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Special Issue 13 • March 26, 2021 Tribal Council Amends Emergency Declaration
Resolution No. M70-2021-P032
Amended and Supplemental COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Emergency Declaration
WHEREAS, the Zuni Tribal Council, the pandemic spread of COVID-19. emergency and invoked her authority consisting of the Governor, Lieutenant On April 3, 2020, Governor Val R. under New Mexico's All Hazard Governor and six Tenientes, is Panteah, Sr., issued an Executive Emergency Management Act; declared to be the legislative authority Order, a curfew within the boundaries of the Zuni Tribe by Article V, Sections of the Zuni Reservation between NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, 1 and 2 of the Constitution of the 8:00p.m. and 5:00a.m.; and, that in addition to directions given in Zuni Tribe; and, Resolution No. M70-2020-P037, the WHEREAS, the COVID-19 emergency Tribal Council directs the following: WHEREAS, the Zuni Tribal Council is continues as there have been 1,195 authorized to approve, provide and to diagnosed cases at Zuni and 52 deaths 1. All of Zuni Community members represent the tribe, and to act in all with no end in sight, this Amended will wear face coverings while matters that concern the welfare of the Declaration incorporates and updates out in public and around public tribe by Article VI, Section 1, Resolution No. M70-2020-P037 and places at all times or when in paragraph d of the Constitution of the the Governor's Executive Order of contact with persons whom they Zuni Tribe; and, April 13, 2020; and, are not living with in the same household. (CDC Coronavirus WHEREAS, the Zuni Tribal Council is WHEREAS, the Zuni Tribal Council Disease 2019 (COVID-19) authorized to enact ordinances, to has determined that the COVID-19 Recommendations for Wearing provide for the enforcement of tribal pandemic continues to pose an Cloth Face Coverings, Help Slow ordinances and to provide by imminent threat to the health, safety the Spread of Covid-19, ordinance the orderly management of and well-being of the Zuni Tribe and Updated March 8, 2021). This tribal affairs by Article VI, Section 1, Community; and, directive includes Zunis paragraphs k, I and m of the participating in traditional and Constitution of the Zuni Tribe; and, WHEREAS, the State of New Mexico cultural and religious activities. has continued to report numerous WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020 under confirmed cases of COVID·19, and 2. Meetings of twenty (20) or more Resolution No. M70-2020-P037, the deaths as a result of COVID-19, and people are prohibited unless Zuni Tribe declared that there was a Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has public health emergency related to declared a statewide public health Declaration continues on page 3
PRESORTED STANDARD To reach the Pueblo of Zuni COVID-19 information U.S. POSTAGE PAID center, open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., call: Post Office Boxholder PERMIT # 3 ZUNI, NM Zuni, New Mexico 87327 (303) 917-3181, (505) 782-7114, or (720) 576-4014
Declaration continues from page 1
More College Students Now Eligible for SNAP Food Benefits Through Coronavirus Relief
Thousands of New Mexico college something that can help families for the distributes food bags twice a week. students may be eligible for SNAP remainder of the crisis. New Mexico Highlands University
(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance gives pre-boxed packages to students, Program) benefits, commonly known as New Mexico college students who would faculty and staff twice a month, and food stamps, announced the New Mexico like to apply should Santa Fe Community College’s Human Services Department and Higher visit: www.yes.state.nm.us students may visit their food pantry Education Department. weekly. Northern New Mexico College According to the 2020 University of New provides locally grown produce with “The pandemic has created many Mexico Basic Needs Insecurity Research their farm to food pantry programs. economic challenges particularly for Report, food insecurity can impact college students and families with limited academic success and student health and A January 2019 Government resources,” said Cabinet Secretary David well-being. Food insecurity is associated Accountability Office report found that at R. Scrase, M.D. “Jobs for college with lower grades and a greater likelihood least one in three college students do not students are scarce. College students of students withdrawing or otherwise always have enough to eat. Additionally, have either had their hours reduced or deferring or suspending their studies. 71 percent of college students today do lost their jobs altogether, making it difficult Students who are food insecure are less not fit the model of a “typical” college to meet their basic needs. We look likely to report a sense of belonging, more student and may be financially forward to working with the Higher likely to feel they are not welcome to independent, work at least part time, Education Department to spread the word engage with faculty, and less likely to enroll in and stay in college at a later age, and extend food benefits to New Mexico access campus services. Overall, at the or have dependent children. These college students, and urge Congress to University of New Mexico, the prevalence factors, when paired with other challenges make this a permanent change.” of food insecurity among students is 32 students face, like cost of tuition, lodging percent, with American Indian students at and/or transportation, books, and "Food insecurity should never be a barrier 52 percent, and Hispanic students at 35 supplies, can create significant barriers to to academic success," said Acting Higher percent. making ends meet. Education Department Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez. "It is our job to In New Mexico, the rate for food insecure The report includes a literature review of reflect the needs of students during this households is 16.9 percent. Many 31 studies of college hunger and pandemic and beyond, and action is vital institutions of higher education are indicated there was a range of 9-50 to ensure that no student goes hungry. working on the issue: percent of students who experienced food We’re working with our partners at insecurity on campuses, but that in 22 of colleges and universities across the state • The University of New Mexico, New these studies, food insecurity was to raise awareness about the expansion Mexico State University, New Mexico estimated to be above 30 percent of the of SNAP benefits for college students and Highlands University, Western New students surveyed. their families." Mexico University, Santa Fe Community College, and Northern The Human Services Department The Consolidated Appropriations Act of New Mexico College have provides services and benefits to more 2021, temporarily expands SNAP implemented food pantries. than 1 million New Mexicans through eligibility to include students enrolled at several programs including: the Medicaid least half-time in an institution of higher University of New Mexico’s food pantry Program, Temporary Assistance for education, who either: • began in 2014 and has served over Needy Families (TANF) Program, 8,700 students by providing free Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 1. Are eligible to participate in state or groceries once a month. New Mexico Program (SNAP), Child Support Program, federally financed work study during the State University’s food pantry and several Behavioral Health Services. regular school year, as determined by the institution of higher education, or,
2. Have an expected family contribution FLATTEN THE CURVE TOGETHER! (EFC) of $0 in the current academic year.
USE HAND SANITIZER WASH YOUR HANDS & (WITH AT LEAST 65% AVOID TOUCHING YOUR Beginning on Jan. 16, 2021, students who FACE ALCOHOL) meet one of the two criteria outlined above may receive SNAP if they meet all other financial and non-financial SNAP eligibility criteria. This eligibility will remain DISINFECT HIGH WEAR A MASK TOUCH in place until 30 days after the public SURFACES health emergency ends. Since the Biden Administration has advised that the declaration will most likely remain in place at least until the end of 2021, and states AVOID LARGE PRACTICE SOCIAL will have a 60 day notice before it ends, DISTANCING CROWDS/VISITING this policy change will more than likely be GET VACCINATED Declaration continues from page 1 during the evening curfews with the is informed through all media excepted by this Declaration. exception of Medical facilities. avenues that are available to the (Updated February 24, 2021 and Businesses will open based on their community. Public Health Order, New Mexico daily business hours up to 8:00p.m. Department of Health and New (1 hour prior to curfew coming to IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan effect at 9:00p.m.) members of the Zuni Tribe are put on Grisham 2020). Exempted from this notice that violations of the above directive are traditional cultural or 6. Evening curfews will remain in effect directions may cause members to be religious meetings / gatherings so from 9:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. daily, charged with Public Nuisance (4-4- long as all members are wearing including weekends (change in the 120), Failure to Disperse (4-4-96), and face coverings. curfew hours is due to daylight other charges as the facts may merit.
saving time and significant decrease 3. All houses of worship will in our Covid-19 daily positivity rate as IT IS FINALLY RESOLVED, that the continue with their services for per our local Health Officials). Zuni Tribal Council may review and community members only, and change the directives as reasonably strictly adhere to six (6) feet or 7. The change in Curfew hours will take appropriate to deal with this more apart from one another in or effect March 26, 2021, and the Public pandemic. outside the building, and not to exceed 50 percent (50%) capacity (Public Health Order, New Mexico Department of Health, and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's Key Health metrics and tiering system, 2021).
4. All in-person meetings between members of the Zuni Community who are not members of the same household may be held if each person is wearing a face covering and standing six (6) feet or more apart from other persons in and outside public places including places were notice is placed (CDC Guidance and Tips for Tribal Community Living During COVID- 19, Social Distancing and Coping During COVID-19, Updated March 7, 2021, and CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Guidelines on How Fully Vaccinated People Can Safely Resume, Updated March 8, 2021.
5. All businesses will be closed
ARE YOU SCHEDULED FOR THE COVID VACCINE?
IF YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT KEEP YOUR APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL ZUNI IHS AT LEAST ONE DAY IN ADVANCE
LET NO VACCINE SHOT GO TO WASTE Zuni Public School District Safe Return to Full Face-to-Face Instruction FAQs
What will the schools be doing to keep Does my child need to take their student contract is the best defense my child safe upon re-entry? district-issued computer device to in mitigating community spread school with them? within schools. In addition, each • All ZPSD school sites have met, and school has established an isolation in many cases are exceeding, current • Yes, students must bring their district- room. A student or staff member state compliance standards. State issued computer devices fully charged who begins exhibiting COVID-19– inspectors or their appointed each day, along with the device like symptoms will go there without representatives have visited all of our chargers. interacting with anyone except the school sites and approved them to isolation room monitor. The reopen. How will janitorial staff keep up with symptomatic individual should • ZPSD requires social distancing and sanitization with students and staff on remain in the isolation room until a mask wearing. Signage to facilitate campus full time? Parent or Guardian can transport the social distancing and mask mandates individual safely away from the has been posted throughout every facility. • All schools are required to maintain building, and these requirements will adequate supplies and implement be strictly enforced. Will my child be safe? daily cleaning protocols. While we • Classroom spaces have been now know that surface transmission is modified to ensure 6 feet of social rare and that airborne respiratory • Schools have in place protocols distancing when possible. droplets drive the spread of COVID- including mask-wearing, social • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 19, students and staff will continue distancing, and appropriate air is available at all ZPSD sites. washing hands frequently, and filtration upgrades to greatly reduce • Every building has hand sanitizer and facilities will be thoroughly and the likelihood of viral spread. soap/water to ensure proper hand regularly cleaned. Additionally, while children can and sanitizing/washing. do contract COVID-19, with very few • ZPSD maintains PPE, cleaning and How will cafeteria procedures be exceptions their cases are mild sanitizing supplies that all school sites affected? compared to COVID’s effects on can request at any time. adults. • ZPSD has installed portable air • Eating and drinking are high-risk filtration units in all classrooms. activities for spreading the virus. For that reason, students must be Is it mandatory that my child return to physically separated to the extent in-person learning? possible while eating meals. School sites will spread students out to eat in • No. Parents/Guardians have the libraries, gyms, and other larger, well- option to keep their child in remote ventilated areas. learning. This decision is strictly • Due to the number and age of the voluntary. students at Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary, our youngest students will eat What do I do if I want my child to return breakfast and lunch in the to in-person learning? classrooms. Each desk will be fitted with a protective screen to maximize • The Parent/Guardian and the student safety during mealtimes. must go to their respective school site and fill out the required enrollment What if staff or students get sick? documents. • The Parent/Guardian and student • Ensuring strict adherence to the must read and sign the in-person COVID-safe practices outlined in the ZPSD contract. • The Parent/Guardian and student must attend their respective school Pueblo of Zuni Awarded CDC Grant site’s mandatory Zoom meeting(s). The Pueblo of Zuni applied for a grant • Support for Emergency Management Will my child be provided a mask? opportunity under the Department of Operations by providing administrative Health and Human Services (DHHS) - support to Incident Command, • Students will receive two ZPSD face Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – including for staff salaries and masks when they fill out the Supporting Tribal Public Health Capacity administrative costs for the POZ in Coronavirus Preparedness and enrollment documents. COVID-19 Information Center; Response, and was awarded $435,108. The approved projects include the • Implementation of web streaming at following: KSHI Radio as a communication tool Grant continues on page 7
IMMEDIATE RELEASE By the order of the Incident Command Team in consultation and support from the Governor, Tribal Council, and Zuni Public Health Officials; the Pueblo of Zuni Tribal Council amended the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Emergency Declaration Resolution
'L.*:=:+,*= No. M70-2021-P032 on March 22, 2021. Below are highlights of the amendments: CURFEW
f::4 \rf, \ 11t t;!t {\i:J "'}*re \., #' :l j", r:t irf ,1, lii .i : :i ,.i :i Effective, Friday- March 26, 2021 – Nightly curfew will be extended by one :l 'i l. t: (1) hour and will remain in effect from 9:00 p.m. – 5:30 a.m. t 'ii' it l1