Life, conditions, and hope on the Pine Ridge Oglala Lakota (Sioux) Reservation of SD

[LostinVA]

Gang, there are alot of great 501 (C) groups out there to help the children and Elders (specifically) of these mistreated Americans. I sponsor an Elder woman I met through www.nativeprogress.org. Just an idea if anyone wants to get involved either personally and/or financially.

PLEASE read the entire article... conditions worse than many "Third World" countries within the United States. I think this issue is very important, and one rarely brought up on DU.


***********************************************
BRIGHTON, CO
Stephanie M. Schwartz

"Hidden away, out of sight but dotting the landscape of America, are the little known or forgotten Reservations of the Indigenous People of our land. Sadly, the average U.S. mainstream resident knows almost nothing about the people of the Native American reservations other than what romanticized or caricatured versions they see on film or as the print media stereotypes of oil or casino-rich Indians. Most assume that whatever poverty exists on a reservation is most certainly comparable to that which they might experience themselves. Further, they assume it is curable by the same means they would use.

But that is the arrogance of ignorance.

Our dominant society is accustomed to being exposed to poverty. It's nearly invisible because it is everywhere. We drive through our cities with a blind eye, numb to the suffering on the streets, or we shake our heads and turn away, assuming help is on the way. After all, it's known that the government and the big charities are helping the needy in nearly every corner of the world..."


http://nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=8282

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. I have been there a couple times

It is one of the saddest places in the US.

[electron_blue]

2. Thank you for bringing this to my attention

I'll check it out

[LostinVA]

3. Thank YOU -- it's an issue very close to my heart

I consider myself very educated on certain things, and I had NO idea about Pine Ridge until a few years ago.

[electron_blue]

11. I sent a donation, and will look into the sponsorship program.

Very sad situation in so many ways, and yet a relatively small amount of money can make such a huge difference.

[Autumn Colors]

4. This is also a good (similar) organization

http://www.anelder.org/

[LostinVA]

6. That's a good one, too -- I just read the link

The Lakota live in worse conditions, but "worse" is truly relative in this case, because the Dine also have been horribly mistreated by the US Government.

[bonito]

5. This is important for anyone who cares

Many people don't realize that when one helps another one helps oneself, I know the feeling.

[LostinVA]

7. kick

[uppityperson]

8. k&r for one of the poorest and hardest places to live

combine extreme poverty with SD winters and summers.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

9. "Make a difference day" memo from my children's school this week

My kid's school is having a donor drive this week for Pine Ridge. We're in a northern suburb of Pittsburgh.

The title of the memo from the school was "Make a Difference Day" and we were asked to donate infant clothes and blankets. I whole heartedly bought clothes for these babies and sent them to school with my kids today for the donation. These people need our help.

[LostinVA]

10. Yay!