MESSAGE FROM CHAIRMAN LADD EDMO OF THE FORT HALL BUSINESS COUNCIL

March 22, 2020

As the Chairman of the Fort Hall Business Council, I am addressing the tribal membership directly to ensure you all that the Tribal Government is taking the necessary measures regarding the COVID-19. We are entering into challenging and difficult times. This new public health crisis is going to dramatically impact the lifestyle and behaviors of our community and I want to explain here more of the difficult decisions that have and will be made in the next few weeks.

This is not the first pandemic to impact our people. In the early 1900s, influenza killed many of our youth and elders, as reflected in our census records. With today’s education, knowledge and technology, we aim to avoid such devastating impacts from COVID-19.
Tribal staff have been focused on developing and implementing strategies to ensure sanitary government facilities and reduction of exposure to the virus. Departments and programs are actively working together and following national, regional, state and local trends to ensure accurate, effective and safety recommendations are afforded to our community. The Business Council relies upon our technical staff for recommendations.

The challenge in this situation is that information is changing daily, and at times, hourly. We all are taking this global pandemic seriously because it will impact our people and communities.

As of today, March 22, 2020, we no confirmed cases of Tribal members with the Covid-19. For that, I and the Council are very thankful.

I want to assure you all that we have a plan to implement responsible measures to ensure the protection of the Tribal members and all residents on the Fort Hall Reservation and to reduce and minimize the risk of expose to the coronavirus. The plan was triggered last Friday by the first official confirmed case of an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 within a 25-mile radius of the exterior boundaries of the Fort Hall Reservation. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes is now going into partial tribal government shutdown. Our Tribal Executive Director, Elese Teton, is working directly with Tribal directors to finalize those essential departmental plans on Monday. Full time, part-time, and temporary employees will receive their benefits and salary for two weeks during this time of self-isolation. Further assessments will determine if extensions will be made.

In the event we get a confirmed case within the interior boundaries of the Fort Hall Reservation, even more restrictive and protective measures will be imposed by the Fort Hall Business Council for the protection of our community. This would include “stay at home” and regular reassessments of Tribal reduced services. The Tribes will notify the tribal residents through the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) 🚨. Any information will be posted on the Tribes website, www.sbtribes.com.

Regarding the questions of the closures of our Tribal Casino — it has been a challenging and difficult decision on when to close. You may ask why? The Council and Casino Management carefully weigh the outcomes, between the public health of the community versus the long-term tribal government services that will be affected in the future. Comparison of tribal casinos to Las Vegas casino is difficult because private casino industries are for-profit, versus tribal casinos which go directly to needed governmental services. The impact to any revenue will impact Tribal government general fund programs.
The management of the Casino and Hotel is striving to maintain employment as long as possible for casino and hotel staff, rather than letting them go. They will reassign employees to conduct other tasks, within the management’s ability and limitations from the National Indian Gaming regulations. Tribal governmental employees will also be reassigned similarly.

Our Tribal departments are also changing their procedures to reduce exposure to the virus. It is not intended to offend individual tribal members, if departmental staff, including health care 🚑 professionals, do not have face-to-face interaction.

Fort Hall Police 🚔 Department, the Tribal Correction Department and the Tribal Courts are also being impacted. The Fort Hall Dispatchers will ask more questions as they take in emergency calls. Please do not be offended, as it is for the protection and safety of both the responding officers, EMS, or firefighters. They provide a crucial government service and if one of them is stricken, it affects a major section of our emergency services. I urge our community be vigilant in protecting your homes and be safe.

For immediate and long-term solutions, the Tribes have been actively lobbying to educate federal policy makers in Washington DC of the tribal impacts to the COVID-19 outbreak. For the first time ever, tribes, intertribal organizations and lobbyists are working cohesively and exhaustively to advocate to congressional lawmakers to include tribes in the three major COVID-19 series of bills. One of the major issues of concern is that federal funding was allocated to the Center of Disease Control (CDC) and to the Indian Health Service; however, there are administrative barriers to overcome and that funding has not yet funneled down to tribes. Congressional pressure to overcome administrative barriers is necessary; with a breakthrough finally occurring last Friday, March 20, with CDC agreeing to develop an interagency agreement for medical resources and funding to IHS. Congress has directed agencies to increase administrative flexibility to provide for citizen’s needs and has directed states to improve access to state-delegated services.

For example, US Food Distribution Services (Commodities) has waived its income requirements, Medicaid-Idaho has waived co-pays, and unemployment benefits now includes impacts from COVID-19. Additional waivers are likely to occur as federal agencies frantically make changes to their regulations, rules and guidance to increase availability of services. This is a rapidly evolving situation at all federal government levels.

I recognize that there are some mixed messages when it comes to social distancing and tribal ceremonial activities. I encourage our membership to continue to pray because we Newenne are strong, and will survive this. But I encourage people to make the best efforts to avoid large gatherings, and if necessary, ensure everyone is safe by maintaining physical distance during our ceremonies, especially confined spaces.

We must learn from our previous experience with pandemic diseases. The power of individual and family prayers 🙏🏾is significant and necessary to maintain our state of mind and healthy bodies. We must remain strong ✊🏽

~Respectfully your Tribal Chairman Ladd Edmo

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The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes take seriously the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) across the country, and will be doing all possible to educate the public on ways to combat and prevent this virus.

Wiley Petersen, Physician Assistant from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes CHS program, gives us an overview of Coronavirus and answers a few questions about symptoms and testing. We strongly advice you research the CDC website, as well as consult with a medical professional with any needs.

For more information on the COVID-19 or the Coronavirus please visit the CDC website or YouTube page:

CDC

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

https://www.youtube.com/user/CDCStreamingHealth

Community Health Center

http://sbtchc.org

Not-Tsoo Gah-nee Indian Health Center https://www.ihs.gov/portland/healthca/

Tribal Health and Human Services

http://www2.sbtribes.com/tribal-healt

Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

http://www.sbtribes.com

We ask all members of the community to work together to stop the spread of COVID-19, and to also check in often on your personal contacts. Together we can make a difference.

This video is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to replace the advice of your medical professional. Please reach out to them with questions or concerns. Clinic:(208)238-5494 CHC:(208)478-3863 Text: (208)530-9405

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March 20, 2020 9:30pm

SHOSHONE-BANNOCK TRIBES INITIATE A REDUCTION OF GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Office of Emergency Management (TOEM) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is actively monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 17, 2020, the Fort Hall Business Council (FHBC), the governing body of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, (Tribes) passed a resolution declaring a State of Emergency within the Fort Hall Reservation. On the same date, TOEM activated their EOC.

The Tribal Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service and Community Health Center (HRSA), working as a unified command, developed and initiated an incident action plan for the COVID-19 outbreak.

On March 20, 2020, the Tribes received official notification from the Southeast Idaho Public Health, Region 6 that a positive case of COVID-19 located within 25 miles of the Fort Hall Reservation boundary. This 25 mile threshold met the criteria in the Tribes Incident Action Plan which leads to a reduction in Tribal governmental services to protect the health and welfare of the Fort Hall community effective immediately.

If any Tribal government employee has further questions, they can call 208-244-8327 for employment-related concerns.

In addition, the Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel has made the decision to close the Gaming Floor of the Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel (main casino located at I-15 Exit 80 in Fort Hall) last night at 1:00am under advisement of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Emergency Operations Center and Fort Hall Business Council.

The Hotel will be the only entity of the property that will remain open for existing reservations until further notice with limited availability. All food outlets, bingo, spa, coffee kiosk and all other additional amenities will be closed.

In addition, the Sage Hill Casino in Blackfoot will also be closing at 1:00am. As previously released, the Bannock Peak Casino, located in Arbon Valley, on I-86 Exit 52 just west of Pocatello, will also remain closed until further notice.

Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel is committed to the health and safety of our Community, Guests and Team Members. We will be utilizing this weekend to deep clean all properties and assess the situation early next week as to when we will be reopening.

The FHBC urges everyone to self-isolate and observe social distancing and call your medical provider if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 as described by the CDC guidelines. The Southeast Idaho Public Health has opened a call center to field questions from the community and can be reached at 208-234-5875 or at https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/.

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SHOSHONE-BANNOCK TRIBES DECLARE STATE OF EMERGENCY

Fort Hall- On March 17, 2020, the Fort Hall Business Council (Council) has declared State of Emergency (resolution FHBC-2020-0202) for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes (Tribes). The Council is aware of that every member of the Fort Hall community plays an important role in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting other community members, especially elders and individuals with underlying medical conditions. The Tribes are committed to the health, safety, and welfare of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Office of Emergency Management Operation Center was activated on March 17, 2020 at 10:30AM and is coordinating resources across the reservation and working with the State of Idaho, including the Public Health Department and local tribal officials in alleviating the impacts to people, property, and infrastructure, and is assessing the magnitude and long-term effects of the incident.

The Tribal Emergency Operation Plan will be implemented due to the imminent threat to public health, safety, and welfare arising from the risks of the COVID-19. As per the Emergency Operation Plan, this includes Emergency Support Function (ESF) 6 Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, and Human Services and ESF 8 Public Health and Medical Services.

The COVID-19 emergency requires Federal and State emergency assistance to support our local efforts to protect, life and to avert and lessen the threat of the emergency within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. A State of Emergency allows the Tribes to access Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds at a 75% federal cost share. In addition, the Tribes may also request a waiver of their 25% cost share and allows Health and Human Services (HHS) to release national stockpiles and waive certain Medicare, Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program requirements.

During this State of Emergency, we strongly urge individuals to be diligent in preventing the COVID-19 spread and follow the CDC guidelines of social distancing, proper hand washing, and staying home as much as possible. We highly recommend refraining from personal travels to any known high-risk areas that have an outbreak.