Skip to main content
DONATE

Resources: COVID-19 Vaccine Panel for Native American & Indigenous Communities

Email share
Credit: PBS NewsHour

DENVER — Rocky Mountain PBS has partnered with the office of Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and several community organizations to broadcast a town hall event in which experts participate in a discussion about the coronavirus, vaccines, and how to better serve indigenous communities in our fight against COVID-19.

The recorded discussion airs Sunday, March 21 at 5 p.m. on Rocky Mountain PBS.

Hancock, who received his vaccine March 19, said, “We’re focusing on communities of color – because the data shows these communities are being disproportionately impacted by the COVID pandemic – in both the numbers of cases and deaths.”

“The virus has killed American Indians and Indigenous people in the U.S. at especially high rates,” the mayor continued.

PBS NewsHour reports that nearly 7,000 people Indigenous people in urban areas alone contracted COVID-19 from the beginning of the pandemic to mid-February.

NewsHour also reported that a history of medical mistreatment "has led some Indigenous leaders to brace for challenges in vaccinating their communities."

Hancock said he hopes this town hall will dispel "the myths and misinformation that may prevent you from making the best decision for yourself or your family."

RMPBS Specials
Native American & Indigenous Communities: Denver Pandemic
26:40
Published:

Denver Mayor Hancock hosts a conversation in response to the COVID pandemic.

Panelists

Adrianne Maddux

Maddux is the Executive Director at Denver Indian Health and Family Services. DIHFS has been administering COVID vaccines for the last few months.

Rick Waters 

Waters is the Co-Executive Director at the Denver Indian Center.  DIC has been partnering with DIHFS and holding COVID vaccine events. Rick is a member of the Kiowa and Cherokee tribes of Oklahoma and has worked in Indian Country for over 40 years.

Jennifer Wolf

Wolf is the founder and CEO of Project Mosaic and has worked with dozens of nonprofit organizations. She is on the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health COVID-19 Communication advisory board. 

Darius Smith

Smith is the Director of the Anti-Discrimination Office in Denver's Agency for Human Rights & Community Relations, and the American Indian Liaison to the City and County of Denver.

Resources

 

  • Denver American Indians text hotline: 1-855-ONE-STRG (1-855-663-7874)
    • Text “COVID19” for testing information
    • Text “STRONG” for community resources
    • Text “JOBS” for employment
    • Text “SOCIAL” for special events
    • Text “FOOD” for area food banks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related Stories

PBS NewsHour
Trying to build trust of vaccines among Indigenous Americans

Health officials try to rebuild trust of vaccines among Indigenous Americans

PBS NewsHour
Navajo Nation's health care system strained by COVID-19

Navajo Nation's health care system strained by COVID-19

Spotlight Newsletter

Community stories from across Colorado and updates on your favorite PBS programs, in your inbox every Tuesday.

Sign up here!