From Indigenous New England
 https://indigenous.boston |
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Oscar winner Wes Studi launched a new PSA raising awareness about the seriousness of COVID-19 in Indian Country. (courtesy photo)
ADDISON, Texas — From small-town Oklahoma native to internationally acclaimed actor and musician, Wes Studi forever changed a stereotype with his unforgettable performances in Dances with Wolves, The Last of the Mohicans, Heat and Avatar.
Now, he’s working on another mission.
Yesterday, the Cherokee citizen and legendary film star released a public service announcement (PSA) to raise awareness of the serious effects of COVID-19 in Indian Country and request widespread support for Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA) to ensure Native Americans are not left behind during the pandemic.
What sparked the PSA is a series of vital health issues happening in the wake of COVID-19, even with many stay-at-home orders in place. The risk of contracting the virus is higher among Native Americans due to overcrowded housing and high rates of diabetes, kidney disease and asthma. And despite more than 7,100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the Navajo Nation and other tribal communities, federal aid has been slow to arrive.
In his new PSA, the Oscar winner reminds the public of the need for immediate attention and charitable donations to PWNA, which has secured tribal clearances and follows CDC and tribal guidelines to continue delivering critical items, such as food, water, sanitizer and personal protective equipment (PPE).
For more information on the PSA, and to learn how to donate, visit NativePartnership.org/
“Every day, remote reservation communities face shortages of food, water and healthcare, and COVID-19 has magnified that reality,” said Joshua Arce, PWNA president and CEO. “Donations are critical now as we bring relief to under-resourced communities.”
Studi notes PWNA is a nonprofit he trusts. In 2019, they collaborated in a five-part Realities Video Series with Wes Studi that aimed to give an accurate portrayal of reservation life and dispels long-held myths that continue to impact Native communities.
The post Legendary Actor Wes Studi Urges the Public to Assist Indian Country Amid Pandemic appeared first on Native News Online.
How can we be vessels of hope in a time such as this? We have the opportunity to embrace actions that can be taken to make a difference for ourselves and those around us. When we take these steps together there is a collective mounting of GOOD that impacts humanity and our world.
Please consider joining us for the offerings laid out below. Together we are creating a powerful vision for a healthy and flourishing future. We hope you can join us in these worthy endeavors!
May 23-31
WOMEN’S CIRCLES
We are opening Humanity Rising with ten days of listening to voices of women from around the world to emphasize the imperative that women be empowered to lead in shaping the post pandemic world.
June 1-7
NEXTGEN YOUTH LEADERSHIP CIRCLES
After the women speak, we want to listen to the voices of the young for seven days to emphasize the importance of youth leadership in the new world.
June 8-19
STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE
How do we become more effective in implementing solutions? What strategies can we implement that can make a real difference?
The world has been stopped. Most of us have been in some form of lockdown, and over the next several months countries and individuals will find their own paths through the crisis. It is clear that this virus is not going to suddenly go away. So what can we do? How can we be part of the solution?
Allow us to introduce you to Humanity Rising, a growing movement of people and organizations coming together to take counsel on how we can leverage the crisis of the coronavirus pandemic into an opportunity for human renewal and increased resilience to future challenges. It is designed to generate radical collaboration between individuals and organizations dedicated to building a better world.
You’re invited to be a part of this international coalition of over 200 leaders from diverse backgrounds and 100 partner organizations representing over 10 million individuals from around the world for the launch of the Humanity Rising Global Solutions Summit on May 22, 2020.
June 20-27
UNITY WEEK, UNITED NATIONS 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Week of celebration of the UN and international efforts to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals
June 28 – July 8
NEW MINDSETS FOR A NEW WORLD
What new ideas and new modes of thinking are required for a sustainable and more resilient post pandemic world? How do we develop a new story for humanity?
If you can’t join the live conversations, all sessions will be recorded and you can access the complete video library.
The Summit will continue for as long as the pandemic lasts. This is important because world events are changing every day and it is imperative that we interact with events as they unfold. The world will shapeshift many times over the next months. We must be in a position to continue to adapt and evolve as the global situation does.
The essential imperative is that we all come together in dialogue and action to ensure that the world community seizes the opportunity to rebuild beyond the pandemic in more abundant, resilient and sustainable ways, as framed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Humanity Rising is powered by Ubiquity.
July 9 – July 20
SOLUTIONS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
What are people and organizations doing on the ground that are actually making a difference in people’s lives and in building sustainability?
July 21-31
STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE II
What have we learned? How can we be more effective? How do we build more powerful coalitions?
Each day, the Summit, an initiative of Ubiquity University, will convene for two hours from 8:00 – 10:00AM (PDT) | 5:00-7:00PM (CET) to engage in presentations, group dialogues and working groups, and will continue for as long as the pandemic lasts. It will feature daily TED Talks-style presentations from influential figures such as Jane Goodall, Charles Eisenstein and Vandana Shive as well interactive sessions with leaders from international organizations such as Synergos, Impact HUBS, World Economic Forum, Gaia Education, Humanity’s Team, Ideanco, Masterpeace, Age Nation, Pachamama Alliance, Global Ecovillage Network, Crowdsourcing Week, Heart Ambassadors, Davos Blockbase, and many more.
Our goal is to have hundreds of organizations participating and collaborating. Ubiquity President and Founder Dr. Jim Garrison explains, “The Humanity Rising Summit is an extraordinary opportunity to come together with like-minded people from around the world to consider how we can use this crisis to create a world that is more sustainable and resilient. We believe that nothing less than proactive radical collaboration is sufficient to create a truly new world beyond the pandemic.”
August 1-10
NEW MINDSETS FOR A NEW WORLD II
More ideas for change, more reframing of what we need to envision for a positive future.
August 11-20
SOLUTIONS MAKING A DIFFERENCE II
More examples of what people and organizations are doing on the ground that are actually making a difference in people’s lives and in building sustainability.
September onwards
We will evaluate and shape-shift as the circumstances warrant.