A Promise to the Navajo

Julie H. Case

New documentary reveals how the Navajo Nation fought against—and suffered disproportionally during—the coronavirus pandemic.

They carry the language, the culture, the history, the code: they are the elders of the Navajo Nation, and the coronavirus had a devasting impact on them. Yet despite unprecedented losses, the people of the Navajo Nation have shown phenomenal resilience in the face of COVID-19. Now, a new documentary is offering a peek behind the curtain, allowing viewers to better understand how, and why, the COVID-19 pandemic affected the Nation so deeply.

Released on August 14, in honor of National Code Talkers Day, A Promise to the Navajo was produced by Team Rubicon, the disaster relief organization that partnered with the Navajo Nation and Indian Health Services to help provide medical support to the Nation during the pandemic.

  • Greyshirt Always

    Transforming Time into Impact

    How harnessing the irreplaceable gift of volunteers' time creates lasting impact and builds capacity within Team Rubicon and beyond.

  • Reflection

    Remembering Team Rubicon’s Typhoon Haiyan Response 10 Years Later 

    A Greyshirt reflects on his first international operation, tarping a roof during a 7-year-old’s surgery, and how the disaster relief and humanitarian aid nonprofit has changed over the decade.

  • Reflection

    All the Waterworks

    A Greyshirt reflects on proud moments from his time responding to the Morocco earthquake, and how a water filter and tea with an elder nearly broke his composure.

Read More Stories