Pine Ridge Blizzard

[Dietmar]

We already had some news about the terrible situation on Pine Ridge in another thread. I just hand this on:

International Disaster Declaration from Russel Means
by Brennus
Sunday Nov 9th, 2008 9:31 PM

Governor Michael Rounds of South Dakota has declared the State a disaster area. However, Indian Reservations are NOT included in the declaration. I, Russell Means, due to the total absence of Tribal Government and its leadership, and as candidate for Tribal President and Chief Facilitator of the Republic of Lakotah, am declaring an INTERNATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY.
Oglala Sioux Pine Ridge Indian Reservation - STATE OF EMERGENCY

Governor Michael Rounds of South Dakota has declared the State a disaster area. However, Indian Reservations are NOT included in the declaration.

I, Russell Means, due to the total absence of Tribal Government and its leadership, and as candidate for Tribal President and Chief Facilitator of the Republic of Lakotah, am declaring an INTERNATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY.

The reason for this declaration is two-fold: 1) The current life-threatening severe weather conditions and 2) The ongoing genocidal policies of the United States Government that still remain unaddressed:

Unknown thousands are still stranded by high snow drifts for 3rd straight day.
Unknown number of people without heat and/or electricity.
Impassable road conditions preventing emergency services and propane deliveries.
Confirmed fatality due to inability to get to dialysis treatment. Status of other dialysis patients is unknown.
Second fatality bled to death due to no emergency services.
Tribal President Steele and Vice President Brewer's whereabouts unknown as reported by Officers of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (B.I.A.).
Officers rescue mother with new born and 2-year old child from heatless home.
Tribal Police dispatch unable to determine road conditions.
Wide-spread telephone service interruptions.
Hardest hit is the eastern portion of the Reservation, which includes Pass Creek, Eagle Nest and Medicine Root Districts. Also Red Shirt Table, Cuny Table, Slim Buttes,Oglala and Porcupine communities.
Unconfirmed reports of National Guard due to arrive today.
Genocidal Results of the Failed American Indian Policies of the United States Government:
MORTALITY:
Lakotah men have a life expectancy of less than 44 years, lowest of any country in the World (excluding AIDS) including Haiti.
Lakotah death rate is the highest in the United States.
The Lakotah infant mortality rate is 300% more than the U.S. Average.
One out of every four Lakotah children born are fostered or adopted out to non-Indian homes.
Diseases such as tuberculosis, polio, etc. are present. Cancer is now at epidemic proportions!
Teenage suicide rate is 150% higher than the U.S national average for this group.
POVERTY:
Median income is approximately $2,600 to $3,500 per year. 97% of our Lakotah people live below the poverty line. Many families cannot afford heating oil, wood or propane and many residents use ovens to heat their homes. UNEMPLOYMENT: Unemployment rates on our reservations are 80% or higher. Government funding for job creation is lost through cronyism and corruption. HOUSING: Elderly die each winter from hypothermia (freezing). 1/3 of the homes lack basic clean water and sewage while 40% lack electricity. 60% of Reservation families have no telephone. 60% of housing is infected with potentially fatal black molds. There is an estimated average of 17 people living in each family home (may only have two to three rooms). Some homes, built for 6 to 8 people, have up to 30 people living in them. DRUGS AND ALCOHOL: More than half the Reservation's adults battle addiction and disease. Alcoholism affects 9 in 10 families. Two known meth-amphetamine labs allowed to continue operation. Why? DISEASE: The Tuberculosis rate on Lakotah reservations is approx. 800% higher than the U.S national average. Cervical cancer is 500% higher than the U.S national average. The rate of diabetes is 800% higher than the U.S national average. Federal Commodity Food Program provides high sugar foods that kill Native people through diabetes and heart disease. INCARCERATION: Indian children incarceration rate 40% higher than whites. In South Dakota, 21 percent of state prisoners are American Indians, yet they only make up 2% of the population. Indians have the second largest state prison incarceration rate in the nation. Most Indians live on federal reservations. Less than 2% of Indians live where the state has jurisdiction! THREATENED CULTURE: Only 14% of the Lakotah population can speak the Lakotah language. The language is not being shared inter-generationally. Today, the average age of a fluent Lakotah speaker is 65 years. Our Lakotah language is an Endangered Language, on the verge of extinction. Our Lakotah language is not allowed to be taught in the U.S. Government schools. Please contact: [e-mail], 605-867-1025
www.republicoflakotah.com

[Dietmar]

Please look also here:

www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/11/10/news/top/doc4917b2c6639e8189175523.txt

[miyelo]

first of all, Russell should shut up and learn his language then complain about it.

the problem here was this: no one knew. they said ''some snow coming.'' Before we knew it, full on, white out, high wind, lights out, no heat, no water, no nothing blizzard hit us upside the head. The next problem was: the reservations got hit the hardest, as usual, and NO ONE REPORTED IT. We would hear '' two inches in sioux falls and no outtages thank god'' or "15 in Rapid but all is well the emergency crews are doing a great job." Meanwhile, all of us on Rosebud and Pine Ridge are freezing to death etc for THREE DAYS. Not one word, no help came, nothing. When my power came back on, I still did not have water for two days after that. Let's see, my last shower was Wed at 6a.m. and I just got water yesterday, Sunday. I boiled snow for washing and making soup for five days. Try boiling snow in a medium saucepan and see how much you get out of it. Takes hours. I figured my pipes were frozen and I was screwed. No. The water pressure at the dams and wells was backed up. Why do we not know this stuff? On Saturday when I could finally see and my power was back on, I walked all the way against the wind into Mission just to find there were no shovels, no salt, and NO WATER for sale. NO WATER FOR SALE!! Huh?? Do you know how many trucks drive thru here everyday? I called to complain yesterday that I saw lights on Friday to the South where ranchers live and lease and was told the North side took longer cuz Todd county took 3 days to send a plow out to the tower so they could get up there to fix it. Valentine Nebraska is 30 miles from here and their lights did not even flicker and their roads were plowed, sanded and clear. I have a 12 foot high ski mtn blocking the dirt road here and it is STILL not plowed. I cannot go anywhere. I cannot get to work. I know at Grandpa's in Porcupine they had to airlift an elder out of the Projects. There were many, many medical problems. I could go on and on but really it is all just part of the trickle down effects of extreme poverty and racsism. It never ends.
Ok sorry I went on a rant.Thanks for listening. My internet is going on and off but I promise I will post that Pete Catches stuff very soon from the other thread.
Here is a good site to read some stuff and learn how to help:
www.NDNnews.com