Temperatures soar well past 100 and no water available at Pine ridge

[rosa]

Right now the temperatures on the reservation on hitting -10 below zero - the family I write to leaves in an old trailer with no heat, no electricity and no running water, there are 15 living in this old trailer - I know so often we hear about the wealthy natives and the casinos but this is not true for all tribes, The poorest ten counties in the US today are on reservations and 8 of the ten are in South Dakota - please reach out and help - you are all such great crafters, a scarf. a sweater, blanket, pot holder, all would help so very much and let them know that there is a world outside of their borders that really cares.

 

Pine Indian Reservation is the poorest in the United States, The Wall Street Journal says the people there are among the poorest in the world - the average income is similar to that of India or Haiti, perhaps even poorer, the community of 40,000 people often live without heat and electricity, the elders the oldest grandpas and grandmas will give their blankets and coats to the little ones, and often may freeze themselves rather than letting a little one dye of cold. It is so hard that here in the United States where we are considered a leading country in the world that we care so little about our own. When you are making a scarf, toy, afghan for that little one of yours, think about a child at Pine ridge, and make a second for them. /

 

Please help - they can use afghans, fleece blankets, with 40,000 people the need is overwhelming.. You do not have to make afghans you can search your closets for gently used warm clothing coats and jackets. you can make baby layettes, sweaters, hats, mittens, socks, socks are so needed as their shoes have so many holes that their socks are always wet from the snow, anything to keep warm, and if you make a purse or two how happy do you think that might make a teenage girl? and toys if you do not even have a bed or crib to sleep on you can bet there are no cute animals. Please consider joining us in the effort to help these desperate peoples right in our own back yard.

 

Many of the women quilt, and crochet and knit and will also gladly accept your donations of yarn, hooks, needles, quilting, beading supplies.

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CraftingForACause

Crafting For A Cause...come join us!

[Sam the Man!]

I am on line too - I had no idea about the horrible conditions there - I am always amazed at the compassion we have for others, but how we can ignore our people here at home! Sometimes we are so ignorant of what is happening to those around us!

 

Sam

[Simone]

I'm with you too - PM me what is needed the most - I have a stash of yarn you would notbelive and now I have a cause to make it into something - just needed the motivation.

 

Simone

[leahraej]

working on this? It is starting to get cold up there.

Lorna

[losingmymind2]

Everyone, I want to let you know that Crafting for a Cause is a GREAT group, and no one is ever made to feel less welcome if you can't afford to make a lot. Even one item every three months is welcomed; and if funds for yarn or shipping or short, there are people who can help you out. And I found out that a local store that sells native art and crafts is also collecting for Spirit Rising.

 

I participate in the Elder friendship match, and it's such fun to find or make a little item for your partner. Many of us have also called our Elder if he or she has a phone, and it is so interesting to speak with someone far away and learn about them and their lifestyle.

 

So, if you want to have fun with some wonderful crafters, make new friends and help out people in need, please come join us.

[kittencrochet]

I'm the project manager of both the elders and holiday projects. So far we have matched up 45 elders with members!! I'm getting a new list of names soon. It would be wonderful if we could help every elder there. Plus it's a wonderful learning experience. The Lakota people have such a rich culture and certainly affords an opportuinty to learn a little about it. But you can also choose to make a quarterly donation, and that is fine as well!

 

The holiday project still has 2 families needing holiday sponsors. It's short term...just one gift for the family and a small gift for each child. And I can get more names.

 

-Mira

[HappyknitandcrochetFreak]

HI:hug

 

This is for such a good cause:manyheart

 

I just signed into the yahoo group, and cant wait to get started:hug

 

 

 

 

we have started a support group especially to help the reservation both childre and elders. There are a bunch of projects going on - chalolanges fro makind scarves and hats. and elder friendship program - where you are assigned an elder and you wirte a letter once a month and send a little someting you make such as a dishcloth - just something from you to them to encourage better understanding. there is a crhistmas project started so that children will have a few thing under the treen, blankets and ponchos - and on and on

 

we would love to have you join our group come take a look and feel free to ask any questions you may have it is at

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CraftingForACause/

 

please take a look and ask all the questions you want - Pamela

[Ilah]

I have signed up for crafting for a cause and am waiting for my acceptance. I have one hat I have made to donate so far and I plan to make more.

[Kevspepper]

I have signed up for crafting for a cause and am waiting for my acceptance. I have one hat I have made to donate so far and I plan to make more.

 

I just signed up and am awaiting for acceptance too. There are so many needy people out there. I don't have much but whatever I can give back I will.

[losingmymind2]

I know you'll love it Susana! We can't do everything that is needed, but even one small thing makes someone's life a bit easier. I LOVE having been matched with an Elder, and it's so easy to make someone's life a bit brighter. But I've found that I get so much more back from the lady I am matched with. It's so exciting to me to have made a new friend.

[Kevspepper]

I just told my boss about the reservation and she's agreed to send out some toys for christmas. Which is so cool. I hate to think of a little boy or girl going without during the holidays.

[SassyThreads]

I just want to mention that when you sign up at crafting for a cause you need to be sure and fill out the questionnaire that is sent to you. When that is emailed back to us you will be approved for membership.

 

We will be having more elders on our list to adopt. Mira has been doing a great job matching elders for us!

 

We also are doing a fleece blanket drive for the children with cancer at UC Davis medical center.

 

Doing a scarf drive for the children on PineRidge right now.

 

Would love to see more folks come aboard with us. We are growing in leaps and bounds.:dog

 

Also in the process of doing a cookbook fundraiser. Many more things going on, never a dull moment:yay

[schcrochet]

I'm not by any means questioning this is a good cause. I am floored that there is such a need. Why are we so uninformed? I'm puzzled too why, in general terms, anyone living on a reservation would be so financial straped? I've always been of the impression they don't pay taxes, they get money from their tribes, they make money off gambling which isn't legal for non American Indians except in certain locations, they're given special assistance for education both on and off the reservation, food stamps and that type of welfare programs. Is this particular reservation somehow being excluded from all thats available to others? It's been years since we've been that direction. We did once go through a small portion of the res, it was a very bad time to be there as there were protests going on. Lots of folks standing around with guns, and they were flying The American Flag upside down. I was very troubled by the experience. Felt very unsafe there with all the glares towards my family. When we returned from vacation, I did some research and found they were protesting many things, but primarily it was directed at someone being found guilty and put in prision for murder on the res; that they all apparently thought to be inocent.

 

You are there now and have more current and up to date info, so please don't be offended at my question. It's just as I get older have learned I question many things; sometimes things are not what they seem. I like to know the charities I help are truly in need and interested, and not abusing the situation (I've been burned a few times giving).

[kittencrochet]

First off, I'm sorry you visited the Rez during such a horrid time. Yes, that would have most likely beein AIM (American Indian Movement) petitioning about Leonard Pelletier. AIM is a VERY militant group and I steer clear of them. And I have my own opinions as far as Pelletier...lol!

 

 

As for the gambling, the reservations that DO have casinos still do not make a huge profit. They must split all profits between every registered tribal member. And for said casino to be profitable, it would need to be close to civilization...not so for Pine Ridge. The nearest town of any size is hours away.

 

These people really do not get all the things we are told they recieve. One family that I sponsor was told they would be given supplies to build a new home. Their current home is infested with black mold and they have kids with asthma who cannot be in the rooms with it. It's been a few years and they are STILL waiting!

 

Now as for special stuff like education, etc. The first thing you have to have is a BIA card. Not all Natives are card carrying. You do not get one when you're born, they must be applied for. I know of many that refuse a BIA card as they see it as the government trying to track them. And without it, there is no extra help. Food stamps...same laws apply as to everyone else I believe. Many states have a lifetime limit on welfare programs. Here in NH, you can only recieve TANF for 60 months...some states is less! Jobs are hard to find as there is no industry on the Rez. And few have cars, and there is no public transportation. So the only option left is by foot...again...nearset sizeable town hours away!

 

There is little medical care, schools are some of the worst, racism is still prevalent, etc, etc, etc.

 

It really is horrible there. The government is real good at trying to cover up. They make promises that are never followed through on...just as they have for years. I've personally talked people on the Rez, I have friends that have been there, have friends that come from there. And it's not just Pine Ridge...all of them have similar conditions...the Penobscot in ME, the Navajo in the southwest, the Cherokee, Hopi, Cheyenne, Comanche, Apache...the list is endless.

 

I really can't get into a lot of details without getting really political...it is a political situation really. So if you'd like to chat further on it, feel free to PM or e-mail me.

 

-Mira

[schcrochet]

Thanks so much Kittencrochet for all the news. How sad, really sad. You're right it was AIM etc. I couldn't think of the names previously,. but when I read your note it hit like a bolt.

 

I do want to help, just signed on to a military thing tonight. I need to make sure I'm not stretching myself too thin. So I will definately be back in touch.

 

I didn't know about the cards. It's a shame they don't get them so they can get a little help, but I sure understand being proud and not wanting to do that. We've not carved a proud spot in history with our treatment of The Native Americans.

[kittencrochet]

Awesome! We'd love to have you. Many members are on limited income and they send as they can...we have a few quarterly projects rather than something each month. And more programs are forthcoming, I believe. Even if you can't do anything quite yet, feel free to join and participate as you are able. We love meeting new members.

 

 

I grew up in the Native community here in NH. But I have found I've learned so much from these people in such a short time. One elder I sponsor, we talk on the phone once a month...he tells me the old stories and we chat about anything and everything. My son tells everyone, that's "his" grandpa...lol!

[wickedwitchofthewest]

You did such a good job of explaining - I belong to a crochet gorup at college and will see if I can get some people interested - with christmas break coming it might be hard but for sure after the first - isn't it too bad that we always put ourselves first! when others are in such need but I know that there is a long cold winter coming - and I just read some information about the infant mortality rate there at the Pine Ridge reservation and how many of the old, weak, and the very young die each year just from hypothermia - we are talking about the United states a leading world power and people freezing to death - it is so sad -

[kittencrochet]

Anytime you're ready, we're there. There's a steady list of names of elders needing help, and quarterly donations are always greatly appreciated and needed.

[dragonfly]

I just signed up i already have some hats and scarves done been waiting to see who could use them.I have been to South Dakota i love it there but it does get really cold in winter and too hot in summer. Its a beautiful state, and i have been to pine ridge very sad the way they have to live.Linda C

[kittencrochet]

Awesome Linda! I see you're pending approval....as soon as we get the form back, we can approve you and give ya the address to send things to. :-)

[wickedwitchofthewest]

Linda or Mira - could you post the yahoo address - it is probably here and I am missing it - also can you tell us a little about the elders that might be waiting - maybe I can get some more people interested or maybe there are some people reading this that might join too - what do we need to do if we sign up for an elder? And if we do not want to sign up to sponsor an elder are there other things we can do? Carol

[kittencrochet]

the address is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CraftingForACause

 

Right now I have 3 single elders and 2 couples waiting for sponsors. One couple the wife had brain surgery and is wheelchair bound...they are raising their grandchildren and the wife enjoys sewing. The other couple are in their early 60's...they work with horses, taking care of their grandchildren and the wife likes to quilt.

 

For the singles, one is in her 60's and likes to quilt and make designs...another is 57 and raising 6 kids, she likes to sew and make quilt blocks but particularly likes to do beadwork...and the last one is raising 5 kids and is very sickly...she has arthritis and is in a lot of pain. There will be more names coming soon...as well as possibly from another reservation as well...I'm looking into a contact with the Navajo in Chinle, AZ.

 

When you sign up for an elder, you are making a commitment of 1 year. And at any time, if you can't participate for whatever reason, that is fine. You would send one package each month to your elder, or elders. It doesn't have to be anything big. Last month I sent dishcloths I made and some tea. This month I'm sending Christmas ornaments, cocoa and probably some cookies. So the packages do not have to be expensive. The goal is to bring a smile to their face. People have sent blankets, food, dishcloths, lotions, candles, tea, cocoa, coffee...all sorts of different things. Items can be handmade or store bought...it doesn't matter. The only restrictions are that we cannot send religious items out of respect for their beliefs (many follow traditional Lakota ways) and we cannot send money. You communicate with that elder directly...by mail and phone if they have a number.

 

If someone did not want to sponsor an elder, they could opt to participate in a quarterly project. They would send a package to our contact on the Rez who then distributes the items to others. We have this both for the elders and children. Besides that, we also have projects for the Chain Gang and UC Davis in CA. So there's lots to choose from. There's also a Pine Ridge Holiday Project that is wrapping up very soon. People are matched to a family on Pine Ridge and help bring them some holiday cheer. We ask that one item be sent for the family (board game, card game, cookies, etc) and one small item for each child. We have 2 families left that need sponsors for that...one with 3 kids and one with 4.

 

I personally sponsor 3 elders and it's been great. One of the grandmas...she sent me a pair of beautiful earrings that she beaded. I was not expecting it and was deeply touched by that. The grandpa I sponsor, we chat on the phone once or twice a month. We're even making plans for me to come out there this summer for a visit. He loves talking with my son, who is 7, and eants him to come spend a summer with him to teach him the old ways. My son is half Native American...not Lakota...but he said he needs to learn how his ancestors lived...hear the stories, etc. It has certainly been a very educational experience.

[dragonfly]

I have the hats and scarves boxed up and ready to send,hopefully tomorrow we are having bad weather here today.And i also have a box of about 50 squares i am sending out to Debbie. Linda C

[kittencrochet]

awesome! And I totally hear ya about bad weather...we got snow dumped on us today.

[rosa]

I am so glad to see that we have interest again - I heard on the national news today that the temperatures were -9 below zero on Pine Ridge with a wind child of -35. Be thinking of all those extra sweat shirts and jogging pants in your closets, socks, mittens, anything to keep these people from freezing.