The Western SD Native American Organizing Project takes direction from community members like you. I am looking to our Native community to share collective solutions to the challenges of racism, poverty and preventable hunger.
Male
44 years old
RAPID CITY, South Dakota
United States
Western SD Native American Organizing Project 919 Main Street, Suite 209, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701 (605) 431-2376 / Office (605) 341-2347. aironshell_ndnorganizing@hotmail.com
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Got Racism?He who knows it , feels it.The Tee Pee Creeping InternetGot Internet Safety? Life in SD NDN CountryHaving a resource that both listens to and engages the voice of the Native community, fills a long-standing void by those most affected by the social challenges of Indian country. Our community tell us they are hungry for change while apprehensive of how to invest themselves in that change. A relationship for change does not just mean inclusion, but building a mechanism where our voice stimulates a measurable increase in community empowerment. Together we can capture and motivate the collective power of our Native American population on the northern plains. Challenges that affect the daily quality of life require flexibility, safety and cultural concern to the traditional protocol of our community. We look to evolve into an empowering resource as mutual respect and communication are built through shared interactions. This exercise in trust is being nurtured through a formal and informal collaboration between community participation, tribal leadership and organizations that work on behalf our our low income community. We welcome you to the Western South Dakota Native American Organizing Project.
Who I'd like to meet: NDN Holocaust 2008
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What in the heck are foodstamps?
Talking About ValuesRAPID CITY JOURNAL-South Dakota Food Stamps Don’t Meet Needs: Officials Blame Feds....There’s not a lot of sympathy at the federal level right now for social programs, the secretary of South Dakota’s Department of Social Services told several Native Americans and others looking for answers about why their benefits aren’t keeping up with food costs.
Deb Bowman and three staff members met with a small group of Native American food-stamp recipients Wednesday to hear their concerns about the Food Stamp program.
Bowman listened but admitted her hands are tied when it comes to increasing food-stamp allocations.
The decision makers who can raise food-stamp benefits are in Washington, D.C., she said during a meeting arranged by the Western South Dakota Native American Organizing Project.
Andrew Iron Shell requested the meeting after hosting a series of Talking Circles throughout western South Dakota last year.
At those meetings, several people expressed their concerns about the food-stamp program and the problems they face in receiving benefits, he said.
Hunger and economic hardships are taking a toll on people, and many are concerned about the availability of assistance, Ironshell said.
"It’s not restricted to Native Americans," he said. "It’s all colors. With the economic situation in our country now, more and more people are maybe accessing services."
The buying power of food-stamp benefits is shrinking as food prices climb, and it is the children and elderly who are suffering, people told Bowman.
A loaf of bread that cost 96 cents two weeks ago is now up to $1.26, Lynn Thunder Bull said.
"Food stamps are not keeping up with the cost of living," said Dennis Grinnell, a veteran who lives on his veteran’s benefits. "Food stamps have got to keep up with the times."
Grinnell said that when his veteran’s benefits increased by $21, his food stamps went down $10.
"With the amount of money I get, that’s a lot of money," he said.
Grinnell said the next stop after Wednesday’s meeting was at the Community Action Program office for a "senior box" to help him get through the rest of the month, Grinnell said.
Bowman nodded in understanding but emphasized that the federal guidelines require cuts in food stamps when household income goes up.
"That’s just the bottom line," Bowman said. "We take the brunt of the punishment for a lot of the decisions that are made at the federal level."
"These programs are supposed to be helping, but they’re digging us into a rut," said Thunder Bull, who has three children.
Judy Tolley, who administers the food-stamp program for the state, reminded people that annual adjustments are made in food-stamp allocations. Those adjustments take into consideration increases in utility costs and medical expenses.
Tolley said the state has received federal permission to change the standard medical expense allowance for the elderly and disabled. Within a few months, people with more than $35 in medical expenses will receive an automatic $200 medical deduction on income used to compute their food-stamp eligibility.
Bowman heard more than one comment Wednesday about the treatment applicants receive from caseworkers when they seek assistance.
At least two families attended Wednesday’s meeting expecting to talk with Bowman about children who are in the child-protection services system.
Bowman refused to discuss child-protection issues in public but invited families to contact her for a one-to-one meeting.
Bowman reminded people that when her department takes custody of children, "99.9 percent of the time, it’s at the request of law enforcement, the court or tribal court."
The secretary invited people to use her department’s complaint procedures and assured people that her goal is to see that her staff treats people with dignity.
"I take bad and poor customer service very seriously," Bowman said.
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NOTE: Concerns on SD Food Stamp issues can be addressed to: Judy Toelle, SD Food Stamp Program Administrator (605) 773-4678 to learn more about your rights and the complaint process. Secretary Bowman can be contacted at: The SD DSS/Office of the Secretary 700 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501-2291 (605) 773-3165 FAX (605) 773-4855.
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Wall Street CEO VS Indian Country paycheck
Hummm native health care. I think we sould shut down all native hospitals and clinics. We are important to and need better care. They send in Doctors to practice on us. Instead of using all the money for these people who know nothing send us too good Doctoers and good hospitals. I am native and will not use these services.
Hey brutha, just stopping by to say hello, I'm back in RC "agin" lol, howz things going with everything??? I'll give u a call sometimes and touch base, I'd like to discuss a few things with you..I hope you and your family are doing great, tty soon! TOKSA...
Would you please take a moment to check out "Lakota Wopila" and add it to your friends list. Please repost and pass this around, so we can get more energy and good prayers going in this direction.
"Walk your prayers....Live your Dreamz....Remember the people"
A chemistry professor in a large college had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Professor noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back, and stretching as if his back hurt.
The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government.
In the midst of his story he looked at t he professor and asked a strange question.... He asked, 'Do you know how to catch wild pigs?'
The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said this was no joke. 'You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd.
Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.
The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America . The government keeps pushing us toward socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income
i hate to say it but thats mankind for you. whomever has the most power will use it and stomp all those who oppose them. i saw it for myself in korea and afghanistan. in afghanistan, outside of kabul, one warlord in particular wanted to be with someone elses wife and took her only after his soldiers killed her whole family, even the kids. its not just white people, its all of us. think about it: in a lawless world what do you think would happen on not just the reservations but in the towns as well? i admire your courage and willingness to stand up and fight but youre fighting a battle that may never be won for native americans. the only way youll win is if america falls. i know, i was a soldier in the army....
RE: The teen boys who were charged with assaulting Native Americans in Rapid City, SD. A few days ago I heard you speak about racism on NPR(National Public Radio). Thank you for saying what you did! My brother in law was a victim of random violence like this in Rapid City. The NPR phone lines were not available for callers during the interview. I wanted to mention my brother in law and ask you how the teen's violence reflects the attitudes if their parents, community, etc. Thanks again. Wopila
Hello there! Just checking the computer out and saw your page. I'm a member of the proud Rosebud Sioux Nation. My name is Sonja Ponca, one of the many full-blooded that are left. My family are from the great Bull Creek area. I'm not saying much cause just letting you know that I read your page......Doksa..SKP
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