Journey through pandemic
By: Savannah Jacobs
Tribal affiliation: Oglala Lakota
Major: Political Science
This isn’t what we signed up for. The COVID-19 pandemic has paid a toll on in-state and out-of-state students. It’s important to recognize that our Indigenous community at Arizona State consists of students from all across the country. We are all facing struggles whether it’s with academia, financial aid, unemployment, home travel, family concerns, or staying safe.
I’m from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. I traveled 18 hours back home, which is equivalent to 1,133 miles. It’s not easy coming back to my thiwáhe (family) of seven people, myself included. Being away for two years, you learn to adapt to your own way of “surviving” off reservation. It’s a constant battle of slow internet connection, balancing óta (a lot) chores that you have to accept living under the same roof, lack of understanding that education comes first, a learning environment that isn’t quiet anymore, and my typical monthly family battles. In other words, it’s a tug of war between my anxiety and sanity.
It’s a difficult time to suddenly change your daily lifestyle. Although it may be a chaotic tornado right now, it’s important to help our community, family members, students and the future of Indigenous peoples. It’s important to recognize ways we are contributing and overcoming this pandemic. Wačhéčičhiye, Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ (all my relations, I am praying for you).
Mariah McGhee
Tribal affiliation: Yankton Sioux
Major: Business Entrepreneurship
COVID-19 has definitely affected me as an out-of-state student. I am from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. When I heard all of our classes transitioned online, I was super nervous because learning from a screen is almost impossible for me. Though I have been doing it for weeks now, I’m getting used to it but I don’t think it’s very beneficial for learning.
I transitioned my student worker position to online and was temporarily laid off from my second job. I came back to South Dakota where I’ve been spending a lot of time with my grandparents. My family recently found out that my grandma was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer. I want to spend all of the time that I can with her. Being back home does have its downsides as an online student as my grandma’s house doesn’t have internet connection and it is two hours from my mom’s house. Normally I would be able to drive to a Starbucks to connect to free WiFi, but everything is closed during this time due to the coronavirus.
Despite the challenges, I overcome them by driving back and forth between my mom’s and grandma’s house every other day to get my schoolwork done. During this time, I hope everyone is taking time for themselves and if you are surrounded by family make sure you are being present and actually spending time with them. I am using this time for self care, spending time with my family, and focusing on my schoolwork. If I do leave the house for essential purposes, I am taking extreme precautions with limiting touching, washing my hands religiously, and wearing a face mask.
Kaitlyn Holtsoi
Tribal affiliation: Diné
Major: Political Science, American Indian Studies
Everything seems so hectic and unsure right now. I know a lot of my issues with everything going on is minuscule to others’ suffering. In comparison to healthcare workers and those unemployed and homeless, I know my issues aren’t nearly as bad. But I miss a lot of things. I miss going to the movies. Like many others, I would go to the movies to check out of reality for a couple of hours and now that it is gone, it is difficult to cope with everything. I miss my pals in class and hanging out with them in the evenings. This one is more manageable, but I still miss seeing them in person. I also dearly miss going to baseball games!
Despite all of these things being absent in my life, I am still grateful for the privileges I have while in quarantine. I have access to so much more than most people do right now. While I am overwhelmed with fear and nervousness, I am also overwhelmed with a strong sense of community and hope. I see how my tribal leadership is handling things back home and it makes me proud to know there are leaders on the frontlines helping us out.
I am hopeful and remaining optimistic, but it also scares me that elders in the community might not know the risks. These issues are on my mind at all times and it is hard not to worry, but I do my best to occupy myself in other ways which brings me to the positive part of all this! I have started new shows and re-watching favorites. I am also listening to new podcasts and keeping up with my favorites. I have more time to read and to apply for scholarships and internships. These are all things I could not enjoy as much if the world was not at a standstill right now. So that is always a bright side!
While I am constantly fearful and anxious, I am reassured by my Navajo language professor, my parents and other tribal leaders. They impart wisdom on mindset and prayer, and how greatly that can change our mood and outlook. I am just imagining the day when the cases start appearing less frequently and we hear that more people are recovering. I keep imagining the day when people are allowed to go back in public and be able to gather. I keep imagining the day when the hope and sense of overcoming vastly outweigh our fear and dread. That is another thing keeping my spirits up.
Baylee LaCompte, Išnála Nážiŋ Wiŋ (Stands Alone Woman)
Tribal affiliation: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Lakȟóta
MS American Indian Studies (Indigenous Rights and Social Justice)
Haŋ, mitákuyepi, čhaŋté waštéya napé čhiyuzapi. Lakȟóta čhažé Išnála Nážiŋ Wiŋ, éyaš wašíčuya čhažé Baylee LaCompte emačíyapi, na waníyetu wikčémna núpa sum yámni. Íŋyaŋ Woslál Háŋ Oyáte emátaŋhaŋ, na Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟóta Oyáte emátaŋhaŋ. Makáȟleča él wathí, na Matȟó Očhíŋšiča Thiyóšpaye emátaŋhaŋ.
Hello, my friends and relatives, I shake your hand with good feelings in my heart. My Lakȟóta name is Stands Alone Woman, but my English name is Baylee LaCompte, and I am twenty-three winters old. I am from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and Camps at and the End of the Horn is my band. I permanently reside in McLaughlin, South Dakota, and I come from the Mad Bear Extended Family.
I am a first-year graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in American Indian Studies with an emphasis on Indigenous Rights and Social Justice. Initially, I lived at the Polytechnic Campus and utilized the library, the American Indian Student Support Services (AISSS), and the ASU Counseling Services. My ASU experience has been significantly impacted by COVID-19, since I am unable to utilize the quiet study area in the library and the printing services in AISSS in a confident manner. I decided to isolate and move in with family here in Arizona due to the outbreak.
At this time, I feel unsafe traveling back home to Standing Rock, because the risk of spreading the virus to the people is tremendously high. Although the current situation is not ideal, I am looking at it optimistically by keeping a positive attitude and finishing the semester strong through peace and prayer. In the meantime, I am utilizing this time to work on course work, beading my next Jingle Dress regalia set, and dancing and praying for the people to have the strength and good health during this pandemic. I highly encourage everyone to practice good hygiene, to stay home and to remember our traditional teachings as the original inhabitants and caretakers of Iná Makȟá, “Mother Earth.” Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ — All My Relations.
Daangoiina Haven
Tribal affiliation: Diné
Exercise and Wellness, College of Health Solutions
Yá’át’ééh. Ádoone’é nishłínigii ’éí Naaki Dine’é nishłį dóó Honagháanii báshíshchíín, Kachina Clan dashicheii dóó Tó’dich’íi’nii dashinálí. Daangoiina Haven yinishyé. Lók’aah Niteel dęę’ naashá. Ákóte’éego Diné asdzání nishłį.
Greetings! My clans are the Mexican Clan born for the One Who Walks Around Clan. My maternal grandfather is the Kachina Clan (from Hopi) and my paternal grandfather is the Bitter Water Clan. My name is Daangoiina Haven, originally from Ganado, Arizona. In this way, I identify myself as a Navajo woman.
In the Navajo culture, alongside many other Native cultures, we are taught to be resilient during the tough times, to be family-centered and to respect all living things. It is empowering teachings passed on through our people’s knowledge. With the support from my loving family and my self-determination, I have competed with the nation’s best in both Division 1 cross country and track and field. I’ve failed from being the last competitor to cross the line to finishing as ASU’s top run runner consecutively. Academically I have continued to improve my perseverance to maintain success through the classroom and in professional settings.
That is until Dikos Ntsaaígíí-19 changed the daily life of my little world and billions of people around the world. My outdoor track and field season was cancelled. Even the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, a huge gathering for sports, was postponed. What a catastrophe! COVID-19 has influenced that Mother Earth needs a break from man-made destructing impacts and to allow her to begin a healing process. On the other hand, COVID-19 has suppressed dreams and opportunities for our young people and has scarified family time for those serving on the frontlines in hospitals, grocery stores, transportation systems and more.
In the meantime, my athletic dreams are not over. I am taking the time to focus on the important things in life. I am learning Diné bizaad, how to weave, focusing more on school, and reflecting on self-care. It breaks my heart to not be with my family back home during this time or to hug my mom or spend a home-cooked meal with my family watching Grease or Selena. Or to visit my grandparents and share stories about their upbringing in life.
As I reminisce about the competitive field of running against the nation’s best and spending time with my family, I am also a health advocate to put safety first before the risks. In Navajo teachings, it is important that we think positive thoughts, plan ahead, pay attention to our surroundings, and pray for our loved ones and those on the frontlines. All of my life teachings lead to one Navajo instruction: T’áá hó ’ájit’éego t’éiyá. Self-effort that you exert is up to you. Lead with your teachings and model the importance of instruction. Ádaa ’áhólyą́ (Take care of yourself).
