Wiyot, Yurok tribes close offices, shelter in place
Both the Wiyot and Yurok tribes have closed central offices to the public and shut down public spaces, like parks.
The Yurok and Wiyot tribes have implemented their own shelter-in-place orders during the coronavirus pandemic and are coordinating with Humboldt County officials over resources.
Neither the county nor the tribes have been specific about the nature of their communication. County health officer Teresa Frankovich said the county has engaged in twiceweekly calls with the tribes to see what they need.
“Internally, for their own process, that is their issue, and I think it’d be an excellent question to ask them what their intents are with that,” Frankovich said in a media session, adding that the county will report any cases involving tribal members by its own process.
“Obviously, it’s within the purview of the tribal entities to make decisions on how they’re going to present information on tribal members,” she said.
Wiyot tribal administrator Michelle Vassel, meanwhile, said the tribe hasn’t been informed of any cases within the Table Bluff reservation. Both the Wiyot and Yurok tribes have closed central offices to the public and shut down public spaces, like parks.
Vassel offered few details about how the tribe has coordinated with county officials but confirmed that conversations are taking place.
“The Tribe has had to reduce staff, and staff hours while serving an increased need for services in our community,” Vassel wrote in an email.
After initially agreeing to have an official be interviewed for this story, the Yurok Tribe did not respond to multiple requests for comment by deadline.
Vassel provided more details on closures within the tribe, saying its officials have prioritized the health of its members.
“It is critical that the tribe work to maintain critical infrastructure necessary to maintain the operation of the government and work to protect the introduction of COVID-19 into the local community and slow the spread of the virus,” Vassel said.