Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said Tuesday that the U.S. government once again has ignored the countrys Indigenous people, accusing federal officials of failing to deliver enough much-needed resources to help fight the coronavirus.

During a town hall that aired live on Facebook , Nez urged residents of his nation, the largest American Indian territory in the U.S., to remain strong and take care of each other during the pandemic despite the lack of support.

Theres frustration from leadership not just here on Navajo but all of Indian Country, Nez said. We feel that the United States government once again has ignored or even left out the first residents, the first people, the first citizens of this country: Indigenous people.

He said tribal nations havent yet seen any of the resources allocated in the three coronavirus relief bills signed into law by President Donald Trump last month.

But you know what? Were strong people, ladies and gentleman, Nez told the Navajo Nation during his town hall. We have overcome tough times and were utilizing our resources to help our people out there. Government cant do everything.

Im hearing about people hauling water for their grandparents, people helping get water and hay for their elders out there. Thats Navajo right there helping each other out to overcome this, he continued. And we will overcome this.

The Navajo Nation spans roughly 25,000 square miles about the size of West Virginia across portions of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. About 350,000 members are enrolled in the nation, making it the second most populous Native American tribe, after the Cherokee Nation.

As of Wednesday, there have been at least 174 confirmed cases of the virus in the Navajo Nation and at least seven deaths. The numbers account for those living on the reservation both members of the tribe and nonmembers and do not include Navajo who reside outside of the territory.

During his town hall on Tuesday, Nez said the nation had received some supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile, but much more are needed.

Its quite alarming to hear that some of the shipment that we get wont even last a week, he said, adding that all 50 states are also dealing with this issue. So were trying to find resources out there.

The $2 trillion stimulus bill enacted Friday carved out an additional $1 billion for the Indian Health Service, a notoriously underfunded agency that provides health services to federally recognized tribes. The legislation also includes $8 billion in relief funds for tribal governments, though Nez suggested in his town hall Tuesday that the Navajo Nation had not yet received its share.

He told The Los Angeles Times last week that he was concerned about individual tribes having to apply for the aid. A representative for the Navajo Nation did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment.

Conner Swanson, a spokesman for the Interior Department, called Nezs accusation that the U.S. government is ignoring tribes false, pointing to communications sent to tribal leaders from Bureau of Indian Affairs officials.

The topline fact is, since day one of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department, including Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education, the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, along with our emergency management professionals and other agencies in the Federal government, has been communicating and working with the Tribes to assist Tribal communities, Swanson said in a statement.

Swanson noted that the third coronavirus relief bill, which includes the $2 trillion stimulus package, was signed into law just four days before Nezs comments. The federal government has 30 days to disburse the funds, he said.

He said the Interior and Treasury are hosting two national consultation calls with tribal governments one scheduled for Thursday and another next week and will accept written comments to ensure Tribes have ample opportunity to engage in the process and provide meaningful guidance to the Federal government.

This process is thorough, inclusive and aims to effectively allocate funds to Tribes across the country, he added.