Local Oyate Deliver Water to Cheyenne River

Moved by the plight of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in their lack of access to water, Oglala Lakota commu nity members gathered supplies from local business owners and private citi zens, and then made two trips to Cheyenne River to put the precious cargo directly in the hands of those in need. The Tri County/Mni Waste Water System at Eagle Butte, which is operated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, lost power a week ago after the most recent ice storms and strong winds knocked out electricity and water serv ice to nearly 14,000 people on the Reservation.

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Chairman Joseph Brings Plenty declared a State of Emergency on Tuesday, January 26. Governor Mike Rounds is preparing to seek a federal disaster declaration for the 2009 Christmas blizzard that struck South Dakota statewide, and is consid ering a similar request for the most re cent ice storm.

Manderson resident Percy White Plume put out a plea for help on KILI Wednesday morning. “We took a load up yesterday, and we are getting some more water together to get it up there Friday morning,” said Mr. White Plume. “One of our relatives from Bridger called in and said the people needed water.” Mr. White Plume gives credits to many for pulling together the grass roots op eration. “Becky Three Stars was a big help. She got back from a meeting and started at 4:00 p.m. She went around to everybody in Martin and got cases of water from the establishments there. Charlie New Holy dropped off five cases. Another man is visiting the Chadron stores and will bring dona

ions as far as Slim Buttes where Tom

Cook will bring the load the rest of the way.” George Tall left the Pine Ridge at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday with the bottled water contributions and a 250 gallon container of well water, direct from Mr. White Plume’s private well.

Becky Three Stars, the LaCreek Dis trict Tenant Service Representative for Oglala Sioux Lakota Housing was touched by the kindness of Martin mer chants, Waggoner’s Grocery, True Value Hardware, Lynn’s Dakota Mart, and Ace Hardware, Fresh Start, and Lakota Country Times. “You just do it to help. Because if we were in dire straits like that, there are families that would come and help us,” said Ms. Three Stars. “Pay it forward.”

Anheuser Busch recently sent 42,000 cans of drinking water to Mobridge for distribution to shelters in Eagle Butte, Faith, Dupree, Isabel, Cherry Creek and Lantry. In 2008 and 2009, the company donated 5 million cans of drinking water to victims of natural disasters.

Contact Percy White Plume at 605 867 5834 or Becky Three Stars at 605 685 1032 for additional information. Cheyenne River Tribal members are en couraged to use emergency shelters at Eagle Butte, La Plant, Cherry Creek, Red Scaffold, Takini, White Horse and Tim ber Lake. Tribal members can call the Emergency Operations Center at 964 7711 or 964 7712 for assistance.