- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
This year will go down in history as one of the most memorable because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Its disproportionate impact on Indian Country has gained the attention of the media worldwide. When the deadly virus first arrived in the United States, no one estimated how it would change lives.
As 2020 draws to a close, Native News Online is publishing a list of the 10 most read articles of the year. Among the list, six articles were related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Other events covered by Native News Online that were significant to Indian Country in 2020 did not make the most read list, such as the historic McGirt v. Oklahoma story about the U.S. Supreme Court decision that ruled a significant swath of eastern Oklahoma remains American Indian land for certain legal purposes.
While we didn’t include it in the top 10 list, one article from way back in January 2019 was still attracting lots of readers throughout 2020. The article “Historic Day: Two American Indian Women Become Members of Congress” covered the swearing in of Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) and Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS), the first two American Indian women ever elected to the U.S. Congress.
By year’s end, a bright spot for a year that was filled with difficulty because of the pandemic, was Rep. Deb Haaland’s nomination by President-elect Joe Biden to be the next secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Haaland, when confirmed by the U.S. Senate, will be the first American Indian ever to be part of a presidential cabinet.
Here is the 2020 Top 10 List:
Pregnant 18-year-old Mashpee Wampanoag Woman Found Dead in a Florida Field
Legendary Actor Wes Studi Urges the Public to Assist Indian Country Amid Pandemic
Navajo Elders: Alone, Without Food, in Despair
American Indian Protesters Told to “Go Home” by Trump Supporters at Mount Rushmore
Arizona Man Arrested for Posting Facebook Message About Shooting Navajo Citizens
Baptist Preacher Calls Smudging ‘Witchcraft’ & “Satanic Aromatheraphy’
Tik-Tok Star Nathan Apodaca Doesn’t Celebrate Columbus Day
Navajo Nation Now Has 174 Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus; Death Toll Reaches 7
Cherokee Man is Thought to Be First in Oklahoma to Die from Coronavirus
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Native News Weekly (May 11, 2025): D.C. Briefs
Florida Man Gored by Bison in Yellowstone
Can we take a minute to talk about tribal sovereignty?
Our mission draws from the warrior spirit that has sustained Indigenous peoples for generations — the same spirit that drives us to stand guard over tribal rights through relentless investigation and fearless reporting.
Sovereignty isn't just a concept – it's the foundation of Native nations' right to govern, protect our lands, and preserve our cultures. Every story we publish strengthens tribal sovereignty.
Unlike mainstream media, we center Indigenous voices and report directly from Native communities. When we cover land rights, water protection, or tribal governance, we're not just sharing news – we're documenting our living history and defending our future.
Our journalism is powered by readers, not shareholders. If you believe in the importance of Native-led media in protecting tribal sovereignty, consider supporting our work today.
