Six-inch diameter ice chunk from power line in South Dakota/Photo: South Dakota Rural Electric AssociationThanks to Alray Nelson, a community organizer, for the continued updates on what's happening at Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. The Lakota people there are reeling from last week's ice storm, a whopper that left thousands of people without power and water. "While many Red Cross resources are being diverted to relief efforts in Haiti, there is still the need for money and supplies in the upper Midwest, specifically for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, which has a full list of needed medical and general supplies," writes Nelson, who also noted that power outages forced 35 kidney dialysis patients from the tribe to temporary relocate to Rapid City, S.D. The reservation citizens also need glucose strips, first aid kits and children's medicine.
The local Wal-mart has sent food and supplies, but in-kind contributions are being accepted. Here's a breakdown of what the tribe requests:
•Non-perishable food•Coats•Heat sources (heaters & fuel)•Camp stoves & fuel•Lithium 1, 2 and 3 batteries for law enforcement•Lamps/Batteries/Lamp Oil•Toilet paper•Paper products for the shelters•Pampers/formula•Hand/baby wipes/Hand sanitizer
Ship in-kind donations to:Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman's OfficeAttn: Ice Storm Emergency SuppliesPO Box 5902001 Main Street (Tribal Offices)
Jodi Rave
Jodi Rave Spotted Bear
(Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation)Founder & Editor in Chief
Spoken Languages: English
Topic Expertise: Federal trust relationship with American Indians; Indigenous issues ranging from spirituality and environment to education and land rights

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