As the Coronavirus hits the Native Americans hard, Irish people have taken the chance to repay a 173-year-old debt. 

A fundraiser to help the Navajo and Hopi Nations fight one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks in the United States has taken off in Ireland. Donations have been flooding in, in tribute to an act of kindness during the Great Hunger in Ireland that has never been forgotten. In the worst year of the famine, 1847, the Choctaw people raised what they could and sent it to Ireland as aid.

It's not the only example of solidarity between Irish and Native American people throughout history. In this bonus episode made specially to thank our Patreon supporters, Naomi O'Leary traces the history of links between Ireland and Native Americans. Did you know that during the struggle for independence, the Chippewa-Ojibwe people made future Irish President Éamon de Valera an honorary chief?

You can donate to the Navajo & Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Fund here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/NHFC19Relief

This bonus content was made possible by the continued support of our patrons! Sign up to support the podcast today at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport and gain access to our whole archive of Halfpint extra content.

For access to our full archive of bonus content, head on over on our Patreon page www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish.

You can listen to our episode The Great Hunger about the Irish famine and the Choctaw donation here: https://link.chtbl.com/GreatHunger

Featuring Cello Duet No. 1 by Chief Boima

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