Indian elders are freezing to death on our reservations

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

RESERVATIONS IN WINTER

Weather is extreme on the Lakota Reservations of South Dakota. Severe winds are always a factor.

Winters bring bitter cold with temperatures averaging 9o (November through February) and often made worse with extreme wind-chill factors and record temperatures reaching -44o below 0oF (1996).

Over 60% of the homes are severely sub-standard, many without running water or electricity.

Tragically, Lakota have died from hypothermia due to inability to pay for heating.

It’s cold on the prairie in the winter. Bone chilling, snot freezing, blistering cold. But, for those who have no heat, it’s killing cold.

Every year, people die in Indian Country—elders, too proud to ask for help, families too dysfunctional to get it together—somewhat like in Anytown, USA. There is a major difference on the rez, though, and that difference is poverty, the likes of which compares more with the Third World than any place we’d like to call the United States. But, that is the reality, the reality on many of the nation’s Native American reservations, places which are home to hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom, particularly infants and elders are in danger of freezing to death.

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/01/16/18472978.php

Full articles found at links.

[tsalagicara]

'Siyo, Thunderwolf. Wado for posting this. Everytime I read about something like this, it makes me cry. My husband and I are in great financial need ourselves, and I wish we had more money to donate to the Heating Assistance cause. I'm a Southeastern Native from Alabama, and my husband is a Southwestern Native from Arizona, and it's hard for us to imagine anyone being stuck in -40 degrees bitterly cold weather without any heat. On my hubby's rez in Arizona, there are many folks still without electricity or plumbing also, and elders without heat. Though it gets nowhere near that cold in Arizona, or in Alabama. They have food/blanket/clothing donations there. We do have food, blankets, coats, sweaters etc that I would love to donate to the Lakota. Do you know of somewhere we can send gently used clothing and blankets? We want to help any way we can.

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

Thank you for your interest.

The post is indeed eye opening. It may also point to additional information that may of help.

Peace to you.

Wolfie

[tsalagicara]

Thanks. I did check the Link Center Foundation's website but didn't see anything about donating clothes & blankets, unless I overlooked it. Guess I'll have to call them, or just do a Google search.

[vetnrse]

go to www.friendsofpineridge.org there you will find several places in need of blankets,warm clothing and essential items, with the contact person and address to send.