Coronavirus Pandemic Threatens Indigenous Health, Culture
2020-05-14
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1In eastern Indonesia, cut trees block a road that leads to Papuan villages.
2Along Thailand's border with Myanmar, the Karen people have put up signs warning visitors to stay away.
3Around the world, the coronavirus pandemic has left indigenous peoples at risk because so many are in poor health.
4Indigenous groups also have few doctors available to treat them in their communities, mostly rural areas.
5There are, naturally, large differences among these native peoples, including diet and socioeconomic conditions.
6The United Nations estimates that the life expectancy of indigenous people can be up to 20 years lower than that of other people.
7Australia's government has noted how large the differences can be.
8In March, the government warned that "Indigenous people aged over 50 should stay home whenever possible for their own protection."
9The age was 10 to 20 years higher for other population groups.
10The strong guidance for indigenous people is likely because so many have the kinds of health issues that can lead to serious problems if they get the coronavirus.
11United Nations records state that more than half of indigenous adults over 35 around the world have Type 2 diabetes.
12They also have higher levels of heart problems, the virus that causes AIDS, and diseases such as tuberculosis.
13Genetics may be part of the reason for poor health among indigenous people, says Mason Durie.
14He is a professor of Māori Studies at Massey University in Australia.
15Durie himself is also Maori.
16He believes the true reason, however, are social conditions, such as poverty and a lack of education.
17Many indigenous people are now cutting themselves off from the world, says Rudolph Rÿser.
18He is an indigenous activist and head of the Center for World Indigenous Studies.
19"They simply closed down...and block the roads going into their territories," he said.
20But that creates another problem: indigenous people returning to their villages from cities might bring the coronavirus with them.
21And some villages, such as the aboriginal ones in Australia, are not prepared to fight the virus.
22There is crowding in many homes and poor public services, said Mark Wenitong.
23He is an aboriginal doctor and serves as adviser to aboriginal health organizations in Australia.
24Indigenous people were already struggling to keep their traditions and hold out against the modern world.
25The people of the Amazon rainforest have long fought off miners and farmers, who have begun to work the land around them.
26Social restrictions put in place to contain the pandemic are also threatening the way of life of some groups.
27In Uganda, the Batwa people are facing food shortages because of stay-at-home orders.
28The military is trying to stop them from moving across the border into Rwanda, explains Faith Tushabe.
29She works with a local aid group. The Batwa usually trade work for food, but they cannot do that now.
30The Maasai are a semi-nomadic indigenous people in Kenya and Tanzania.
31They have been forced to stop important celebrations that bring different groups together to discuss issues of property or marriage.
32The coronavirus pandemic is forcing major changes, said Benyamin Timaiyio, a Maasai youth leader.
33"It will totally interfere with culture and tradition - and we are living through culture and tradition," he said.
34I'm Susan Shand.
1In eastern Indonesia, cut trees block a road that leads to Papuan villages. Along Thailand's border with Myanmar, the Karen people have put up signs warning visitors to stay away. 2Around the world, the coronavirus pandemic has left indigenous peoples at risk because so many are in poor health. Indigenous groups also have few doctors available to treat them in their communities, mostly rural areas. 3There are, naturally, large differences among these native peoples, including diet and socioeconomic conditions. The United Nations estimates that the life expectancy of indigenous people can be up to 20 years lower than that of other people. 4Australia's government has noted how large the differences can be. In March, the government warned that "Indigenous people aged over 50 should stay home whenever possible for their own protection." The age was 10 to 20 years higher for other population groups. 5The strong guidance for indigenous people is likely because so many have the kinds of health issues that can lead to serious problems if they get the coronavirus. 6United Nations records state that more than half of indigenous adults over 35 around the world have Type 2 diabetes. They also have higher levels of heart problems, the virus that causes AIDS, and diseases such as tuberculosis. 7Genetics may be part of the reason for poor health among indigenous people, says Mason Durie. He is a professor of Māori Studies at Massey University in Australia. Durie himself is also Maori. He believes the true reason, however, are social conditions, such as poverty and a lack of education. 8Many indigenous people are now cutting themselves off from the world, says Rudolph Rÿser. He is an indigenous activist and head of the Center for World Indigenous Studies. 9"They simply closed down...and block the roads going into their territories," he said. 10But that creates another problem: indigenous people returning to their villages from cities might bring the coronavirus with them. 11And some villages, such as the aboriginal ones in Australia, are not prepared to fight the virus. There is crowding in many homes and poor public services, said Mark Wenitong. He is an aboriginal doctor and serves as adviser to aboriginal health organizations in Australia. 12Indigenous people were already struggling to keep their traditions and hold out against the modern world. The people of the Amazon rainforest have long fought off miners and farmers, who have begun to work the land around them. 13Social restrictions put in place to contain the pandemic are also threatening the way of life of some groups. 14In Uganda, the Batwa people are facing food shortages because of stay-at-home orders. The military is trying to stop them from moving across the border into Rwanda, explains Faith Tushabe. She works with a local aid group. The Batwa usually trade work for food, but they cannot do that now. 15The Maasai are a semi-nomadic indigenous people in Kenya and Tanzania. They have been forced to stop important celebrations that bring different groups together to discuss issues of property or marriage. 16The coronavirus pandemic is forcing major changes, said Benyamin Timaiyio, a Maasai youth leader. 17"It will totally interfere with culture and tradition - and we are living through culture and tradition," he said. 18I'm Susan Shand. 19The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 20________________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22pandemic - n. a contagious illness that spreads among countries 23indigenous - adj. a region's original people 24Type 2 diabetes - n. a serious disease in which the body cannot properly control the amount of sugar in your blood because it does not have enough insulin, often associated with poor nutrition and poverty 25poverty - n. without money, poor 26aboriginal - n. of or relating to the native people of Australia 27semi-nomadic - adj. people who move from place to place