| Scaling the narrow archway of Arizona's Window Rock at an elevation of more than 6,700 feet, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., clad in a pair of blue jeans, was right at home in the rugged terrain. "You might be the first US secretary to actually hike Window Rock," Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren told Kennedy as the two looked out over the vast landscape of Navajo Nation on the New Mexico-Arizona border. The hour-long trek was part of Kennedy's three-day "Make America Healthy Again" tour through the American Southwest. On Monday, he was in Utah, where he pledged to re-examine the country's recommendations for fluoride in water. From there, he traveled to Phoenix to celebrate two bills considered wins in his war on unhealthy foods. Some so-called "MAHA" moms traveled hours just to be in the same room as Kennedy.  Robert F. Kennedy Jr., US secretary of Health and Human Services, left, hiked to the top of Window Rock in Arizona with leaders of the Navajo Nation.Photographer: Madison Muller/Bloomberg During his visit to Navajo Nation, Kennedy was at ease discussing one of his favorite talking points: junk food. At one point in remarks to community members, he linked the "ongoing genocide of the Navajo people" to health issues stemming from the consumption of unhealthy food. "That genocide is continuing today, and it's continuing mainly because of the processed food crisis on the reservation." He also answered questions from tribal leaders and gave assurances that the Indian Health Services, which is part of HHS, would be protected from widespread layoffs and funding cuts that have rattled the health-care community. On the same day, House Democratic lawmakers went to HHS to demand a meeting with Kennedy over what they called a "complete and utter disaster" start to his tenure, including multiple public health crises. Kennedy is facing one of the worst measles outbreaks the country has seen in decades, but he made little mention of it on the tour, despite cases mostly being located in the southwest region. Slashed HHS funding was a concern for Navajo Nation Council Delegate Eugenia Charles-Newton, who joined the hike wearing a homemade shirt with the phrase "Save IHS Jobs & Diabetes Program" written in green marker. "I know that we're looking to try to cut funds," Charles-Newtown said, referring to the Trump administration's push to shrink government spending. "But that cuts funds to people like me who are diabetic. And we're not diabetic by choice." Navajo people are disproportionately affected by diabetes. Kennedy said diabetes was a top concern for his administration, and promised to look into her concerns. Though Nygren, the Navajo Nation president, thanked Kennedy for being the first one to "stand up for Indian country," some were less convinced. "What would be really important for him is that he actually follows up and that he actually, you know, comes back to say so these were things that you all talked about and here's how have they changed," Council Delegate Germaine Simonson told me. — Madison Muller | 
No comments:
Post a Comment