Led by Indigenous youth, this initiative brings together medical students, physicians, health professionals, and human rights experts to partner with Indigenous Peoples and their communities on their responses to the pandemic. Our partners include the Harvard Medical School COVID-19 Student Response Team, the UN GIYC, the UN Youth Envoy, UNICEF, IFAD, and members of the UNPFII.

Within a week and a half, we assembled a team of 15 physicians and allied health professionals, most of whom are Indigenous, to get on calls, emails, or video-conferences with Indigenous leaders from any world region and answer pointed questions to help them make informed decisions on community prevention and preparedness.

Through a pilot survey released two days ago, we gathered 14 Indigenous translators to translate accessible COVID-19 documents into 22 Indigenous languages that will be hosted and disseminated by the UN. Soon the UN Youth Envoy will put out a call for more translators to join our initiative. 

Our core-team of 40 Indigenous youth leaders and Harvard Medical Students are also partnering with one community from each world region to: modify pre-existing COVID-19 info for their specific contexts, connect them with our team of experienced physicians, organize webinars with UNICEF and IFAD on mental health and food security, and produce collaborative articles on the challenges and best practices, published by our UN partners. Our partnerships are growing and we are continually figuring out new ways we can contribute.

I must admit being an Indigenous student at Harvard Medical School can have it's challenges, but the Indigenous youth, classmates, mentors, and medical professionals that have rallied around this cause are incredible, and bring hope.

I would like to personally thank all those involved, many of whom are tagged (but not all), for being a part of this amazing team and making this happen in such a short time. If you would like to be involved as well, please read below!

If you are from an Indigenous Nation, are an Indigenous community leader, or know of one who would like to partner with us, please fill out this form:

If you are someone who speaks an Indigenous language and would like to join our team, please fill out the form below:

If you are a student in the health profession field and would like to be involved, please fill out the form below: 

If you are a medical professional and would like to join our team of physicians, nurses, and community health specialists, please reach out to Victor_Lopez-Carmen@hms.harvard.edu.