Urgent! Pine Ridge Reservation Needs Help.
Cross posted from RiverDaughter-The Confluence:
Urgent! Pine Ridge Reservation Needs Help.
Posted on November 13, 2008 by shtueyThe Pine Ridge Reservation has been in a state of crisis since its creation by the United States government in the late 1800’s. It is a sordid and painful history, part of the great genocidal stain on the fabric of American society, and one that continues to fester.
The economic situation is desperate. The unemployment rate is 85%, and 97% of residents live below the Federal poverty line. The average annual income was $3800 in 1999. Adolescent suicide is four times the national average. The infant mortality rate is 5 times the national average. If not for AIDS related deaths in Africa, Pine Ridge would have the lowest life expectancy on the planet (47 years for men, and low 50’s for women).
There are many families living without electricity, telephones, running water, or sewers, and often rely on wood stoves to heat the broken down trailers and shacks that serve as their homes.
There are hundreds of families living in overcrowded conditions. It is not uncommon for single-family homes to be occupied by 10-12 people comprised of 3 generations. This is third world poverty right here in America. In a nation that raised over $1 billion for a presidential election it is a disgrace that this goes on.
As PUMAs, part of our mission going forward must be to serve as a voice, not just for Pine Ridge, and similar places in Indian Country, but for all communities across our nation that have been marginalized, and left without a voice.
This email was forwarded to me from Debi McLeod from Native Americans Against Obama regarding an emergency situation at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The situation there is always dire, but now even more so. [...] It is a continuing disgrace that this goes on in America. Let’s do what we can.
Where is the Red Cross? Where is FEMA? Where is the National Guard? The Lakota Reservation in South Dakota has been struck with a huge, early season snow storm. Elderly people are without propane, there is a great lack of food, medicine and warm winter clothing.
According tho the president of the Reservation, the State of South Dakota is doing almost nothing. The roads are still not plowed and people are dying.
They need our help in way of wood, propane, warm winter clothing, food and assistance with plows.
If you are in the area and have the heart to help these folks, go to the Porcupine School or call 605-867-1111.
If you can, send money, call and get details on arrangements. If you can send materials, as this is going to be a long winter for the sick the elderly and the children, the address is
Republic of Lakotah
P.O. Box 99
Porucupine, SD 57772Winters are brutal in this area, and this one is worse than they can deal with. Any and all help will be remembered by the people for their entire lives, and lives is what this is about.
Please, with our Holidays coming, help these people NOW while we can still help. People are dying right now.
Feel free to contact John for more information.
John Stroebel
PO 166 Centennial Wyoming 82055
307-745-3493The priorities seem to be monies for the propane fund, winter clothing, and blankets. Another source of contact information is Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation. If you look around the site you will find various drives. I will be provide more information as I receive it. We have a unique opportunity to show the nation just what PUMAs are made of. I have taken preliminary steps to start a drive for propane funds and dry goods at my place of work. We can do the same in our communities. We’ve been dealing with so much darkness; let’s shine some light.
Follow this link to find out how to aid the utility fund, and the battered women’s shelter at Pine Ridge.
This link will direct you to organizations collecting clothing, winter coats, and other dry goods at Pine Ridge.
You can donate to the Conflucian Pine Ridge Blizzard Fund here.
Please, do anything and everything you can to help. People -Americans- are dying. And please pass this information on to local, social and/or church organizations.
The style of writing is quite familiar to me. Did you write guest posts for other blogs?
p.s. Year One is already on the Internet and you can watch it for free.
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