On December 24, 2009, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe reservation endured snowdrifts more than 30 feet high. The already decaying roads were soon impassible and supplies were taken to tribal members in outlying areas by snowmobiles.
Tribal chairman Joseph Brings Plenty recalls, “Some of the snow drifts actually covered up the doorways of houses and went over the top of houses and there were streets that were completely blocked off. And people had to tunnel themselves out. During that time, it took about two weeks to get to everybody.”
With emergency resources depleted, the tribe relied heavily on donations to get them through the worst part of the crisis. Less than a month later, however, snow and ice again descended on the area, threatening the lives of thousands of tribal members scattered throughout the reservation.
January 21st began as many other days but soon erupted into a state of emergency for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe that would appear impossible to escape. After two days of blinding snow and heavy ice, thousands plummeted into darkness and sub-zero temperatures and EMS services hurriedly transported dozens of dialysis patients to Rapid City, South Dakota, nearly three hours away in the best of conditions. Nearly ten thousand electrical poles lie splintered from the weight of the ice and snow and for weeks, just as many members of the reservation survived without food, water, medical supplies, or transportation. True to the nature of the people, not one person was lost during these two storms although next time, they might not be quite as fortunate if help is not received soon and repairs aren't quickly begun.
Established more than 60 years ago after the diversion of the reservation’s only natural water source, the water system had a “shelf life” of only 25 years and has long needed replaced. The storm’s damage to the already decrepit system has left it inoperable at best and deadly at worst. Chairman Brings Plenty relates the cost would be in the neighborhood of $90 million dollars, funds the tribe obviously does not have or have access to. Damage assessments are still being obtained and it is likely the numbers will be in the millions.
A month following the storms, President Obama had yet to declare the area a disaster nor had he declared a State of Emergency that would bring in federal funds to help the reservation begin to rebuild and to replace the water system, providing clean, healthy drinking water throughout the reservation. While donations of food, water, blankets, and medical supplies continue to arrive at the reservation, many have asked what is still needed and what is left to be done.
When asked what others can do for the tribe, Chairman Brings Plenty gave the following advice, “What we’re really interested in is trying to gain some support as far as the political level is concerned in calling senators and congressmen and asking them, you know, to find that source for us. In regards to our water infrastructure, the thing is that I mean we can, in this time and situation here that we’ve dealt with, come a couple months down the road we’re gonna be back on our feet, you know, we’re gonna be able to be ready for whatever is coming for us next but you know, the thing is, it’s short term fix. And there’s a lot of donations that came in, even though there’s a lot of needs on the reservations, I have to definitively ask if people could concentrate their support for the tribe in the means of getting our water infrastructure funding. And, that would be the long term fix, that would allow for us to be able to grow and at this point, if we was to be able to tackle one thing for the tribe, that would be the biggest right now in the history of Cheyenne River that could be done for the tribe at this point.”
Chairman Brings Plenty also related that persons from anywhere in the United States could call their state senator or congressman and ask for their support in pressing Congress for funding for the tribe's water infrastructure and costs of rebuilding.
A tribute to strength and tenacity of the people, to be sure, yet one that need not have been tested.
Please visit the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe's website for more information at http://www.sioux.org
All photos and music are used with permission by their owners.
Story uploaded with the Cheyenne River Sioux Disaster 2010 video to CNNi Reports at http://www.ireport.com/doc
Photos by CRST Tribal Chairman Joseph Brings Plenty, LeNae LeBeau, MJ Lamb, & the South Dakota Rural Electrical Association. Music provided by J.D. Nash and Red Circle.
From the Cheyenne River Sioux Website at http://www.sioux.org
(1) Please call your two Senators (Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121)
(2) Ask for the staffer working on the Jobs Bill or their water appropriations staffer
(3) Ask them/Or leave a message asking for $90 million to the Army Corps for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe water infrastructure project
(4) Any additional calls to the United States Department of Agriculture, the Department of Interior, or the White House are also helpful
PRESS RELEASE
February 10, 2010 CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE CONTINUES TO ACCEPT DONATIONS OF FUNDS AND SUPPLIES TO ADDRESS THE DISASTER CRISIS Donations to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe can be made as follows: For donations contact one of the following listed below:
o WEB: https://secure.piryx.com/d
o MAIL: Benita Clark, Tribal Treasurer, P.O. Box 590, Eagle Butte, SD 57625, make checks payable to the "Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe CRST 2010 Disaster."
o WIRE: United Bkrs Bloomington ABA# 091 001 322; Beneficiary Bank or Beneficiary: Account# 250 3373, State Bank of Eagle Butte; Beneficiary of Final Credit: Account Holder@UBB Customers Bank; Account Holder: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe CRST 2010 Disaster, Routing #:091409351, Account #: 103173
o PHONE CALLS regarding donations: Contact Benita Clark, Tribal Treasurer, Finances, Incident Command Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (605) 964-4426, (605) 200-1013 (cell)
The official donations to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe can be made as follows: * WEB: https://secure.piryx.com/d
* WIRE: United Bkrs Bloomington ABA# 091 001 322; Beneficiary Bank or Beneficiary: Account# 250 3373, State Bank of Eagle Butte; Beneficiary of Final Credit: Account Holder@UBB Customers Bank; Account Holder: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe CRST 2010 Disaster, Routing #:091409351, Account #: 103173
* http://givemn.razoo.com/ * http://www.razoo.com/story
