NAME OF THE OGLALA SIOUX TRIBE IN REGARDS TO SEVERE WEATHER
Oglala Sioux Tribe
PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION
Loretta Afraid of Bear~Cook
“Anpetu Luta Win”
Post Office Box 2070 ~ Pine Ridge, So. Dakota ~ 57770
Mobile: (605) 441 | 5692 ~ Fax: (605) 867 | 6076
Email: Loretta@oglala.org
Office of Public Relations
Tuesday, January 26, 2010FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE:
OGLALA SIOUX TRIBE’S POSITION ON RECENT FINANCIAL SOLICITING IN THE NAME OF THE OGLALA SIOUX TRIBE IN REGARDS TO SEVERE WEATHER STATE OF EMERGENCY RELIEF.
For more information, contact:
Loretta Afraid of Bear-Cook, OST Public Relations
C/O: OST Media Center
Telephone: (605) 454-2592 | e-mail: Loretta@oglala.org
PINE RIDGE, So. DAKOTA – The Oyate (People) of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation recently experienced a series of harsh blizzards and extreme weather beginning in late December. Hundreds of families were ill prepared for the high winds, whiteouts and heavy snowfall that closed all roads and highways across the reservation. Many households eventually ran out of propane, firewood, food and medical supplies.Tribal President, Theresa Two Bulls, immediately established a Command Post out of her office and organized the Emergency Management Team to begin the task of assessing the situation. The team paid particular attention to tribal members with severe medical needs such as heart and dialysis patients. The Oglala (Sioux) Lakota Housing Authority under the direction of Paul Iron Cloud; the Energy Assistance Director, Denise King Red Owl; Monica Terkildsen, Emergency Response; and David Kelly from the OST Transportation Department; all provided the core guidance to the agencies to ensure that all calls were addressed. Without the care and compassion of all resource agencies, the task of responding to the needs would have been next to impossible. The disaster prompted other tribes, non-profit corporation and individuals to respond with food, clothing and financial assistance. Sadly, the disaster had also resulted in tribal members and outside organizations “scamming” for funding on the internet claiming to raise funds for the poor and needy on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. President Two Bulls advises the public that these Organizations have not received permission from the Oglala Sioux Tribe to solicit funds on behalf of the Oglala tribal membership. President Two Bulls requests that any Tribe, organization or individual who wish to donate for emergency assistance can send directly to the Oglala Sioux Tribe in care of Dean Patton, Treasurer, Oglala Sioux Tribe, P.O. Box 2070, Pine Ridge, South Dakota 57770. Mr. Patton has established an emergency fund for such donations. Funds will be used exclusively for heating costs for electrical, propane, fuel oil and firewood needs. The Housing and Energy Assistance funds have been depleted. The Oglala Sioux Tribe is very grateful to the organizations, tribes and individuals who have contacted President Two Bulls with generous outpouring of help for this ongoing need. President Two Bulls also expresses her sincere gratitude to all who have kept the Oglala Sioux Tribe in their prayers. She can be contacted via her direct line: (605) 867-4021, or e-mail: theresatb@oglala.org.
Update: Due to the State of Emergency on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, the Oglala Sioux Tribe opened the doors at the Prairie Wind Casino Hotel to care for 25 dialysis patients and 10 supporting staff from Cheyenne River. According to media reports, electrical power will be restored in approximately 10 to 14 days.
For more information and updates, log on to the official website of the Oglala Sioux Tribe:
www.oglalalakotanation.org
