Health care on the reservation truly shocking

[Bridey]

i have always volunteered my time and skills when i have been able to do so. nowhere have i had a greater pull towards than the rosebud & pine ridge reservations in south dakota. i plan someday to find a way to assemble a team of medical volunteers to offer healthcare to the people of those areas... the level of healthcare that they deserve. not just for a day or a week or a month, but for a few years. long enough to help combat the serious health issues nai's face that often go untreated... alcoholism, mental health, obesity, diabetes...

maybe it's a dream, but someday i hope to somehow in someway make a difference for the lakota people in sd.

it really makes me sick to think that this sort of thing is allowed in this country. the conditions under which so many nai's are subjected to live seem so farfetched to the people who drive around in their nice shiny new bmw's and drive home to their multi-million dollar homes. how could there be such a huge socioeconomic divide? how could people only a few miles away live in homes with dirt floors when others get marble imported from italy to adorn their foyers? it's hard to wrap your brain around such a thing... to acknowledge how terribly wrong the government has treated the nai's. and how it continues to this day...

i know it happens to everyday to all kinds of people, but this is personal. i know i am only one person, but if enough people made enough of an effort to work towards positive change i believe something really good could come of it.

"you may say i'm a dreamer, but i'm not the only one." - john lennon

bridey

if filmmaker michael moore really wanted to shock the world about the lack of health care in the united states, he should have taken his film crew to an indian reservation for scenes in his recent documentary “sicko.”

imagine avis littlewind, a 14-year-old who was lying curled in the fetal position for 90 days before killing herself because no treatment center existed to help her.

on wednesday, the senate committee on indian affairs held a field hearing on the crow reservation to collect testimony from native people suffering at the hands of the indian health service, which is funded at barely half of its need.

read article in its entirety:

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/08/18/montana/c01081807_03.txt

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

One suggestion is....many large cities have an Indian Center to help serve the cultural needs of its members. Contact your local Indian center....networking here is a good start.

I noticed soapaddictOh that you are in Ohio. A starting place:

Native American Indian Center, 67 E Innis Ave, Columbus, OH 43207

[phone]

67 E Innis Ave, Columbus, OH 4320

-------------------------------------------

American Indian Education Center, 1314 Denison Ave, Cleveland, OH 44109

[phone] americanindianeducationcenter.net 1314 Denison Ave, Cleveland, OH 44109

-------------------------------------------

Each state/city have them....connect, explore the opportunities, and some may even have trips out to a particular Rez.

Peace

[soapaddictOH]

Thanks!! Cleveland is close by.

[vetnrse]

Its good to hear of so many of you with an interest to help the extremely undernourished health care system on the reservations. It is a dangerous place to get healthcare, as the system is lax and underfunded, just bare bones healthcare is provided. If the same low quality of health care was issued to the rest of the country, they would have tons of lawsuits filed. Unfortunatly, the average resident on the reservations do not have the education or inclination for lawsuits after being so downtrodden in the last 150 years. That kind of does cause a general lack of motivation. Well there is the IHS you could sign up with , its a branch of the public health service. you can request where you would like to be sent, and they will send you.there are always nursing positions available . Relocation expense (upon 1 yr of service completed) will be reimbursed. Also low cost housing provided. I think I paid 250.00/mo for a nice 2 bedroom 10 yrs ago.Log onto www.IHS.gov for more info and opportunities. There are also the bordertown hospitals and nursing homes that have most of their patients from the reservations. And yes the IHS uses travelers .I must say though, any of you that go will be shocked and apalled at the living conditions and BS that these poor people have to endure. The government does not help and really just wants to sweep the situation under the rug.It is an embarassment for the United States so thats what they do. Imagine if every American knew of the conditions here. Imagine if the real history of how this country was made, at the expense of the Indian peoples, the massacurs and everything else. Imagine if Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee was required high school reading. If all this information was known, then you bet something would be done and things could change. Americans really do care, most just dont know about any of this since its not in the curriculums . first Good luck to all of you that have this need to go out there to do some good. It is a harsh land to live but beautiful and strong.I loved it. the 10 years I spent on Pine Ridge and Rosebud will always be a part of me.The feel of the land is stronger than anyplace else. The Spirit is very powerful there. The land is gorgeous and open. I would move back in a flash if I could, but it is no place for my 9 yr old Lakota daughter. There were too many kids I saw that had been molested, too many kids in gangs with drugs and alcohol rampaging their lives, and too many kids that I knew and loved as family that are with us no longer. No, it is no place for my daughter, except for our occasional visits back to see friends and relatives.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. Any way I can help get some good caring people out there Id be honored. I also spent a year working on the Navaho Rez in AZ, also , if anyone wants to know about that area. Pilaymaye (Thankyou)

Mitakuye Oyasin

(We are all related)

[soapaddictOH]

Thanks for your post.

I have the book Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee and I agree everyone should have to read it in school. I have been fascinated with the Native American peoples since I was little. What little we were taught about them in school always saddened me.

I cannot imagine having to live in basically slum like conditions on a reservation. At least that is the impression I get, I have never been to Pine Ridge or Rosebud.

This is something I would have to do once my kids are older, I wouldn't be able to relocate now. I wonder how many people know about the IHS and the services it provides? I think more people need to know.

Edited to say I went to the site and looked at the positions available- wow!

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

Thanks for your post.

I have the book Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee and I agree everyone should have to read it in school.

I also read the book.....and totally agree...the book should be a required reading in school.

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

Thank you, vetnrse, for all of your wonderful feedback. Would love to continue seeing more posted by you....even starting off new threads. I and others benefit from your knowledge and wisdom. Pilamaya (thank you).

Wolfie

[vetnrse]

Thank you, vetnrse, for all of your wonderful feedback. Would love to continue seeing more posted by you....even starting off new threads. I and others benefit from your knowledge and wisdom. Pilamaya.

Wolfie

Gee thanks. Dont really feel very wise most of the time. Just speaking from the heart and feel it must be shared.

Its the only hope the Indian peoples have I think. If it reservation conditions were common knowledge, if every child had this history to learn as required , then something will change. Ive been trying for years to figure out a solution to the immense problems and finally I think this may be a start.The information on history of the Indian people, and reservations past and current conditions , have to be made public. So if enough people know and care,something can be done.

vetnrse

[vetnrse]

Thanks for your post.

I have the book Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee and I agree everyone should have to read it in school. I have been fascinated with the Native American peoples since I was little. What little we were taught about them in school always saddened me.

I cannot imagine having to live in basically slum like conditions on a reservation. At least that is the impression I get, I have never been to Pine Ridge or Rosebud.

This is something I would have to do once my kids are older, I wouldn't be able to relocate now. I wonder how many people know about the IHS and the services it provides? I think more people need to know.

Edited to say I went to the site and looked at the positions available- :welcome:wow!

thanks for hearing, soapaddict. If you or anyone wants to volunteer time out in Rosebud or Pine Ridge there is plenty to do. If its straight nursing check out Porcupine clinic ,Porcupine S.D. on Pine Ridge. It is more tribally controlled than IHS so there may be some easier way to volunteer there. you can go to website www.friendsofpineridgereservation.org and will find a list of organizations(including porcupine clinic) that can use help , from women's shelters to rehabs and childrens homes, they can all use volunteers. from a nursing capacity there are plenty of opportunities to teach there also. The young girls really need it most, teen pregnancies, stds etc... In Rosebud you can contact Tillie Black Bear at the White Buffalo Calf Society on Main St

in Mission SD. a womens sheltershe can always use help.

Hope this is a help. Pilamaye

[LPNinVA]

Wanted you to know Bridey, that I also am going to work on a Reservation in the hope of providing better care and giving back. This is the only way I have found to help and give back, is to dig in and give the very best medical care we can. I am going as a traveling nurse, but intend to continue as a traveling nurse on reservations. One person can't make very much difference, but I believe that there are more like you and myself who do care. So what if the hospital supplies suck and the Docs are not top notch. It is entirely possible to make up the difference yourself. As an ER nurse I have made do many times without the proper supplies, and played doctor many many times, because the one I was working with was an idiot. I have spent most of my career as a Trauma nurse in areas where the poor and homeless make up the majority of the pts. treated. Where there is a will there is a way. I wish I was shocked by what you are saying, but thanks to Siri and Thunderwolf's posts I have learned things that have made my heart cry out with the continued injustice. But I plan to spend the rest of my career doing everything I can to make things better. If there are enough of us willing to dig in things will improve over time. I refuse to believe otherwise!

TiredBraveHeart

I am a new L.P.N. 46 year old am planning to continue for my R.N. next year (2008) i would like to become a traveling nurse in the next 4 years . Have heard many sad stories about the health system Native Americans in reservations have to endure, please keep me posted of any volunter services i can provide.. Thanks and many blessings to you

[vetnrse]

:welcome:

Here's the website again in case you missed it in my previous post.

www.friendsofpineridgereservation,org you will find contacts in Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservation groups here. Call or write them about volunteering, or you could just show up. Someone always needs a ride.

Make sure you have a strong car, you will be giving lots of rides no matter what work you do there.Porcupine clinic is listed also. Good luck .

[traveltiger]

Hello, I often wonder when my spouse has trouble @ his job in IHS clinic if the major issue is the IHS it's self. He was recently told to add computers to his operories for the closet space allowed to his dental office, the cost to add 80,000+, where would the funds be found?,,, " Well the war has taken it's toll on the grant situation..." This is not 1879, rotted meat is not the mainstay, why is health/dental care no better, I know people here who haven't had dental or prenatal care b/c "There wasn't any, may be now it will get better,,,"

[vetnrse]

Yes , the problem IS the IHS and not your husband. Remember, it is government run/funded, and IHS is on the lowest priority for funding and brainwork . Very poorly organized, as you see.The right hand doesnt know what the left is doing, and lots of time it is a clash. Ive found nepotism and politics prevail . Unfortunatly, the people do suffer and go without, prenatal, dental and general decent health care. The kids are brought up on Amoxacillin or Erythro, seem to have continual URIs. Government isnt going to spend money on decent antibiotics for Indians. The only way for it to get better is to spend the money to get enough employees and supplies, like that'll ever happen. Hang in there Jbrott. they need caring people like you and your husband.

vetnrse