Host Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) is back exploring how Indian Country in MN is responding and adapting to the current pandemic health crisis.

On today’s show, Leah talks with Mariah Norwood (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) who is the Infectious Disease American Indian Liaison at the Minnesota Department of Health. Mariah Norwood is also a J.D. Candidate at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law, and has a Master’s in Health Administration from the University of Oklahoma. 

Mariah explains how their passion for decolonizing public health, advancing health equity, promoting Tribal data sovereignty, makes them a fervent advocate for community-led change in the health system. 

In our conversation, Mariah offers examples of how Tribal approaches have led the way in caring for communities and confronting the health crisis brought on by the pandemic.  

Mariah’s enthusiasm is inspiring, as they make the case for why this all matters, and how Indigenous perspectives and practices can positively impact public health care systems for Native and non-Native people and communities. Miigwech, Mariah!

Listen to past COVID-19 Community Conversations here: https://minnesotanativenews.org/category/community-conversations/