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info@republicoflakotah.com, 605-867-1025

RE: 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.

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Pine Ridge Update
http://riverdaughter.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/pine-ridge-update/
Posted on November 16, 2008 by shtuey

Debi McLeod has sent out an update as to the situation in Pine Ridge.

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I wanted to thanks everyone for your help so far, I did get this email this morning. Yesterday, I was at the univeristy here, load supplies to take. The students helped alot, from this email I see more is still neeeded, and will be going and getting the things most needed. I sent all donations so far for propane, but now will get the things here needed. For the next few days, I will buy these supplies, for those who wnat you can send them to this address below or I will take all donations I get and buy as much as possible, so if you can’t send them you can donate through this site, and I will be sending them. Here is the info I got, and it it reputable. Here is the copy.

I have just received this reply from an email friend. I have deleted
her email addy and name (except for initials). This is the latest
info I have.
…Churches of any denomination should be willing to help…we know
the mainstream media will not even address this issue, but WE can
make sure they know about it and demand they report on it…people
are dying, it doesn’t matter what race…they need our help.
I will let you know as I receive any further information.

Subject: SIOUX NATION
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:42:50 -0600
I have received info from Lakota, Ogala Sioux. It is bad. There are
over 1900 power poles down, no electricity, no firewood, running out
of propane, There are snow drifts 20-30′ deep in some places making
it virtually impossible to enter the areas with any vehicles much
less on foot.

The National Guard is helping some…and I understand that the Red
Cross may be there.
Here is the address to send either Donations, new blankets, baby
food, diapers, Wet wipes for cleansing, new baby blankets, or food
stuffs that are not perishable. The higher that you go upward the
worse it gets. Hwy # 44 to Wounded Knee to Porpucine, Kyle is very
bad, Wmblee and Katoka are suffering.
These are all in the path of the blizzard.
Sanitary napkins would be very beneficial for someone to send, also
Fat candles.

Vice Chairman of the Ogalala Sioux Tribe
C/O Bob Ecoffey
P O Box 1203
Pine Ridge, SD 57770
(605) 867-5396

My contact doesn’t want his name smeared over the internet, however,
I will tell you that these men flew with him and his crews putting
out the fires there a couple of years ago and these men care about
their people and their lands. They are trustworthy. Fire chief said
that these men named in the address are the best to handle the
incoming packages etc. I would suggest that should anyone want to
send something, that they state which reservation that they want it
go to i. e. Porcupine, Wounded Knee, etc. etc. “B” did send an
overnight check to them for $1,000 so that will help some. They will
have to fly firewood in to them, they cannot get there via road. You
might tell the people that are truly interested in helping where to
send the packages to the address above. It took “B” several days to
get in touch. Some phones are out along with the electricity.

All of the elderly that were in harms way have been moved out and
those that were very sick. All have been accounted for so that is a
blessing.

Much prayer is needed for the people. This ought not to be in this
nation!!!!

IT WILL ALL COME TOGETHER, IT ALWAYS DOES. PEACE BE WITH YOU.

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Debi is also taking donations to the Pine Ridge Fund here: http://nativeamericanrights.wordpress.com/

And the Republic of Lakotah is still taking donations: http://www.republicoflakotah.com/?p=297

If money is tight donations of those old sweaters and coats that are sitting in the closet are needed just as badly, if not more so than money. Thank you again for your continued support of the Lakotah during this crisis.

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Hey Ray We Browncoats are into the helping . I all ready belong to the group who helps Pine ridge . I have direct addresses of resident coordinators. We get the flat rate boxes in the post office fill with up to 60pounds . for 8.15 . They need ivory soap dry goods socks gloves in adult or children sizes . Any one interested in Ms. Sun Bears address let me know . Cookie

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Monday, November 17, 2008
Isolated southwest areas power back up after blizzard
Terry Woster • twoster@midco.net • November 18, 2008

WANBLEE - Crazy Horse School emptied its gym of storm victims and filled its classrooms with children Monday for the first time since a Nov. 5 blizzard knocked out power and closed roads across a vast stretch of three counties.

"We're starting to feel more like a school again," Acting Superintendent Gina Bettelyoun said as she held up both hands with crossed fingers.

The storm hit the area late on a Wednesday, and nothing moved all the next day as the blizzard raged, said Wayne Sterkel, manager of Lacreek Electric Association of Martin.

Statewide, almost 3,000 downed power poles left more than 12,000 customers without power. The Lacreek territory was among the hardest hit in the state, according to Brenda Kleinjan, director of communications for the South Dakota Rural Electric Association.

Now, almost two weeks since the storm struck, fewer than 100 Lacreek customers are without power. Their power should be restored by Thursday, Sterkel said.
"It's been crazy here, with as many as 250 people trying to get out of the storm and then cope with the cold and lack of electrical power for so long after the blizzard," Bettelyoun said. "I'm only thankful that the school was here in the community and that we had some food and blankets to help a little."

Bettelyoun became one of the storm victims herself, staying in the school throughout the crisis that resulted from what she says was the "absolute worst blizzard I've ever experienced."

More than 1,500 power poles were downed in the Lacreek area, and damage reached from Potato Creek on the northern edge of the Pine Ridge reservation to Parmelee on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. The worst of the storm' s track crossed parts of Shannon, Jackson and Mellette counties.

The sheer size of the area - a 56-mile-long stretch of storm damage with downed power lines, poles snapped in half and cross-arms torn away by the wind - made the repairs daunting, even after the blizzard began to wane.

"It's a lot of rough terrain out there, with valleys and Badlands, and the power lines don't follow the highways," Sterkel said. "There were places where the repair crews were building their own track to get to the downed lines."

National Guard crews have been helping with the recovery in the Lacreek territory as well, with rural electrics in Newell and Bison, Kleinjan said.

The storm began, as is often the case with the first blizzard of the season in South Dakota, with rain that changed to sleet and ice. The ice coated power lines before the snow started. Driven by vicious winds, the heavy, wet snow blocked roads and drifted around houses, barns and businesses.

"We had one grandmother who was slowly burning furniture to try to keep her house warm," Bettelyoun said. "The rescue people were able to get her and bring her to the school."

The school's central location proved beneficial. School lunches quickly became part of the meals for the stranded storm victims. A supply of motor fuel was used in the early going for some of the emergency vehicles, Bettelyoun said. There was space, although not quite enough for all 250 people.

"We had them trying to sleep in hallways, in the classrooms, everywhere," she said.

"We got some games going, and that helped with the boredom during the days. I worked with some of the other staff people every day to keep the place clean for sanitary reasons. And we'd just recently received a donation of blankets, which were invaluable for the people trying to stay warm when their homes had no power."

Reach reporter Terry Woster at 605-224-2760.

http://www.argusleader.com:80/article/20081118/NEWS/811180327/1001

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