Crow/Northern Cheyenne under lockdowns

LAME DEER – Members of both the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Tribes are currently under curfews and lockdowns, tribally issued mandates in response rising Covid-19 cases in Big Horn County. Big Horn County, southeastern Montana comprises nearly all of the Crow reservation and about half of the Northern Cheyenne. The county now has the highest per capita percentage of cases in the State, according to County Health reports.

The Crow Executive order by President AJ Not Afraid started the week of August. It includes a daily curfew from 8:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m; bans public gatherings and closes the OK-a-Beh Marina in the Bighorn Canyon recreation area. Checkpoints at access points to public areas and the reservation will be utilized to monitor and turn non-residents around. Finally, Not said that his administration has determined it will not be safe for children to attend classroom studies.

On the other hand, essential businesses, emergency and medical facilities will remain open under specific operational guidelines.

The Northern Cheyenne lock-down is scheduled to begin at 11:59, August 9 to run at least two weeks, (August 23) pending developments. As of this report Northern Cheyenne had 17 confirmed cases, a rapid rise within several days. Also, Northern Cheyenne has also promised to “deny” the upcoming CoVid assistance checks to those who knowingly transmit the virus or fail to comply with the lock down conditions as stated on the Tribal Facebook page and public notice. While Northern Cheyenne also intends to establish roadblocks, the details of that operation were still being worked out at press time. And, finally, while able to shop for groceries, pick up prescriptions and get essential medical care on the reservation, residents who otherwise leave the reservation will not be allowed to return pending a 14-day quarantine.

“Adherence to this lock down is necessary to bring this virus to an end” is noted on the Tribal Facebook page. President NotAfraid, quoted in the Billings Gazette said in Executive order “The previous extension of ‘stay-at-home orders’ were not followed properly which has led to an increase in confirmed cases and unfortunately, deaths.

(Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennevoice@gmail.com)

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