In a New Podcast, Students Share the Hidden Stories of Native Americans and Coronavirus

November 2, 2020

Kylie Gordon

Tribal communities in the West have been especially hard-hit by COVID-19. This summer, research led by Hannah Kelley (Sihásapa Lakóta) and Aja Two Crows (Bitterroot Salish) explored the Native American response to the pandemic through interviews with Natives in Seattle and on the Navajo Nation. Now, the students have launched a podcast that shares the hidden stories of Native health and coronavirus, with each episode offering a new voice from subject specialists and everyday Natives alike. How have Native People accessed care during the health crisis, and what impact has it had on their physical, mental and spiritual well-being? Two Crows and Kelley asked these questions both on the reservation and in more urban areas, documenting the diverse experiences of Native People in "Portraits of a Pandemic," premiering Thursday, November 5 at 4:00 p.m. PST.

Contextualizing the current suffering of Natives against a backdrop of historical mistreatment by the U.S. government, the students hope their work will highlight Native Americans' enduring strength and resilience in the face of a major health crisis. They have "weathered epidemics before," the researchers said, citing how vital it is to “uplift Native voices and listen to those most unheard in society."

In addition to Two Crows and Kelley, Sophia Boyd-Fliegel co-produced "Portraits of a Pandemic," supporting the team with production and strategy. The first episode airs on November 5. A Q&A with the producers will follow.

Recent Center News

With a new grant, Lane Center Director Bruce Cain pursues research on adaptive drought management in a changing climate

In many drought-stricken regions, water security is threatened by shifting climate and demographic conditions. In research funded by the Woods Institute for the Environment, Center Director Bruce Cain and colleagues will develop a new approach to drought management that accounts for long-term socio-environmental change.

How much does wildfire smoke influence air quality trends?

Stanford research reveals the rapidly growing influence of wildfire smoke on air quality trends across most of the United States. Wildfire smoke in recent years has slowed or reversed progress toward cleaner air in 35 states, erasing a quarter of gains made since 2000.

Now accepting applications for our 2024 Western Media Fellowship

Journalists covering the American West can apply for a fellowship that offers a $5,000 stipend. The Bill Lane Center for the American West at Stanford University will be accepting applications for its Western Media Fellowship through October 9, 2023.