Last week, Cherokee actor, producer and Academy Honorary Award winner Wes Studi lent his star power to raise awareness about how COVID-19 is impacting Indian Country. He teamed up with the Native led non-profit Partnership with Native Americans for this public service announcement that highlighted the urgent need in some tribal communities.
Studi, who has been sheltering in place in his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, said the endorsement was personal.
"Well, I'm involved because I'm Cherokee myself from northeastern Oklahoma and many of my friends are Native," Studi said. "I like to think that we look out for one another."
This isn't the first time Studi promoted a good cause. In 1994, his image was used to encourage Native youth to wear glasses on a poster published by The School of Optometry at Northeastern State University. The tagline read: "Geronimo wears glasses, you should too."
In 2019, he collaborated with Partnership with Native Americans on a five part "Realities Video Series with Wes Studi"which sought to give an accurate portrayal of Native American life on reservations. Studi says this is a non-profit he trusts.
"I've worked with a Partnership with Native Americans for a couple of years now," Studi said. "And, I think they have a very good system where in they're able to provide assistance at times like this."
Studi thinks people need to be less concerned with getting back to the way things were before the pandemic and focus more on what our lives are going to be like moving forward. That's what he's been doing while sheltering in place.
"I think we're all going to have to make some sacrifices and, or change our attitudes and ways of living to a certain extent in order to continue to live on this planet," Studi said.
Sacrifices and getting used to living in a new normal is what Studi thinks we need to do to get through this time.
