Thanks to Kossack Keith Olbermann 3 major charities benefiting the South Dakota reservations will get some huge donations now. Today, I want to call your attention to a faster and more direct way you can help. The LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Home Assistance) programs ran out of winter funding in early December. Here's the hard part; you will need to write a check because of no online presence for any tribe.
See below for mailing addresses and I'm going to run the latest and most amazing Keith Olbermann news update after that. Also see the sections divided by reservation for other ways to help like buying propane or donating clothes.
There is a very long national list of LIHEAP Tribal Grantees here. You might consider a tribe in your own state. Here is South Dakota and North Dakota.
I'm focusing on the three below because we have Kossacks and their relatives there.
Ms. Eileen Shot
LIHEAP Coordinator
Rosebud Sioux Tribe
P.O. Box 430
Rosebud, South Dakota 57570
Mr. Denise Red Owl
Director
Oglala Sioux Tribe (Pine Ridge)
P.O. Box 1051
Pine Ridge, South Dakota 57770
Ms. Irma Walking Elk
LIHEAP Coordinator
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
P.O. Box D
Fort Yates, North Dakota 58538
I've added Standing Rock Reservation to our coverage because it is home to Pretty Bird Woman House that many of you will remember. We bought them a new house, painted it and raised funds a couple of years ago. They still need help.
Pretty Bird Woman House
P.O. Box 596
McLaughlin, SD 57642
DONATION LINKS organized by reservation:
Rosebud Reservation
Power:
No online donation links at this time for Rosebud, we'll put one up as soon as available.
St. Francis Energy Co. 605-747-2542 9AM - 5PM MST
(Native owned)
Normally a minimum order is $150, but they have set up an account so that people wanting to donate less can and as it accumulates to a minimum order, it will be delivered. Ask for Sherry or Patsy, who can process this type of payment. Credit Cards ok. Sherry, who delivers the propane, worked all day Sunday driving around the out lying areas looking for people who are the most desperate for propane.
Cherry Todd Electric 605-856-4416 8AM - 5PM MST MON-FRI
Tell them to direct your donation to LIHEAP.
Ask for Samantha. Credit Cards ok.
If you can only donate by check which will be used for future propane deliveries and other necessities send a ck to:
LIHEAP, attn Eileen.
P.O. Box 430
Rosebud, SD 57570
Cks payable to: Rosebud Sioux Tribe LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
Monetary Donations:
Rosebud Sioux Tribe President's Office
P.O. Box 430
Rosebud, SD 57570
Monetary donations (checks only right now) can be made to help the various emergency programs - from social services to energy to the emergency preparedness program, which may be providing extra food or plowing roads to diabetics and those needing dialysis, etc. Monetary donations can include a note specifying how you would like the funds used.
The tribal chairman's office also accepts clothing donations.
Clothing is passed out to those who come into the offices in need or through the tribal social services office.
Clothing:
White Buffalo Calf Woman Society, Inc
291 N. Main
P.O. Box 227
Mission, SD 57555
605-856-2317
Paypal link at www.wbcws.org
Pine Ridge Reservation
Power:
Lakota Plains Propane Company 605-867-5199 8AM - 4:30PM MST MON-FRI
Takes major credit and debit cards
Minimum ordering $120 for one weeks worth of propane
Ask for Jerry and tell him you want to donate to a Lakota family on their list.
Lacreek Electric Company at 800-655-9324 or 605-685-6581 7AM - 4:30PM MST MON-FRI
You need to have a name of a family when you call. Please email KentuckyKat, (kentuckykatonkos AT gmail DOT com) she has the list of names from Autumn and you can be matched with a family.
Clothing Donation:
(Clothing must be clean or it will be thrown away!)
Lakota Oyate Wakanyeja Owicakiyape
East Highway 18
IHS Compound, Box 604
Pine Ridge, SD 57770.
See changingwinds.org for addresses of other agencies participating in the Winter Warmth Drive for the people of Pine Ridge.
Special thanks to Autumn Two Bulls who has been our contact from Pine Ridge. Autumn is completely a first responder volunteer, she is not getting paid nor profiting from this effort. She knows her people well and has driven all over this vast reservation which is nearly the size of Connecticut to check on families in need and collect their names for the power companies. She is currently working on plans to bring solar energy to the Pine Ridge Reservation, and also the construction this summer of an entirely green homeless shelter -- projects that, when completed, will serve as a model for other reservations.
STANDING ROCK RESERVATION
Donations Greatly Appreciated
Pretty Bird Woman House
P.O. Box 596
McLaughlin, SD 57642
See website for specific material needs.
Send the packages to this address:
Pretty Bird Woman House
211 N. First St
McLaughlin, SD 57642
Donations Greatly Appreciated
Ms. Irma Walking Elk
LIHEAP Coordinator
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
P.O. Box D
Fort Yates, North Dakota 58538
TEL: (701) 854-7588
I've removed Cheyenne River Reservation's info to get a little more attention to the other reservations today.
The Native American Advocacy Program (NAAP)
302 East 2nd Street
P.O. Box 527
Winner, South Dakota 57580-0527
Phone: (605) 842-3977
(Not so much for emergencies, but they help our tribal members with disabilities.)
Native American Rights Fund
"Our Mission: preservation of tribal existence, protection of tribal natural resources, promotion of Native American human rights, accountability of governments to Native Americans, development of Indian law and educating the public about Indian rights, laws, and issues."
Web Contact Page
E-Mail: pereira@narf.org
1712 N St. NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-785-4166
Fax: 202-822-0068
Be sure to run all other donation sites through Charity Navigator to make sure they are reputable. There are many scams, old and new out there.
Please see Aji's diary for links to contact information for state and local officials. For a list of federal agency contacts, go here; for a list of national media contacts and a template for a letter to the editor, gohere.
NEWS:
From Bill in MD's diary FEB. 10:
Countdown continues its coverage "of the humanitarian crisis on the ice storm and blizzard ravaged reservations of South Dakota."
Keith Olbermann thanked his viewers tonight for raising so much money and listed two more ways to donate online. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe's new online donation page. Plus the link we recommended at the top of our diary today to the Native American Heritage Association (NAHA).
The clip:
Transcript courtesy of Kimberley:
"And now tonight's first Quick Comment, and you overwhelm me--as usual.
"Last night, continuing our coverage of the humanitarian crisis on the ice storm and blizzard ravaged reservations of South Dakota, I mentioned a Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Storm Relief emergency assistance fund, and we linked to it. They were hoping, by the end of the month, to have raised $35,000.
In 24 hours, you donated approximately $185,000. They thank you and I thank you.
"If anybody wants to go further, the chairman of the tribe tells us the consciousness of politicians is as important as donations right now. FEMA has yet to declare the region a disaster area, and there's something else that could kill about 40 birds with one stone there: They've patched much of the water and power infrastructure back together but they really need an overhaul and something in the jobs bill, or some stimulus money, could not only protect power, heat and water there, it could also put some of the thousands of unemployed Native Americans to work in their own communities. So you could call, write, or e-mail your congressmen and or senator.
"If you're still looking to donate, the Cheyenne River Tribe has its own site. There's also a terrific charity that looks out for all of the reservations effected by the horrific winter in South Dakota: The Native American Heritage Association. And we have linked to both of them on our site, Countdown dot MSNBC.
"Every time I feel the futility of not knowing what to do about one of these crises, I forget to ask the most reliable people I know--you guys. Thanks again."
From navajo's diary FEB. 10:
Wow. Behold the power of a national news broadcast. Last night Kossack Keith Olbermann reported a second time about the ice storm disasters (H/T Kimberley) affecting our reservations in South Dakota and this community cheered as we watched the site he featured go from aproximately $20,000 in donations to over $160,000 in seven hours!
This is wonderful, however, the site above only benefits one tribe so today I'd like to feature the Native American Heritage Association (NAHA), with a 4 star rating from Charity Navigator. NAHA provides food, clothing, heating assistance, etc., to the people on several South Dakota reservations.
The other A & E Bush site Native Americans in Philanthropy is now matching funds up to $35,000, currently at $29,000. Benefiting only one tribe, but hey let's match Archie & Edyth!
From Kimberley's Diary, FEB. 9:
Tonight, Keith Olbermann again trained Countdown's eye on the 50,000 people suffering on reservations in South Dakota.
Quick Quote:
"Doing nothing for these people: An American tradition since at least 1776."
Tonight's Clip:
From navajo's Diary, FEB 8th:
Last night Keith Olbermann named the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to his Worst Persons in the World for completely ignoring three major American Indian reservations in South Dakota devastated by winter storms.
We broadcasted our enthusiasm that perhaps Keith read our diaries and last night to everyone's astonishment Keith commented:
[It's more fun to read it in that booming Keith Olbermann voice]
Key words: We will get more pointed as we go.
Here's the clip from last night:
H/T TiaRachel
BACKGROUND
There are nine reservations In South Dakota. News reports are covering only two reservations, Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River.
Full size photo
courtesy of South Dakota Office of Tribal Government Relations
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
Rosebud Reservation:
The tribe estimates that 11,132 are available for work, with an actual 82% unemployment rate.
Pine Ridge Reservation:
With an unemployment rate that lingers around 85%, substandard housing...
Cheyenne River Reservation:
A labor analysis reflects that the Indian labor force within the reservation is 6,516 and the resulting unemployment rate is over 5,000, or 75%.
(The State of South Dakota is around 5%)
Also read Ojibwa's diary today: Indians 101: American Indians & the United Nations
We've also had a number of Kossacks volunteer to be a part of a new team (currently un-named) that will focus on a continuing diary series on the current conditions of our poorest reservations and discuss proactive and preventative measures that could be taken to prevent similar disasters next winter.
Those volunteers currently are:
KentuckyKat
exmearden
SarahLee
cacamp
Deep Harm
Kimberley
Aji
TiaRachel
Bill in MD
4Freedom
Soothsayer
Lexalou
Zenox
Kitsap River
tlemon
Richard Cranium
swampus
ParkRanger
bablhous
translatorpro
No Way Lack of Brain
oke
Land of Enchantment
Many thanks to them for all their research and support.