Voices of Native Nations in the Southwest during the COVID-19 Pandemic
This podcast series amplifies Indigenous voices and experiences of resilience and mental wellbeing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stories from first responders, educators, traditional knowledge holders and practitioners, and the substance use recovery community highlight challenges faced, lessons learned, and culturally rooted approaches to healing.
Each episode also provides information on local services and resources available to Indigenous communities in northern Arizona.
This podcast was funded through Project HOPE and created by Northern Arizona University’s Center for Community Health and Engaged Research (CHER) in collaboration with Tribal members from the Hopi Tribe and Navajo Nation.
Podcasting since 2025 • 7 episodes
Voices of Native Nations in the Southwest during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Latest Episodes
How Showing Up Matters
In this episode, we interview De Lyssa Begay, an educator who reflects on the profound challenges and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, likening the experience to the uncertainty of their first year teaching. She shares how empathy,...
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Episode 2
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40:27
Teaching through Uncertainty
In this heartfelt episode, Tiffany Tracy, an educator from the Navajo Nation reflects on the profound lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, from the challenges of remote teaching to the importance of communication. She shares how the cr...
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Episode 3
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35:54
Resilience Rooted in Tradition
In this episode, we speak with Dr. David Tsosie, a traditional knowledge holder and member of the Navajo Nation. Dr. Tsosie reflects on the impact of COVID-19 within his community, emphasizing the limitations of ceremonial practices in addressi...
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Episode 7
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58:56
Protecting Community, Preserving Health
In this episode, we speak with Joyce Hamilton, director of the Hopi Department of Health and Human Services and a dedicated member of the Hopi community. During the pandemic, Joyce led the Community Health Representative Program—one of the few ...
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Episode 6
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23:54
Frontline Leadership on the Hopi Reservation
In this episode, we speak with Beatrice Norton, a frontline worker from the Hopi Reservation. During the pandemic, Beatrice served as the manager of the Office of Aging and Adult Services for the Hopi Tribe and chairwoman of the Oraibi Village ...
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Episode 5
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30:46