Pine Ridge Update - January 2013

Recently Trinity United Church of Christ sent boxes of blankets, mittens, hats, and scarves to Re-Member. Listed below is the wonderful letter we received from them yesterday:

Thank you SO much!  They will definitely be put to good use, as we're having another cold snap - just got about 2" of snow in the last hour.  You guys are AWESOME.  Please extend our heartfelt thanks to all who helped with this.

Wópila tanka na wóyawašte óta pe (many thanks & many blessings to all of you)!!

Paula

Paula Sibal

Also......in May we will be having our Annual BBQ Chicken Fundraiser for Pine Ridge.

Stay tuned for details!

Brrrr.....it's cold outside!

The Pine Ridge Volunteers are currently working on a new project.  Winter is a harsh time for the people of Pine Ridge, especially the children.  We would like to collect as many stocking hats, gloves and mittens as we can to send to the children of Pine Ridge.  If you would like to donate a pair of gloves, mittens or stocking hat, it can be placed in the tote in the Outer Narthex. 

Thank you so much for your help!

News about Pine Ridge

We had a very rewarding yet sobering trip to Pine Ridge, SD in September.  As we departed, there were over 500 requests for assistance yet to be filled. 

This year we skirted trailers, constructed outhouses,  built and delivered bunk beds plus bedding to several Lakota families.

We are indebted to the congregation of Trinity for your continued support of Pine Ridge. 

Our Spaghetti Supper served 100 meals and was made possible by those who helped set up, served the meal, cleaned up, and provided a wide variety of desserts to top off the meal.

Special thank you’s go our to the “Celebrating Creative Women’s” Group, Marlene Senn,  and Marlene O’Brien for providing warm blankets and sheet sets for the bunk beds.

The needs on Pine Ridge are many, please consider joining us on our next trip.

Also, continue to check our blog as updates will be posted throughout the year.

Re-Member Assistance 2012

I forgot to mention that Re-Member has assisted 220 families in 2012 to date (most ever).  300 more families still need help and have submitted such request.

91% of Re-Member Funds/Budget goes to help Lakota people.

The Director said, that biggest problem in the U.S. is that people have lost consciousness of the American Natives.

Friday - September 21st

Breakfast is on your own and a final Widsom of the Elders.  Then we say goodbye to Remember and The Rez until we return again.  It has been a good week physically and emotionally exhausting, but one filled with HOPE as we work alongside the Ogala Lakotas.     Mitakuye Oyasin!

Thursday - September 20th

Today our Trinity group split up for the day with Karin and Sandy going with the Remember group on a tour of The Rez.  Greg & Terry, Bob & Joyce spent part of the day with the Remember Board at Feather 2 and then joined us for lunch.
Our first stop was KILI Radio Station.  This is an information station which connects people on The Rez to what is happening across the area.  The information is interspersed with music ranging from Lakota, rock, rap, etc.  While we were there the roofing crew was putting on the final layer of shingles.
The next stop was Lakota College and museum.  The college has 7 branches scattered across The Rez.  For more information on the college, please visit their webpage at: http://www.olc.edu/.  The museum offered a panoramic audio tour of the history of the Lakota Tribe.  It was complete with framed photos, maps, replicas of treaties (broken) and paintings depicting the events.  The audio was then culminated with a video from the college.  Leaving the building we walked to the college bookstore.
A brief stop at The Chamber of Commerce provided an array of artistic offerings from award winning Lakota artists such as water colors, oils, beaded clothing and jewelry, etc.  All quite impressive!
The Singing Horse Trading Post/Bed & Breakfast was the next stop.  This store provides local crafters with their supplies plus carrying their finished products.  It was a souvenir shoppers dream.  Speaking of dreams, you've heard of the dream catchers?  Did you know that the first Lakota "website"??  Corbin Conroy, our guide for the tour kept us laughing throughout the day.
Lunch was at Betty's Kitchen.  Betting is the great granddaughter of Black Elk, a prominent Lakota leader. Learn more about Black Elk by reading "Black Elk Speaks".  Betty was serving over 200 lunches from her home today plus her specialties of fry bread and chocolate cake.  Some of the group then walked down to Black Elk's cabin, which is still standing.
We then headed to Red Cloud School and Heritage Center.  This school is associated with The Catholic Church.  It is highly selective about the students who attend with over 90% of the graduates going on to college.  A cemetery lies up the hill adjacent to the Center.  Here you can visit Red Cloud's grave site which is quite a moving experience.  A quick visit into The Heritage Center and museum completed our visit.
The most popular spot on The Rez was our final destination - Big Bats.  It is a gas station which is the local hang out.  We loaded up on snacks and treats to celebrate our final evening on The Rez.  Pizza and ice cream sundaes were slated for supper.  Karin and I departed for Denver for a morning flight back home and left our share of the food for the Elon students.

Wednesday - September 19th

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's off to work we go!
Today, following the Wisdom of the Elders which was on relationships, we departed in several different directions.  Greg and Terry delivered the 7 bunk beds plus mattresses, bedding, blankets and books to four families on The Rez.  Three families received 2 sets of bunk beds with the fourth family receiving one.  Terry was able to meet with each family and listen to their particular situation.  One family had returned to a grandmother's home which had been vandalized and evacuated.  The clean up process began with the kitchen, where new linoleum had been installed.  This is where the 3 kids slept.  they of course were delighted with their bed and all the extras.  Terry will have more stories and pictures to share upon our return.
Joyce & Bob, Karin and Sandy headed toward Porcupine to skirt an 80' x 20' trailer.  Trenches were dug, frames were made, insulation and siding installed.  It was a very windy day and we worked very hard to complete the entire project.
Tonight was crafters night.  There were 10 tables of paintings, drawings and jewelry from which to choose.  It was a very nice variety!
Our speaker tonight was Naomi Last Horse.  She is an elementary teacher (grades 1-8) of the Lakota language.  After a mini lesson of Lakota names for body parts, we engaged in a game of "Naomi Says".  We all stod with eyes closed and attempted to point to the part of our body upon hearing the Lakota word.  I am sorry to say that Trinity sat down rather quickly as did lots of others!  Naomi and her daughter then entertained us with several songs before answering our questions.
Thursday will be our touring day on The Rez and our last full day at Remember.