Funding for Native Communities MUST be a Priority
Before the COVID crisis the systemic neglect of funding for health services, education, housing and nutrition assistance for American Indians and Alaskan Native communities was abysmal. Now in the midst of this pandemic, that neglect means the crisis is hitting Native communities especially hard. Without resources and funding the Indian Health Service and community health facilities are unable to meet patient needs. Many areas of Indian Country are rural and lack adequate housing and access to broadband, which makes it even harder to communicate or access educational opportunities.
Time after time the U.S. Government has failed Native communities; centuries of injustice towards native peoples have led us to this moment. The delegates of General Synod 29 decided to speak out about this historic and ongoing injustice and voted overwhelmingly for a Resolution of Witness to repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery. The resolution declares and confesses the doctrine to be a shameful part of our church history and that of the U.S.
Now as the United Church of Christ, we can continue the work of confession and reconciliation by advocating for Native communities to receive robust federal funds from Congress to combat COVID. Recent coronavirus legislation included emergency funding, but due to bureaucratic ineptitude those funds are being held up from distribution. Congress must make good on its funding allocations, and must also allow Tribes, as sovereign nations, to be flexible in the use of said funds.
Please join with us in urging Congress to making funding for tribes and Native communities a priority in future legislation and to ensure that tribes can make allocation decisions for themselves. This includes funding for health resources, education, broadband access and housing assistance.
Nothing can right the historic injustices that are still experienced by Native communities – and in this time of crisis, everything must be done to ensure that they are not compounded.
TAKE ACTION
Update 5/23/2020: Thank you all for signing on to the letter to the FCC regarding extending broadband access in rural and native communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The letter was endorsed by 179 individuals and 44 organizations and sent to to the FCC on Friday, May 15. A courtesy copy has been shared with each commissioner and the Office of Native Affairs and Policy. The letter is attached below with a list of all sign-ons. Thank you all for making this possible and your continued support of rural people and places.
Sincerely, The Rural Assembly Team