COVID-19

As I sit here and type this entry at 4am on Tuesday April 7th, 2020, the world is in the throes of a global pandemic called COVID-19 aka "Coronavirus". It first hit the United States in Washington State and hit the Life Care Center of Kirkland first. In fact, that rehabilitation center became the "hotbed" of cases and, sadly, many deaths. What happened, per reports, was that a family member that was COVID-19 positive went to visit a family member and ended up infecting nearly the entire rehabilitation center. I have been "working from home" since Wednesday March 18th, 2020. We were granted "Administrative Leave" for Monday March 16th and Tuesday March 17th for "social distancing". At 3:15pm on March 17th the Tribe announced that we were no longer reporting to work and would be "telecommuting" from 3/18-4/26 at which point the Tribe would make further decisions about the future. On Saturday April 4th, an article in the Tacoma News Tribune was printed stating that the Puyallup Tribe was laying off and furloughing Emerald Queen AND Government employees. I wasn't aware of this until my Dad (of all people) texted me to ask me if I was worried knowing that. I was not aware of this, up to that point, but after I read the article my mind began racing. I started to evaluate the financial situations of the Puyallup Tribe, the Muckleshoot Tribe, and all of the other surrounding Tribes generating revenue from gaming that was impacted by the temporary closure of their gaming businesses (Casinos and Bingo Halls). I know that Muckleshoot is much better off financially than the Puyallup Tribe, however, knowing that doesn't provide me much comfort. I'm a registered citizen of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma and I've been serving the Muckleshoot Tribal community for almost 13 years. Despite the fact that I've never been to Oklahoma, I've always considered Muckleshoot my home. Now that we come to this serious and pressing time in our history, I feel that continuing to serve their community is in the best interests of both parties.