
Native American nations gift handwoven rug for 'kindness' during pandemic
They presented Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy with the rug at Leinster House earlier "as a symbol of gratitude and friendship".
In 2020, the death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic was particularly acute in the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Nation which include parts of Arizona, Utah and New Mexico.
People living in Ireland donated at least $3 million to an online fundraiser launched by the nations.
The relief fund was established at the height of the pandemic to help community members access food, PPE and safely shelter at home.
It became one of the top GoFundMe fundraisers of 2020 and raised US$18m, with the list of donors dominated by Irish surnames.
Many Irish people said they were donating in remembrance of Native American aid to Ireland during the Great Famine, where the Choctaw tribe raised $170 in famine relief for Ireland.
The rug depicts the Kindred Spirits sculpture that was commissioned by Cork County Council to commemorate the Choctaw donation.
Deputy Murphy said it was a "great honour to accept this wonderful piece of art on behalf of the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Irish people".
"It's a tangible reminder that empathy with another's plight can cross a vast ocean and that even small acts of kindness can make a lasting impact," she said.
A member of the Navajo Nation, Ethel Branch said: "The solidarity and compassion extended to the Navajo and Hopi nations, inspired by the historic gift of the Choctaw Nation to Ireland during the Great Famine, has left an indelible mark on our communities."
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