CCIS Spotlight: Indigenous Residents

The COVID Community Impact Survey (CCIS) American Indian and Alaska Native Residents Spotlight highlights the experiences and inequities faced by indigenous residents during the pandemic.

Summary of key findings

• American Indian /Alaskan Native (AI/AN) residents faced increased risk of COVID-19 exposure from working outside the home and were less likely to have adequate employer protection for personal protective equipment (PPE) and other risk mitigation measures when compared to white, non-Hispanic/non-Latinx residents. They were also more likely to report being extremely worried about getting COVID-19.
• AI/AN residents faced some of the worst economic challenges: They were hit hardest by employment related changes among all race groups and had some of the highest rates of need for many essential items, such as accessing face masks, medication, and access to internet. Compared to white non-Hispanic/non-Latinx respondents, AI/AN respondents were more likely to have experienced job loss, concern for paying bills, and almost twice as likely to worry about obtaining groceries.
• COVID-19 has exacerbated the mental health needs of AI/AN groups. Compared to white non-Hispanic/non-Latinx respondents, AI/AN respondents were more likely to report more frequent days of poor mental health, while also being more likely to experience delays in routine mental health care, and other kinds of medical care.
• The wide geographic spread of AI/AN residents - across more than 130 geographically and demographically diverse communities in Massachusetts - has made it challenging to identify and reach these residents. In these communities, AI/AN residents typically make up less than a fraction of a percent of the population overall, making purely geographic interventions less useful.

Spotlight slides and webinar

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Additional Resources

CCIS Webinar Slides: Discrimination & Race Spotlights