PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES FROM COVID-19

When the world shut down in 2020 to protect people from the COVID-19 virus, Native communities were once again ignored in the media, policy decisions, and early funding opportunities. It wasn’t a surprise when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention then released a report that showed that Native peoples were three times more likely to die from COVID-19 than White people. This invisibility was truly a matter of life or death.
To bring attention to the impacts of COVID-19 and funnel philanthropic resources to Native communities, IllumiNative launched two campaigns: “Warrior Up” and “For the Love of Our People” in 2020 and 2021. We partnered with celebrities, political and Tribal leaders, Native influencers, artists, and more to execute a variety of narrative and culture change strategies to provide people with key information and resources to stop the spread.

Credit: Steven Paul Judd (Kiowa and Choctaw)

Credit: Steven Paul Judd (Kiowa and Choctaw)

Credit: Jeremy Fields

WARRIOR UP (2020) ACTIVITIES & IMPACT

  • #StayAwayTogether PSA featuring Native and non-Native celebrities and influencers
  • The first of its kind townhall with Native leaders and health experts, allied leaders, and entertainers that received more than 250,000 views
  • Digital art commissioned to promote COVID-19 public health education
  • Lesson plans and resources to more than one million at-home educators, students, and families
  • 12.5 million social media impressions
  • Media coverage that resulted in corrective federal action

FOR THE LOVE OF OUR PEOPLE (2021) ACTIVITIES & IMPACT

RESOURCES

COVID-19 VACCINATION MESSAGING GUIDE

How we act and what we say in the moment can define perception and ultimately save lives. This messaging guide is based on insights from focus groups conducted between February 16, 2021 and March 3, 2021.

VACCINE CONVERSATION GUIDE

Do you have someone in your life that is hesitant to get a vaccine or confused about how to stay healthy? Use this guide to navigate conversations with these loved ones.

REMOTE LEARNING EDUCATOR RESOURCES

In partnership with the National Indian Education Association, Amplifier, and Nia Tero, we developed online education activity guides and lesson places to support educators in increasing the visibility of Native peoples, including contemporary representation, in their curricula. While originally developed to support online learning during COVID-19, they can be referenced and modified to support in-person learning today.

NATIVE FAMILIES VACCINATION SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT

This toolkit has information and resources to support organizers in their outreach to Native families about the COVID-19 vaccines for children.

I GOT VACCINATED AVATAR GRAPHICS

We partnered with Native artists to develop avatar graphics. Share on social media and show your vaccination pride!

I GOT VACCINATED BADGES

We partnered with Native artists to develop ten different regional badges. Share on social media and show your vaccination pride!

GUIDE TO ADDRESSING DIS- AND MIS-INFORMATION

This guide contains messaging, social media guidance, and graphics to help you address dis-and-misinformation in your community around the COVID-19 vaccines.