COVID-19 in Indian Country
A federal judge's decision is a win for federally recognized tribal governments and clarifies that Alaska Native corporations are not tribal governments.

'The Coronavirus Relief Fund we passed in the CARES Act is meant to ensure Tribal and Alaska Native governments have the resources they need to continue government services and save the lives of those in their community,' Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona) said.

'Federally recognized tribal governments, across the United States including in Alaska, work daily to help mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic," Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr said in connection with an $8 billion coronavirus relief fund.

'Federally-recognized tribes stood together to oppose the actions of the Department of the Treasury in another attempt to undermine the first citizens of this country, but our voices were heard and Indigenous people prevailed today!' said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.

A federal judge has issued a decision in the closely-watched CARES Act lawsuit, barring the Trump administration from disbursing an $8 billion coronavirus relief fund to for-profit corporations.

Many Tribes depend on the businesses they own and operate to fund essential services in Indian Country because Tribal governments, unlike state and local governments, do not have a traditional tax base.

Three Indian nations whose businesses were excluded from the first round of the Paycheck Protection Program filed suit against the Trump administration on April 23, 2020.

Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) announced that small tribal gaming enterprises under 500 employees can now apply for financial relief through the Payment Protection Program, a move welcomed by tribal leaders.

The Ute Tribe filed a third CARES Act lawsuit on April 23, 2020, as a federal judge weighs the fate of an $8 billion coronavirus relief fund.

'We appreciate the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Small Business Administration for working with us to allow Indian gaming enterprises to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program.'

Following calls from Senator Kyrsten Sinema, the Treasury Department and the Small Business Administration reversed course and made administrative changes to allow Tribal gaming operations to apply for and receive Paycheck Protection Program funding.

Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) announced that small tribal gaming enterprises under 500 employees can now apply for financial relief through the Payment Protection Program.

The Small Business Administration published an interim final rule including a change to their guidance regarding the Paycheck Protection Program that would make most tribal gaming operations eligible.

The Small Business Administration on April 24, 2020, updated guidance for the Paycheck Protection Program, ensuring participation from small tribal gaming operations.

The Trump administration has determined that Alaska Native corporations can receive shares of the $8 billion coronavirus relief fund promised to tribal governments. In a brief filed at a 5pm Eastern deadline, government attorneys said the Department of the Treasury finally resolved the question that has been on everyone’s minds since the controversy blew up […]

Join Native America Calling at 1pm Eastern on April 23, 2020, for a discussion on COVID-19 relief promised to tribes. Scheduled guests include Chairman Harold Frazier of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe andChief Mike Williams of the  Akiak Native Community. Both tribes are suing the Trump administration over the handling of an $8 billion coronavirus […]

The Navajo Nation has joined 10 other tribes in a lawsuit against the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, regarding $8 billion in federal COVID-19 funding. 

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe are suing the Trump administration over its handling of an $8 billion coronavirus relief fund.

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe are among the poorest and most vulnerable Tribal nations in the country

As part of their new CARES Act lawsuit, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe have filed a sealed motion in federal court.