Welcome to Medicine Man News
Your Weekly Native American news about the most current important subjects, people, art, music, clothing, medicine, and life over all.
Native American Modern Leaders
This week we would like to introduce you to some friend's of Medicine Man Collective two brother's that are making a huge impact in the Native American community. We hope them the best on both of their projects and send them both blessings.
Aaron Yazzie is a Diné mechanical engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His work involves planetary sample acquisition and handling. He has worked on the Mars Science Laboratory, InSight, and Mars 2020 missions. He is about to attempt flight of a small helicopter on Mars!
Born: 1986 (age 35 years), Tuba City, AZ
Education: Stanford University
Jared Yazzie (Diné) Founder of OXDX, is a self-taught graphic artist, entrepreneur, and designer known for his bold, graphic style that incorporates vibrant Diné motifs with messages of Native empowerment. He got his start by screen printing t-shirts in his dorm room at the University of Arizona and selling them out of the trunk of his car. Now a popular street wear brand, OXDX has been featured on CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Refinery 29, Huffington Post, the Smithsonian Institution, and more.
Native American National News
President Joe Biden is making history with the first-ever White House proclamation on Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
The proclamation was issued on Friday morning, ahead of the observation of Indigenous Peoples’ Day across the nation on October 11. In the document, Biden highlights the need for the United States government to live up to its trust and treaty responsibilities amid centuries of failures.
“Our country was conceived on a promise of equality and opportunity for all people a promise that, despite the extraordinary progress we have made through the years, we have never fully lived up to,” Biden states. “That is especially true when it comes to upholding the rights and dignity of the Indigenous people who were here long before colonization of the Americas began.”
“For generations, Federal policies systematically sought to assimilate and displace Native people and eradicate Native cultures. Today, we recognize Indigenous peoples’ resilience and strength as well as the immeasurable positive impact that they have made on every aspect of American society,” the president continues. “We also recommit to supporting a new, brighter future of promise and equity for Tribal Nations a future grounded in Tribal sovereignty and respect for the human rights of Indigenous people in the Americas and around the world.”
Despite the historic words, the White House is continuing a long tradition of observing Columbus Day. But in a separate proclamation, issued about a half-hour after the one for Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Biden calls attention to the mistreatment suffered by Native peoples following the exploration undertaken by Christopher Columbus, who never set foot in the present-day U.S.
“Today, we also acknowledge the painful history of wrongs and atrocities that many European explorers inflicted on Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities. It is a measure of our greatness as a Nation that we do not seek to bury these shameful episodes of our past that we face them honestly, we bring them to the light, and we do all we can to address them,” the second proclamation reads. “For Native Americans, western exploration ushered in a wave of devastation: violence perpetrated against Native communities, displacement and theft of Tribal homelands, the introduction and spread of disease, and more.
“On this day, we recognize this painful past and recommit ourselves to investing in Native communities, upholding our solemn and sacred commitments to Tribal sovereignty, and pursuing a brighter future centered on dignity, respect, justice, and opportunity for all people,” Biden states.
Native American Medical News
49 new cases, 32,441 recoveries, and five more deaths related to COVID-19
WINDOW ROCK, Arizona – On Thursday, the Navajo Department of Health, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, reported 49 new COVID-19 cases for the Navajo Nation and five more recent deaths. The total number of deaths is now 1,453. The report indicates that 32,441 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 342,993 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The overall total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 34,309, including one delayed reported case.
Navajo Nation COVID-19 positive cases by Service Unit:
- Chinle Service Unit: 6,195
- Crownpoint Service Unit: 3,348
- Ft. Defiance Service Unit: 4,066
- Gallup Service Unit: 5,516
- Kayenta Service Unit: 2,990
- Shiprock Service Unit: 5,825
- Tuba City Service Unit: 4,211
- Winslow Service Unit: 2,139
* 19 residences with COVID-19 positive cases are not specific enough to place them accurately in a Service Unit.
On Thursday, the state of Arizona reported 2,529 new cases, Utah reported 1,805 new cases, and New Mexico reported 1,025new cases.
“It’s been nearly 20 months since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed on the Navajo Nation. Since then, our frontline warriors continue to fight for all of us each and every day. They have given us the guidance and resources to protect ourselves and others. It’s our responsibility to follow their guidance and continue to wear masks in public, to get fully vaccinated, and continue to take safety measures. We are in this together, so please remain strong and continue to pray for our people and all of those who are fighting COVID-19 at this moment,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.
Health care facilities across the Navajo Nation continue to administer COVID-19 vaccines. If you would like to receive one of the COVID-19 vaccines, please contact your health care provider and schedule an appointment.
“If you travel anywhere on or off the Navajo Nation, please continue to wear a mask in public. We are in this together, so please take precautions and think about the health of others during this pandemic. Please be safe and continue to pray for all people,” said Vice President Myron Lizer.
For more information, including helpful prevention tips, and resources to help stop the spread of COVID-19, visit the Navajo Department of Health’s COVID-19 website: http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. For COVID-19 related questions and information, call (928) 871-7014.