Abstract:

It is well documented that American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/First Nations, known as Indigenous Peoples, have among the most significant health disparities in the world. Clinical services for these populations are typically underfunded, and Indigenous Peoples often have preexisting and co-occurring health conditions. These factors combined with a multitude of social inequities make Indigenous communities extremely susceptible to infectious diseases, including COVID- 19. The importance of exercising Indigenous self-determination, public health authority, and population health sovereignty is emphasized.