The Covid-19 pandemic created many challenges for federal policymakers. However, American Indian tribal policymakers also had to rely on their treaty relationship the United States and set policies to protect their sovereign nations. The Covid-19 pandemic was devastating to tribal communities and amplified many inequalities these communities already face.

In this study, we interviewed tribal policymakers using a phenomenological approach to examine tribal Covid-19 policies enacted and the governmental actions taken in response to the pandemic. Using a purposive sampling method, 11 interviews were included in the analysis.

These interviews represented 10 tribes across five culture areas. Ten themes were identified, including four related to issues to be addressed at the start of the pandemic and six associated with Covid-19 policy development and implementation. The findings from this study are intended to describe the ways in which some tribes operated within their infrastructures to keep their members safe.

The Covid-19 virus had a devastating impact on American Indian communities. This study can aid in the generation of evidence-based information that can influence the development of policies regarding future outbreaks and pandemics.