the acute devastation of the pandemic here, but also by racial calculation throughout the United States.
“My mom and dad said, ‘Well, why do you think we were excluded from those history books?It’s not a great story. It’s a terrible story,” Jaynie said, but “I was instilled that we have a history of 10,000 years and more as indigenous peoples, so 4 to five hundred years is a short time in this area. And even now, the last six months are a bit of time there. . . So let’s be here — resilient. “
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