Coronavirus Resources

Support for Tribal Nations

Contact for Tribal Nations: Dan Lewis (Diné), danlewis@arizona.edu, 602-399-9072

  • Hosted by University of Arizona Health Sciences and Banner University Medical Center on 4/8.
  • Purpose of townhall was to bring together clinicians and administrative leadership from Indian Health Service (IHS) and Tribally Operated 638 clinics, as well as health centers and hospitals that serve Arizona’s tribal communities to discuss their needs and ideas related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The Town Hall provided clinical insights, detailed information on PPE resources and requests, and the availability of telemedicine consultations for COVID-19 care.
  • On 3/30, a shipment of more than 13,000 gloves, 300 masks, 200 bottles of hand sanitizer, medical grade cleaning supplies, and an assortment of non-perishable food was sent to the Navajo Nation to assist in addressing a severe COVID-19 outbreak.
  • The gloves were donated by Campus Health and Arizona Athletics, while non-perishable food was collected from faculty and staff across campus. The masks were sewn by a local Tucson seamstress (@SalvagedByChrystine) and hand sanitizer was produced by the V&V Lab in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
  • The university is continuing to respond to requests from other Arizona tribes.
  • V&V Lab in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has provided several batches of hand sanitizer for the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. 
  • All hand sanitizer is made using World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
  • The University of Arizona Health Sciences assembled and shipped 250 COVID-19 test kits to the Navajo Nation.
  • UArizona leadership and medical personnel are discussing a shipment of test kits for the Hopi Tribe. 
  • Additional test kits are available and will be provided to Tribal Nations who express a need for testing resources. 
  • Dr. Robbins recorded a 60-second Public Service Announcement (PSA) addressing Tribal Nations and conveying the university’s support. Beginning the week of April 6, the PSA is airing on tribal radio stations across the state.
  • The Office of Research, Innovation and Impact (RII) has advised all research on tribal lands to be halted. Several tribes have issued Executive Orders to enact closures and curfews and this directive is in support of the current protocols being observed by sovereign nations. 

Support for Native American Students

  • The Office of the CIO has been working tirelessly to upgrade WiFi hotspots across Arizona for use by UArizona students.
  • The following locations have received WiFi upgrades: Parker, San Carlos (Apache Nation), Maricopa County, Yuma County, Navajo County (Holbrook), Kykotsmovi (Hopi Tribe), Apache County (St. Johns), Tuba City (Navajo Nation), Coconino County, and Pinal County (Casa Grande).
  • WiFi upgrades in the following locations are currently being worked on: Window Rock (Navajo Nation), Shiprock, NM (Navajo Nation), Peach Springs (Hualapai Nation), Cochise County (Wilcox), Yavapai County (Camp Verde), Gila County (Globe), Graham County (Solomon), Greenlee County (Duncan), Mohave County (Kingman), Pima County (Green Valley), Santa Cruz County (Nogales), Yavapai County (Prescott), Blue Ridge Unified School District (Lakeside), Maricopa Ag Center, Yuma Ag Center, and Safford Ag Center.
  • Additional WiFi resources can be found on the Tech Resources for Online Learning page, including UA WiFi and Eduroam network locations and Public Library WiFi Availability throughout Arizona.
  • The University of Arizona Libraries is allowing students to borrow technology from a distance. Any student in need of a PC or Mac laptop is able to have a loaner device shipped to them.
  • If you know of a Native student in need of a laptop, please contact Robyn Huff-Eibl at rhuffeib@arizona.edu or 520-626-1409.
  • UITS is currently working on a process to provide students with Mifi devices, which provide students with portable broadband access. These devices may not work in very remote areas where signal strength is low but will benefit students in less remote areas who do not have broadband internet.
  • When Mifi devices are ready to be loaned to students, details on requesting a device will be shared with students.
  • As of April 10, 2020 the Fuel the Response for Arizona Students has raised $374,836 from 868 donors. Students experiencing financial crises can apply for funding using a quick online form managed by the Dean of Students Office. Thus far, 554 students have applied for funding with the majority of requests being approved.  

Wi-Fi Hotspots for Students on the Navajo and Hopi Nations

Native American students with little or no Internet at home can now access Wi-Fi hotspots on the Navajo and Hopi nations to continue their classes online.

Northern Arizona University recently got clearance from Navajo and Hopi leadership to extend Wi-Fi from buildings to parking lots in select locations, allowing students to access online classes from their vehicles while practicing social distancing.

These parking-lot hotspots are open to students from any K12 and college institution and will provide internet access for any mobile device, including laptops and smartphones.

For more information, contact the Office of Native American Initiatives at 928-523-3849, or reach out to Chad Hamill, Vice President of the Office of Native American Initiatives by phone or email at Chad.Hamill@nau.edu

  • Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Chinle District Office
  • Diné College Chinle Campus (Request access by emailing the  Office of the President for Diné College at Officeofthepresident@dinecollege.edu)
  • Navajo Technical University Chinle Campus
  • Diné College Crownpoint Campus (Request access by emailing the  Office of the President for Diné College at Officeofthepresident@dinecollege.edu)
  • Navajo Technical University Crownpoint Campus
  • Navajo Tribal Utility Authority District Office
  • Holbrook High School
  • Holbrook Junior High School
  • Hulet Elementary
  • Park Elementary
  • Indian Wells Elementary
  • Holbrook District Office
  • Kykotsmovi (Peace Academic Center)
  • Polacca Community Center, Village of Tewa

WiFi Map