February Update

 

Unfortunately, we are cancelling our March 2022 volunteer trips today.

COVID-19 continues to impact Pine Ridge Reservation community members. As of Sunday, there were 83 active cases being tracked by the tribe’s COVID Task Force. The risk assessment, issued by the same Task Force recommends sheltering in place given the current case load.

This is not what we had hoped to announce. With the cancellation of our March trips, we enter a third year of suspended volunteer programs and reduced services to the Oglala Lakota people.

We are grateful for your continued and generous support from afar, and desperately want to welcome you back to our program. Whether you have your first trip planned, or are a seasoned veteran planning a return visit in 2022, please know that we are grateful for your financial contributions, kind words of encouragement, and your patience.

Since the beginning of this pandemic, it has been our policy to embrace and fully support the tribe’s efforts. That remains true today. As we first said in March of 2020: The safety of our volunteers, and the peace of mind and good health of Pine Ridge residents is our top priority.

A determination on our April trips will be made on March 1. As cases hopefully peak and subside in this latest wave, we do believe that we will be able to resume our volunteer program this year, pending tribal guidance and approval. 

Winter heating program update

Firewood is loaded into a pickup for delivery

We are approaching 350 deliveries-to-date for this winter’s firewood program. In January alone, we made more than 175 deliveries!

Thanks to the hard work of our wood crew, including two new local staff members, Lane and Sidney who joined us in November, we have been able to keep up with requests through the winter thus far. In addition to the efforts at the woodpile, we have purchased 4,350 gallons of propane and home heating oil, and assisted with a number of past-due electric accounts.

Support the Oglala Lakota artisan community

Shop our Re-Member online store for an always-changing selection of handcrafted Lakota crafts, paintings and more. We recently added dozens of new items, purchased directly from local artisans and crafters including handcrafted porcupine quill bracelets by the Red Cloud family, beadwork by the Peters family, and original ledger art by Quinton Maldonado.

All purchases directly benefit Oglala Lakota artisans, and support Re-Member’s ongoing work across the Pine Ridge Reservation.

On behalf of the Oglala Lakota community we serve, thank you for your continued support.

 
Cory True