President’s Message: Let’s Conquer COVID

By Andrew Guy, President and CEO

Storyknife, January/February 2021 edition

COVID-19 does not discriminate. It doesn’t care where you live. It doesn’t care how important it is for you to gather with friends and family. For many months, the number of cases per 1,000 people in our Region [Bethel, Bethel Census and Kusilvak Census areas] has been a significantly higher rate compared to Anchorage.

Andrew Guy, Calista Corporation President/CEO

For now, we need to take precautions. Every act we take adds up.

Wear a mask to protect your family and our Elders, wash your hands often, and keep your gatherings very small or hold off until a later date.

A COVID-19 vaccine is available to some Alaskans, and soon to all Alaskans. It is important for us to conquer this pandemic. Many of our communities have been hit hard by COVID-19.

As Alaska Native people we are fortunate to receive the vaccine earlier than many across the state. Our ancestors paid for this privilege in advance, claiming our right to medical care. Getting your vaccination and keeping our communities healthy honors the sacrifices made by our ancestors.

A recent Centers for Disease Control study showed Alaska Native and American Indians are nearly four times more likely to get the coronavirus than non-Native people.

The COVID vaccines are highly effective and necessary to ensure healthy communities and to protect our families and our Elders.

We are asking you to get vaccinated. Our future depends on it. Many of our lives, especially the lives of our Elders, depend on it. If we all do our part, we will conquer COVID. Quyana.