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 this show, Leah is joined by her spouse, Daniel Lemm (Lower Sioux Indian Community), to remember and reflect on some of the wisdom and insights shared by the many guests to this program over the last 14 months. 

We recall our early conversation with James Vukelich (Turtle Mountain Band), a linguist and educator, who reminded us to keep in mind the joy of small moments, even as we all faced the uncertainty of the pandemic.

Susan Beaulieu (Red Lake Nation) who works for the UMN Extension, offered great perspectives about meeting challenges, with compassion for self and others, and reminded us to keep breathing!

We were moved by Laz Carreon, RN, who heads the COVID team at the Indian Health Board (IHB) of Minneapolis, as he recounted the relief and joy among health care workers, as vaccinations arrived, following so many months of exhausting work caring for patients.

We appreciated hearing how Indian Health Service (IHS) rose to meet the logistical challenges of vaccine distribution, as told by Daniel Frye (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), the Director of Indian Health Services for the Bemidji Area.

We are thankful for the leadership of so many, including Patina Park (Mnicoujou Lakota) who is Director of Tribal State Relations and Systems Implementation at the State of Minnesota, and who reminded us that we can always learn from hardship.

Chi Miigwech to all our guests on this program, to our Tribal leaders and ancestors, and to all of you who shared your time and attention listening. Gigaawaabamin!

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