Sunday November 9, 2008, 11:37 am
Please find it your heart to help provide heat! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Sunday November 9, 2008, 12:05 pm
I will pray for a very mild winter.. I am worried I will not be able to pay my own heating bills this year Kat..I hear they will skyrocket this year.. and I suffer from Hypothyrodism..I am ALWAYS a lot colder then everyone else..I do have a heated throw..that has been a life saver for me...
these (heated throws) would also be of help for the old,sick and very young. God Bless all who can help in any way. xoxoxoxoxo, Blu'AbbeyCat Family

Sunday November 9, 2008, 12:14 pm
Thanks, Kat. I will donate. I am sorry there is so much poverty there. It is very sad.

Sunday November 9, 2008, 12:19 pm
I will do everything I can to help Kat! Noted!

Sunday November 9, 2008, 1:25 pm
Noted. So much need all around us. I live in a region that, mostly, enjoys moderate temperatures in the winter. Still, on the few chilly mornings we have had, I have watched children shivering at bus stops for lack of a sweater, jacket, and socks. Poverty everywhere. I will do what I can wherever I can, and appreciate your making this need on the Pine Ridge Reservation known. It sickens me anew to reflect on the billions of dollars mis-spent when these most basic ones scream for attention.

Sunday November 9, 2008, 1:31 pm
Hi Kat, When I sent everything out yesterday I put your 'Submitted News' link on the top of your Article. It should lead people here, I hope.
I worry here every year because of the bitter cold, and we have been having more instances of Blizzards here in Colorado. I would like to be able to donate Blankets at least to our Homeless. It has always been a Dream of mine, but my Financial situation prevents this. :(
It makes me sad that I cannot do more..! :(
Thanks for caring so much!
HUG!!!

Sunday November 9, 2008, 1:32 pm
I will Donate!! Wado Kat

Sunday November 9, 2008, 1:36 pm
TY Electra! And a Special THANK YOU to everyone who has "noted" &/or commented! Bless you all!

Sunday November 9, 2008, 1:38 pm
Wish I could afford to donate, myself. It's just not right that the government can't do more for these people.Hopefully in time, Obama will be true to his word and treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve. I'll pass the word along. Thanks, Kat.

Sunday November 9, 2008, 2:00 pm
give them heat

Sunday November 9, 2008, 2:50 pm
I hope that everyone will try to help or tell someone to help. My sons brothers and sisters are on Pine Ridge. I know how much help they need. No one should go with out heat. I will make sure I go without so they will keep warm.Ke-tchi-au-gaw-ming Margo Lodge Seven Oakes

Sunday November 9, 2008, 3:57 pm
Noted with sadness. Sent $50 via PayPal and wish I could send more. Hope it helps as I know they will appreciate it. Love and hugs Kat!

Sunday November 9, 2008, 4:45 pm
Thanks for posting Kat. I don't have a lot, but would like to donate. Can I donate on Paypal?

Sunday November 9, 2008, 4:47 pm
Thank you so much, Merry! Yes, I believe there is information about Paypal at the bottom of the site.

Sunday November 9, 2008, 4:52 pm
I think I spoke too soon! But here is the contact information:

For More information, contact Jeri Baker at jbaker@nativeprogress.org

Sunday November 9, 2008, 4:54 pm
THEY DO HAVE PAYPAL! ALSO:

Donate Online:


Donate By Mail:
Donations may be made by check or money order to ONE/ONE Spirit and sent to:

ONE Spirit
P.O. Box 2595
Chesterfield, VA 23832

Sunday November 9, 2008, 4:57 pm
ALSO (This is a quote)

"Want to do more? Getting ready to shop? Why not start with iGive? You can shop at over 670 on-line stores and the greatest part - ONE Spirit receives a % of every dollar you spend. Special coupons often available.

Register today!! Go to iGive. Enter ONE Spirit for your cause. Select Virginia for the State/Province. Follow the remaining prompts. It is that easy!!"

Sunday November 9, 2008, 5:14 pm
I will be sure to say a prayer for the whole reservation. I wish I could donate all sorts of things to you all, but my husband and I are living on his disability check and that don't leave much for other things. But I am going to try to get the word out to friends and to the people in my church to see what can be done. God Bless

Sunday November 9, 2008, 5:22 pm
TY Christine! I appreciate your efforts!

Sunday November 9, 2008, 5:27 pm
JUST SO YOU'LL KNOW:

The population of the Rez is around 30,000. Shannon is the poorest county in the nation, with an average annual family income of $3,700. Unemployment hangs around 80%, and life expectancy is 48 for men and 52 for women. About half the people over age 40 have diabetes, tuberculosis is common.

Sunday November 9, 2008, 5:29 pm
OOOPS! "Rez" is Reservation, and Pine Ridge is in Shannon county. Sorry about that!

Sunday November 9, 2008, 7:30 pm
I will try to do whatever I can. GOD BLESS THESE PEOPLE.
Much Love as always,
Black Dalia:)

Sunday November 9, 2008, 7:38 pm
I donated Kat, it kills me to see an area so poverty stricken and then see how much is spent on a statue to decorate a park. I would so like to see the day that the people in charge of the government decide we don't need decoration and fireworks we need to feed our cold and hungry. Messed up set of standards.

Sunday November 9, 2008, 7:45 pm
Will be helping. Will also post other programs available to help, right now.

Sunday November 9, 2008, 7:46 pm
Oglala Sioux Tribe Victims Assistance
in Indian Country (VAIC)
The Oglala Sioux Tribe Victims Assistance in Indian Country (VAIC) program provides direct services to victims of crimes and promotes coordinated public and private efforts to aid victims within the community of Pine Ridge Reservation. The people served are victims of assault, child physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, elderly abuse, homicide and other crimes against persons.

VAIC clients have been traumatized by the crimes committed against them and VAIC helps them through the healing process. Among other things, VAIC provides counseling and referrals to shelters and related support services, provides advocacy to the criminal justice court, works with the State Attorney and the FBI, and provides personal advocacy, advising victims of their rights and remedies.

Last fiscal year they serviced almost 900 people, and each year the number increases. VAIC is run by a director and 3 staff members, including one who is an elderly advocate fluent in the Lakota language. VAIC is funded by the Department of Justice and is not a 501(c)(3).

The VAIC /client relationship can be long term. The clients are young and old, male and female. The needs of these victims are great, including material needs. To this end, VAIC provides donated clothing and household goods, food and other grocery type items to assist those in distress.

Donation suggestions:
Blankets and Throws
Arts and Crafts Supplies
Baby Food and Forumula
Backpacks
Bedding of All Types, All Sizes
Clothing - for infants to elders
Warm Coats for infants through elders
Depends
Infant Diapers- all sizes
Diaper Wipes
Housewares and Small Appliances
Laundry Detergent
Dish Soap
Socks and Underwear - infants through elders
Nonperishable Foods
Personal Hygiene, First Aid and Medicinal Products
School Supplies
Shoes and Slippers - infant through elders
Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Facial Tissue, Plastic Trash Bags, Plastic Storage Bags
Bath Towels
Toys, Puzzles, Dolls - for all ages


Ship your donations to:

Via UPS/FedEx/DHL:

Victims Assistance in Indian Country
100 Main St., Hwy 18
Behind Fire Station
Pine Ridge, SD 57770

Via U.S. Mail:

Victims Assistance in Indian Country
P. O. Box 5025
Pine Ridge, SD 57770

Please Note: Due to the volume of donations shipped to the reservation FoPRR cannot verify delivery of your boxes. If you require confirmation of delivery, please purchase delivery confirmation from the post office or use your shipping service's tracking system.

Please do not use Styrofoam packing material. New large size trash bags serve well as padding and are reusable.

http://www.friendsofpineridgereserva...ons/vaic.shtml

Sunday November 9, 2008, 7:53 pm
This really nice.

Sunday November 9, 2008, 7:57 pm
TY Warren, for this information, and for posting this to other programs! If we all work together, these people might not freeze to death this winter!

Sunday November 9, 2008, 8:10 pm
Fuel Assistance Program
http://nativeprogress.org/content/view/29/48/

Help provide heat for the Lakota People on Pine Ridge
During this coldest part of the winter, many people on Pine Ridge Reservation are without heat in their homes. The majority of the 40,000 people on Pine Ridge do not have the equipment for using wood for heat and have to rely on propane. Presently, $120. will only buy enough propane to heat a home for a week. The Tribal Energy Office has recommended that the best way to help people have heat is with electric heaters.

500 energy efficient and safe electric heaters are needed now.

$50 will provide a family with a heater that will keep them warm this winter. Please help us get as many heaters as possible.
Donations made now will provide quick delivery of a heater to a family or elder.

-- The survival of the world depends upon our sharing what we have and working together. if we don't, the whole world will die. First the planet, and next the people.

Fools Crow, Ceremonial Chief of the Teton Sioux
============
STOCK UP WOOD FOR FUEL FOR THE WINTER AND PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT TO SOME ON PINE RIDGE AND CHEYENNE RIVER RESERVATIONS.

THE WOOD PROGRAMS:

Stock up wood for elders and families for the coming winter.
Ensure that people will have heat on the reservation where temperatures can dip to 40 degrees below zero.

Provide employment to Native American men and women who must support families even though unemployment is at 90%.

Allow the Lakota People to take care of themselves and their people.
The Cheyenne River Vets deliver wood they have collected to an elder who is without heat. The temperature is forecast to be near zero during the coming night. Through tears, the elder expresses his thanks to crusty vets who struggle to hide their feelings.

These elders are real people who will benefit from the wood program being supported by ONE Spirit. The Native American Vets are cutting, hauling, and delivering the wood.

WOOD ON PINE RIDGE

"The winter months are hard here on the reservation. Some of the men....have organized a wood project to get wood for the elderly here on Pine Ridge Reservation. We have organized a society of men to try to prepare for winter. The name is "The Men's Buffalo Society".

..... However, most of all the best accomplishment can not be measured by money alone. The men will have made a stand for their community and in a place where there are almost no chances of making a living these men will earn a few dollars for their families in a good way."

SPONSOR A CORD OF WOOD !

Can you help? We need contributions to help pay for the additional costs to get the wood. If 200 people contribute $50, the wood program on Pine Ridge will be paid for. 400 people contributing $50 each will pay for the wood program on both Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River.

donate now ...

For More information, contact Jeri Baker at jbaker@nativeprogress.org

Sunday November 9, 2008, 8:12 pm
Indigenous Anericans are this continents True Peoples. The rest of us are illegal invaders. Please help our Native Brothers and Sisters in evry way you can. Love to all, warren

Sunday November 9, 2008, 8:50 pm
No one should be with out heat. GOD Bless them.

Monday November 10, 2008, 6:37 am
Noted, Thanks Kat! "Unemployment hangs around 80%, and life expectancy is 48 for men and 52 for women." This is horrible and must change!

Pine Ridge Reservation was originally part of the Great Sioux Reservation established in the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 that encompassed approximately 60 million acres of parts of South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming. In 1876, the U.S. government violated the treaty of 1868 by opening up 7.7 million acres of the Black Hills to homesteaders and private interests. On December 29, 1890 at Wounded Knee, over 300 men, women and children were killed by the United States 7th Cavalry. The Native Americans were being transported to the Sioux reservation at Pine Ridge.

Today, the population on Pine Ridge has among the shortest life expectancies of any group in the Western Hemisphere. Adolescent suicide is four times the national average. Many of the families have no electricity, telephone, running water, or sewer. The infant mortality rate is five times the United States national average.

Now for the good news! In a detailed, four-page proposed Native Policy Statement, Barack Obama said he would appoint an American Indian policy adviser on his senior White House staff so that Indian Country has a direct interface at the highest level of the Obama administration. Obama explains his commitments to Native American issues in this First Americans for Obama video.

Monday November 10, 2008, 8:14 am
I love U people!!UR awesome

Monday November 10, 2008, 9:41 am
This is a terrible time for jokes! People are dieing!

Monday November 10, 2008, 11:33 am
If you were not sick or cowardly you would have put your name down. Cowards and bullys only pick on people when they are down. Show your name and face.
Margo Seven Oakes

Monday November 10, 2008, 11:51 am
Shame about the sickos that show up from time to time, but thanks to the rest of you for your honest compassion for others. You will be blessed. I will donate and I will pass along this message to others as well. I am glad to know of a way to help and that donations will go to the ones who truly need them. Thank you Faith for telling me about this.

Monday November 10, 2008, 3:46 pm
All people should see the movie "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee." It is the most profound true story about the reservations and the great honorable tribes that were forced there. Tom M. - Great post. You cover the devastation of that holocaust. These great true Americans did not ask to be betrayed or forced into reservations. We must not neglect our duty to these people.

Monday November 10, 2008, 4:24 pm
I find it incredible that in this year, 2008, there are people in the US who are without heat in the winter. The US has always appeared a golden land to us here in the east with all that a progressive country has to offer its people. I too think that Bury my heart at Wounded Knee was a profound statement on the white man's exploitative tendancies and feel that maybe, just maybe, Obama will be able to attend to these dreadful wrongs perpetrated upon the Native Americans. The land belonged to them for centuries, all was well, they took only what they needed to live, never denuding anything, then along came the great unwashed from Europe, and these beautiful, sensitive people suddenly became barbarians, who had to be exterminated for their lands, at all cost. America owes them a great debt. I'm hoping the Barack Obame will be the solution for the ills that plague them.

Monday November 10, 2008, 4:29 pm
BLIZZARD SURVIVORS in Wanblee, SD struggle without electricity, fresh water.

Spending five days without electricity or running water has been an ordeal for people in Wanblee on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Up to 200 people have been spending the night at the Crazy Horse school, at first without blankets or beds, cooking the school's food, diapering babies with old clothes, and trying to stay warm through power from a generator.

The makeshift shelter is being run by Pastor Gus Craven, who has also been helping residents make runs between their homes and the shelter, and who went to Kadoka Friday night on newly opened roads to get cots and blankets from that community's Red Cross.

He said he isn't sure when Wanblee will get power. On his trip to Kadoka he saw perhaps 20 downed power lines.

Most Wanblee residents don't have the gas or money to make the 56-mile round trip to Kadoka themselves, he said.

And some are afraid to leave, since there have been reports of people looting empty homes, he said. Craven said several families have dropped their elders and children off at the shelter and returned to their cold, dark homes to protect them from thieves.

Some relief came Saturday for the people at the shelter when the Black Hills chapter of the Red Cross sent blankets, water and toiletries. The state emergency management department planned to send food and diapers Saturday, said Russ Korzeniewski with the Red Cross. Craven didn't know Saturday evening if those supplies had arrived. He said the school was not out of food but there was not an excess, either.

Help apparently came after people at the shelter contacted state offices, where workers then contacted the Red Cross.

The South Dakota National Guard also helped with a Blackhawk helicopter on Friday, airlifting four dialysis patients out of the community to get medical attention at the Pine Ridge Hospital.

People living in rural areas on the reservation are without electricity and their food supplies and firewood are running low, Craven said.

"Is there a way we can get a front-end loader or a dozer down here?" he asked.

He said people are wondering if the tribal government is making an effort to help them. The store in Wanblee hasn't opened, and the school's generator quit Friday, making for a chilly night.

Celeste Pretends Eagle of Wanblee said she and her family have been without electricity or running water since Tuesday.

"As of now, we're still melting snow and putting it in the toilet to flush, and we're melting snow to boil water and do dishes and wash the kids up. Just today, someone brought us a case of bottled water," she said.

The situation has been frightening for the 28-year-old mother of four young children between the ages of 10 and 4, as they and four other adults and three nephews under age 5 braved the blizzard and its aftermath for the past five days.

Pretends Eagle said she hasn't experienced such an extreme storm in the 10 years she's lived in Wanblee.

"It's been scary. Pastor Gus, he delivered us some candles, so we've been using those. My brother is disabled, and he can't leave the house to go to the bathroom, so we've been melting snow so we can flush the toilet," Pretends Eagle said.

Pretends Eagle had purchased groceries on Monday but food began to run out as the week progressed.

"We've been running out of food, so we go up to the school to eat," Pretends Eagle said. "We've been getting by as best we can on rice and beans."

She said people are stuck and supplies are dwindling.

"Nobody had four-wheel drive. If you don't have it, you can't get out around here. The Longcreek store hasn't been open and we can't get any supplies. It's the only store within 30 miles," Pretends Eagle said.

Roads had started to be cleared on Saturday allowing people to get out. Pretends Eagle hopes the worst is over and people will be able to get re-supplied.

"We could really use help. Water would be good," Pretends Eagle said.

Contact the Black Hills chapter of the Red Cross at 342-4010.

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415, or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com.

Monday November 10, 2008, 4:37 pm
TY for this new information, Blue Bunting! Thi is so heartbreaking!!!

Monday November 10, 2008, 5:03 pm
Kat Mosi mentioned signing up with iGive to shop to benefit OneSpirit. I'll let you in on a way to find out more coupons deals for iGive merchants.

I handle the iGive Program for another charity (the Meerkat Society). We have our own forum and I have a thread on that forum where I list, several times a week, new discount coupons for iGive merchants. And the posting provides the link to shop. If you're signed up with iGive for One Spirit the link will result in a donation to them if you buy anything from the merchant - it isn't specific to the Meerkat Society. Whatever charity you are signed up for will get the donation when you shop through an iGive merchant.

And the donation percentages can be quite high - I buy all the copier and fax machine toner for my office through iGive - and the Meerkat Society gets over 12% of the purchase price each time as a donation.

Anyone is welcome to check it out. Go to the East Coast Meerkat Society forum at:

http://mastermeerkat.forumcircle.com/viewforum.php?f=32

Then go down the page a little to the thread "New Discounts: Earn Donations For the Kats Just By Shopping." Go to the last page of the thread to see the most recent coupons given (you can also check previous pages - sometimes the discount coupons have long expiration dates and will still be good for months to come).

iGive is a REALLY great program and I hope everyone here will sign up to help OneSpirit. The donations, even from small purchases, really can add up (at the Meerkat Society, we get over $100 per month from iGive - and we are a TINY organization.)

Please sign up and shop to help OneSpirit. Just go to www.igive.com to sign up for this great program.

Monday November 10, 2008, 5:06 pm
TY so much for this wonderful information, Lindsey! Very much appreciated!

Monday November 10, 2008, 5:23 pm
In fact, here's a copy of the weekly e-mail I send out to meerkat iGive supporters which has some of that discount coupon info in it:

To Our iGive Supporters:

$1,543.53 Raised Since October 20, 2007

73 Members Signed Up for iGive

See below for discount coupon codes for selected iGive merchants.

**************************************

Yves Rocher

WONDERFUL STOCKING STUFFERS: All-botanical skin care, cosmetics, bath & body, haircare, and gifts for men and women, with a multitude of lovely fragrances. All products are cruelty-free.

Free gifts with every purchase.

7.2% Donation to the Meerkats on Every Purchase

Discount Coupons:

$10 off $30+ order, coupon code "F4317", expires unknown
$5 off $15+ order, coupon code "YRTAKE5OFF", expires unknown
Free shipping on $10+ order, coupon code "FREESHIPTODAY", expires November 17, 2008
$10 off $45+ order, coupon code "10OFF45", expires November 17, 2008
15% off order, coupon code "WELCOME15OFF", expires December 31, 2008
$10 off $30+ order, coupon code "WELCOME10OFF", expires December 31, 2008
Free shipping with $25+ order for the holidays, no coupon code necessary

PREFERRED SHOPPING METHOD: Go to:
http://www.igive.com/shop/merchants.cfm?sort=name. If you are already logged in to iGive this will take you directly to the alphabetic merchant list. Scroll down and click on the merchant's link then shop as normal. (If you are not already logged in, the link will take you to the iGive log-in page where you will log in then click on the tab "a-z stores" on the left-hand side of the page, which will take you to the alphabetic merchant list.)

ALTERNATE METHOD: Go directly to the merchant's site at: http://www.yvesrocherusa.com/control/main/?siteID=PFX&sc=PFX. If the iGive shopping window then pops up you know that your visit is being recorded with iGive and the Meerkat Society should receive the donation. If the iGive shopping window does not pop up, however, there is a possibility the donation will not be properly credited. To be absolutely sure the best method is always to go directly through iGive as noted above.

**************************************

Swiss Colony

Classic gift baskets, cheese and meats, pastries and sweets, nuts and snacks, and unusual Christmas gifts.

2.8% Donation to the Meerkats on Every Purchase

Discount Coupons:

$15 off $75+ purchase, no coupon code needed, unknown expiration (will automatically appear as a discount in your shopping cart)
Choice of three gift tins free with first order, coupon code "AB1375", expires December 31, 2008

PREFERRED SHOPPING METHOD: Go to:
http://www.igive.com/shop/merchants.cfm?sort=name. If you are already logged in to iGive this will take you directly to the alphabetic merchant list. Scroll down and click on the merchant's link then shop as normal. (If you are not already logged in, the link will take you to the iGive log-in page where you will log in then click on the tab "a-z stores" on the left-hand side of the page, which will take you to the alphabetic merchant list.)

ALTERNATE SHOPPING METHOD: Go directly to the merchant's site at: http://www.swisscolony.com/home.jsp?referrer=XA1997&code=XA1997&source=k27&link=j1979923&sid=sc_47389909. If the iGive shopping window then pops up you know that your visit is being recorded with iGive and the Meerkat Society should receive the donation. If the iGive shopping window does not pop up, however, there is a possibility the donation will not be properly credited. To be absolutely sure the best method is always to go directly through iGive as noted above.

**************************************
Don't forget to check out the thread on the ECMS forum where I post new discount coupon information for various iGive merchants frequently. Go to:

http://mastermeerkat.forumcircle.com/viewforum.php?f=32

Then scroll down to the thread, "New Discounts! Earn Donations for the ECMS Just by Shopping"

******************

Remember - if you're signed up for OneSpirit, they're the one who will get the donation.

Monday November 10, 2008, 7:18 pm
Blue Bunting & Lindsey O., thank you for the information.
Denise Tankha - Your words are so true.

Monday November 10, 2008, 7:30 pm
And check out the link at the bottom of the "news item" to go to their eBay store. There are some really nice pieces of Indian jewelry and other things to bid on.

Even if you don't win the auction - at least you'll help drive the price up and help the charity get more money!

Monday November 10, 2008, 7:41 pm
Contact Governor Rounds at his email link: http://www.state.sd.us/governor/
to find out why his citizens, the ones without heat on the reservation, are being forced to do without! and while you're at it, ask Governor Rounds when is he going to take responsibility and send in the right people from whatever agencies are required to "reconnect" the Native Americans on the Pine Ridge Reservation with clean running water, hydro, electricity and all the amenities that all his "other" constituents are privy to!
Isn't it all about dignity?
President Elect Barack Obama IS the difference.... YES HE CAN and YES WE WILL! Will Governor Mike Round join this campaign to right the wrongs in his own state? We will see !

Tuesday November 11, 2008, 1:42 am
This is so sad and upsetting. My heart goes out to them all. I will do what I can to help these people for I am sure if we were in the same situation they would help us. Thank you Kat.

Tuesday November 11, 2008, 2:43 am
MANY BLESSING TO EACH OF YOU FOR CARING ENOUGH THAT THIS NEWS MADE THE TOP OF THE LIST ONE THE "POPULAR" PAGE!!! I DO love SEEING COMPASSION FOR HUMANITY TAKING PLACE!!!

Tuesday November 11, 2008, 9:58 am
I hope you all know that you are helping to save lives! I cannot thank all of you enough!!!

Tuesday November 11, 2008, 12:07 pm
I am trying to find where to make a donation via PayPal. I also wrote the Governor and asked him what he's doing about this horrible situation?

Tuesday November 11, 2008, 12:10 pm
TY Vicky! Visit site, then click on button in top right corner...it says "donate"...Paypal is on the right side, down just a bit!

Tuesday November 11, 2008, 12:11 pm
I found PayPal.

Monday November 17, 2008, 10:58 am
MIRACLES come in small packages hopefully we can assist in helping the Heat situation also our prayers go deep within the Pine Ridge Reservation