The COVID-19 Pandemic in the Navajo Nation

Of all the states in the nation, Arizona and New Mexico – location of the Navajo people – and the Dakotas, home of the Lakota Sioux – are by far, THE most seriously affected by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the major reasons is lack of access to proper medical care, combined with chronic poverty, linked to poor diet compounded by lack of employment.

In non-native American communities the current unemployment rate is 8% – in the Navajo Nation, it is 80.0% – meaning for every 100 people able to work and actively seeking employment, 80 cannot, and only 20 can, and for those 20 their jobs pay just minimum wage, not really enough for a family or extended family to live on.

This poverty leads not only to chronic physical health problems, but also mental health problems. The rates of depression, suicides, alcoholism, drug abuse and early death among Native Americans are highly accelerated and have become the norm, not the exception as when compared to the rest of our country.

I ask you to contribute whatever you can to help these people who are so close to me. Every gift is deeply appreciated and no gift is too small. Credit cards won’t work for now, we’re just getting started, and of course you should never send cash, but a check or money order will do well. – Dr. James R. Bowman, ND DiHOM

My family heritage is in large part tied to the Native American cultures. I am one-quarter Navajo and one-quarter Lakota Sioux. I was born in Detroit, Michigan, my father was one-half German and one-half Navajo.

My father was a police officer. He died in the line of duty when I was four years old. Because my mother could no longer remain in Detroit with the memory of my father’s death, she and I moved out to New Mexico, and from the age of five until I was twelve years old, we lived on a Navajo Reservation.

That is where my interest in Native American healing and herbal medicine began, and it set me on the path for my further studies in medicine and alternative healing methods. I earned my MD degree in Germany, after serving in the U.S. Army in Berlin.

When I completed my medical studies I knew there was more to health and healing besides drugs and surgery, they have their place, but I knew there was more to learn in order to really understand health and promote real healing, not just treat symptoms with drugs.

Because of this I spent many years after my medical training and discovered the rest of the story: homeopathic medicine, enzyme therapy, detoxification, advanced nutritional therapy, advanced herbal medicine, stress reduction and more.

Finally I felt I knew what I needed to know to be the kind of doctor I envisioned, I felt I was finally trained in what people needed to understand their health and to heal.I returned to the United States and began practicing as a doctor.

I’m telling you this because I want you to understand my background, my education and my passion for healing in the safest, most effective way, but that brings me back to my Navajo roots.

In Western medicine we have the Hippocratic Oath and the first sentence of that states: FIRST DO NO HARM. In Native American healing, that is also the first principle – TO HELP, NEVER HARM.

Because of the loss of original culture, original lifestyle, original language and self-determination, all Native Americans have suffered unimaginable harm and have been relegated to sub-poverty existence in remote areas of America which barely support life and health.

I am posting this information now on our Facebook pages and our office website to share this information with you, to help you understand the dangers of the current COVID-19 pandemic on our most vulnerable citizens in America, the Native American peoples.

The infection rate, the death rate, the physical and emotional consequences of COVID-19 are exponentially greater among these people than for any other demographic in American culture – this is why more help than ever is needed.

My Proposal: Just as there are “GO FUND ME” events for people with special, critical needs, I am working to establish something like that specifically for the Navajo and Lakota Sioux people who are American citizens and who need and deserve our best help, not to be marginalized again in such a critical time because of the pandemic.

I am asking for your help. Money alone will note cure the problems, other assistance and supports will be needed, but money is one powerful way to begin the process.

I ask you to contribute whatever you can to help these people who are so close to me. Every gift is deeply appreciated and no gift is too small. Credit cards won’t work for now, we’re just getting started, and of course you should never send cash, but a check or money order will do well.

Consider your circumstances, consider what you are able to do to help our fellow citizens of Native American origin, and send a check or money order made out either to the Navajo Nation or the Lakota Sioux Nation, whichever group you wish to help. Forward the gift to us at Dr. James R. Bowman, Navajo/Lakota Sioux Assistance, 2926 Post Road, Suite C, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481 USA.

Those gifts will then be organized and coordinated by us and distributed to the Navajo Nation or the Lakota Sioux Nation respectively and used to help those in greatest need. These gifts can literally save lives. They are not tax free at this time, although we hope to have that status in the future.

If you have any questions which we can answer to help your further understanding please contact us at: nemedicinecenter @ gmail.com.

Thank you, bless you, we cannot adequately express our thanks and gratitude to you for helping such a deserving but vulnerable people. All God’s blessing upon you and your families.