About this story: In the spring of 2020, we at the Northwest Native American Center of Excellence at Oregon Health & Sciences University (NNACoE) and the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB) began to hear from our communities that messaging was needed around COVID-19 precautions and its impact on our traditional practices and ways of life. We created a series of 6 PSAs to address the most important issues based on input from tribes and health experts. These stories were made by Indigenous people for Indigenous people by drawing on cultural strengths and through our respect and care for each other and our communities. Our first five PSAs focused on specific COVID-19 messaging related to protecting ourselves and our communities, while the final PSA was a thank you to our communities, which utilized community-sourced footage to highlight our resilience throughout the pandemic. We are featuring our MASK UP PSA and our RESILIENCE PSA (final PSA) as we feel that both stories speak to uniquely important aspects of the project and share messages that are especially relevant today.

Watch and read more about these videos:

MASK UP

Getting fully vaccinated and masking up is the best way to protect our community and the quickest way to end the pandemic. For generations we have relied on our communities for strength in times of hardship. Now it is time for us to protect our communities and be strong for them.

Starring:
Celena McCray (Navajo)

Colin Donald (Osage/Ponca)

James Alan Parker (Chippewa-Cree)

Jack Malstrom (Akimel O’odham and Yaqui)

Jacqueline Left Hand Bull (Sicangu Oyate (Lakota) Tribe)

Tommy Ghost Dog (Oglala Lakota/Paiute)

Written by:
Buffalo Nickel Creative (@buffalo_nickel_creative), NNACOE (@nativehealthohsu) & NPAIHB (@npaihb)

Executive Producers:
Erik Brodt, MD (Anishinaabe/Minnesota Chippewa) (@ebrodt)

Sarah Rasmussen-Rehkopf (Quileute/Makah) (@sarahrsquared)

Caitlin Donald (Osage/Ponca) (@ohcaito)

Music by:

Joe Rainey, Sr. (Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians) (@rainmanmnx33)

Directed, Edit & Mix: Robert A. Cuadra (@elcuad)

Co-Directed, Producer: Evan Kinkel (@evanwk)

Cinematography/DP: Everett Nate Yockey (@everettnateyockey)

1st AC: Jesse Tobler (@jessetobler)

Hair & Makeup: Camille Rowe (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe/Oglala Lakota) (@camillevstyle)

PA: Lena Walsh (@_lenawalsh)

Catering: Tamale Boy (@tamaleboypdx) & Bison Coffee House (@bisoncoffeehouse)

Special Thanks to:

Justin Leach from Cool Hand Studios (@coolhandstudiopdx)

EMME STUDIO/Korina Emmerich (Puyallup) (@korinaemmerich) for the beautiful masks!

RESILIENCE

Thank you for protecting our culture, our communities, and our ways of life. This is our love letter to you, our community. Through the uncertainty, through the rapid change, and through the many ups and downs from this past year, YOU remained resilient.

Special Thanks to:

Every single video, message, and photo you, the community, sent in! It was truly an honor to witness the beauty that is each of your lives, in a bite-size digital media format. Thank you for sharing your materials with us; whether it was featured in this video or not, please know that you are deeply valued and appreciated.

Featuring:

Acosia Red Elk (Confederated Tribes of Umatilla)

Toma Villa (Yakama)

Katie & Anna Harris and the Harris family (Nez Perce/Cayuse/Umatilla/Karuk)

Kelsey Motanic, MD (Confederated Tribes of Umatilla)

The Culbertson family (Modoc/Paiute/Karuk & Northern Arapaho/Fort Peck Tribes)

Dr. Allison Empey M.D. (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde)

Directed, Edited & Music Mix:

Robert A. Cuadra @elcuad

Drone photography:

Christina Uh @uchri.stina (Mayan/ Navajo) & Robert A. Cuadra

Additional footage:

AI/AN Community submissions

Producers:

Erik Brodt, MD (Anishinaabe/Minnesota Chippewa) @ebrodt,

Sarah Rasmussen-Rehkopf (Quileute/Makah) @sarahrsquared

Caitlin Donald (Osage/Ponca) @ohcaito

Music by: Joe Rainey, Sr. (Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians) @rainmanmnx33

Additional Music: NATIVE STATE OF MIND from Sonic Collective & 100% Clearance through Audiio

Written by: NNACOE @nativehealthohsu, NPAIHB @npaihb & AIAN Community