A friend in the native American community has sent me this.
I hope you will join us in contacting the government officials and agencies as
she requests.
Thank you!
Romi
Sat Mar 05, 2011 at 01:03 AM EST
Action Alert Update- Lakota Elders Organize Takeover of Elderly Meals
Center
Oke
To live on the Pine Ridge reservation and make it past fifty is beating
the odds for life expectancy there. But to be snubbed by your tribal
council when you ask for a safe and clean place to eat and then to be
targeted for retaliation by the council is beyond comprehension. That is
happening right now at the Porcupine Elderly Meals Center, Pine Ridge,
South Dakota. The elders have have taken over occupation of the center
and are not leaving until their voices have been heard and action has
been taken.
After four years of abuses and calls for remedy from the Bureau of
Indian
Affairs(BIA) Oglala Tribal Government, Lakota elders with support from
the Strong Heart Warrior Society, United Urban Warrior Society, and
Rapid City AIM- Grassroots have peacefully taken over, and now occupy,
the Elderly Meals Building in the Porcupine Community of Pine Ridge
Reservation.
This news release best describes the atrocities that have driven the
elders to convene this occupation of the Porcupine Elderly Meals
Building.
In virtually any other U.S. community, physical abuse of elders, the
false arrest and persecution of the elderly by police, the forced
evictions of elders in the middle of the winter, and the illegal selling
of drugs and alcohol by staff of an elderly meals center would be
headline news. But not if the community is the Oglala Pine Ridge
Reservation, and the people are the poor and traditional Lakota oyate.
“The former president and the cook have discriminated against the
elders at the Porcupine Elderly Meals Center. Elders are demanding them
to be removed immediately.
“The Elders will be leading this occupation with the support and
protection of three warrior societies – the Strong Heart Warrior
Society, United Urban Warrior Society, and Grassroots AIM.
“I, Enoch Brings Plenty, as president of the Meals for the Elderly
Program at Porcupine, will try my best to please the Elders in my
district as best as I can -to bring back honesty, trust and integrity.
This is why these three warrior societies are here with us. They are
going to teach our children how to protect and remain free with the
elders of our oyate. Hoka hey!”
Audio interviews with various organizers of the takeover, and the
elders, are here.
Cante Tenza Okolakiciye (Strongheart Warrior Society) can be followed
on Twitter @CanteTenza
The hash tags used recently have been #Lakota #Elders #PineRidge
It may be the weekend but messages, emails, letters, faxes can still be
effective.
South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson sits on the Senate Indian Affairs
Committee.
Contact Info:
@SenJohnsonSD
Phone: (202) 224-5842
Fax: (202) 228-5765
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Tribal Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
202-514-2000
UPDATE:
ACTION ALERT: URGENT SOLIDARITY SUPPORT NEEDED FOR ELDER'S OCCUPATION
OF PORCUPINE ELDERLY MEALS BUILDING
Despite the promises of President Steele and Vice President Poor Bear -
we need you to keep calling them and letting them know people are
watching and expecting them to keep their word. Tell them you support
all the occupation demands including the construction of a new sanitary,
elderly building and a full investigation into corruption no matter
where it leads. President John Yellow Bird Steele (605) 441-6350
Vice-President Thomas Poor Bear (605) 441-6365 You can also
try to reach them at (605) 867-5821 extension 268 via tribal council
secretary Rhonda Two Eagle. Send council emails through Rhonda at:
[email protected]
emphasis mine
Originally posted to Oke on Sat Mar 05, 2011 at 01:03 AM EST.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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