. >> reporter: professor patrick curwan has made writing about the tribes his life's work.hen fast forward to coronavirus this year when a navajo nation was impacted. ethel branch sought help. this was your idea? >> i knew people would be hit hard for various reas fixed inc not adequate funding, we have no running water. others have no electricity. i went ahead and started the go fund me. >> reporter: in ireland patrick heard about the appeal. what moved you to donate? >> this idea of finding es have been like paying it forward. >> reporter: and countless irish men and women saw this as a chance to pay back for something they never forget. >> when i started the fund the goal was set of $50,000. i thought this is wildly optimistic, i don't think w $10,000 and now to be approaching $5 million, it's amazing. >> reporter: the hopi nations in utah, arizona and new mexico organized to distribute food and other essentials and they're thanking the irish. so here we are in 2020. we're in the middle of the pap democratic and lo and behold, ireland comes calling to the navajo nation.