Open letter-update about the South Dakota Outreach: Circle of Hope~Circle of Giving

Open letter-update about the South Dakota Outreach: Circle of Hope~Circle of Giving

Date: Feb 10th, 2009

Dear Tribal canoe families, tribal members, & friends:

This is an open letter-update about the South Dakota Outreach: Circle of Hope~Circle of Giving….by Robin Carneen-NAMAPAHH First People’s Radio/Swinomish Reservation
It seems like we have had many delays in getting the Circle of Hope~Circle of Giving donations back to the two reservations, back in Pine Ridge & Rosebud South Dakota that we are trying to help. However, we have still been accepting donations and are determined to get on the road soon!

Many have asked how we, Circle of Hope~ Circle of Giving got involved. It started with an email alert from Tamra Brennan a journalist who writes a column called NDN News. (www.NDNnews.com) Her email was the initial call to action, alerting many of us to the off-season, unexpected severe blizzard that immobilized at least two of these South Dakota Reservations on November 5th. 2008. After watching the video link: AP footage of Blizzard in South Dakota: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucYIjvT2ur0 and receiving her alert & cry for assistance for this already impoverished region, I sent it out to my listservs and social networking groups and started to host the topic on several of our radio program called NAMAPAHH First People’s Radio.

It did not end there, as I learned more about the situation, I was driven by compassion to get more involved. At the time, I was also employed by the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club, located on the Tulalip Tribes Indian Reservation, in Tulalip, WA. Shortly after the crisis, our TBGC director at the time, Vicki Hill, authorized my time and that of the all volunteer Tulalip Youth Multi-Media Club, as well as allowing our club to be a drop off point for others wishing to get involved.

Through a synchronistic chain of events, I was led to an “all hands” meeting composed of Frieda Williams- Tulalip Tribes Community Relations Coordinator, Teri Gobin and Lynn Bansemer of the Tulalip TERO program, and Linda Tolbert of the newly formed Tulalip Lion’s Club, which took place at the TERO office. At this initial meeting, I found out that the Tulalip Tribes had once before sent back a semi-truck load of donations to Pine Ridge, SD. This first outreach to that region was coordinated by Tulalip tribal member Frieda Williams in direct response to other Tulalip Tribal members who were concerned about conditions brought to her attention back then.

Since this first meeting and my dropping off the first two boxes of donations, one from our family and the other from the La Conner Pioneer Market, the response has been remarkable, but not surprising. So much so, that the Tulalip TERO had to rent a storage pod, in order to store all the donations until we could get them back to South Dakota.
At first, there was talk about shipping all the donations back to both reservations, with the Tulalip UPS store offering to donate 10% off each shipment. After a few short weeks, we realized we would need a truck, a semi-truck, like the one used for the first outreach effort.

I was delegated to approach both the American Trucker’s Associations and the Washington Trucker’s Association asking them for the donation of a semi-truck. After a long conversation with media relations staffer of the ATA, Clayton Boyce, he left me feeling assured that it would only take me contacting Elisabeth Barna Vice President, Strategic Planning & Outreach for the ATA. I did email and call her, but did not hear back from her and have since made a second request of the ATA to help us find a truck. My understanding is that this is something they were able to help make happen in the past. I really thought they were just waiting on us to get a semi-truck load of donations, contact them with a date and we would be on our way.

This unfortunately, was a mis-understanding and not the case. We still do not have a guaranteed way of getting all the donations back to South Dakota.
Other setbacks have been our unexpected snowstorms, we have snow again today. In between the snowy weather we had severe flooding, which caused even some major highways and interstates to be closed down for a time being.

At Tulalip, there have been at least fourteen funerals and illness amongst the tribal community. I also have fell victim to the dire straits of our economic times. I unfortunately was laid off on Dec 12th, 2008 from the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club and have not found new employment since. However, I continue in a volunteer capacity to see this outreach project through. Donating my time, as does my mother Connie Allen, until everything is safely & securely in the hands of those who will re-distribute the donations to those in the worst of need this Winter.


I felt that those of you who have stepped up to help in some way, shape or form or may be unaware of these extra hard efforts to help this Region, but regardless deserved an update. I know it has been confusing with all the extended dates and the continued “ask” for financial support. We cannot do this without all those who have helped thus far and those of my friends and even people I have never met, are donating money that many of them have to spare. I am grateful for everyone involved. The Tulalip Tribes Board also just donated $$$ towards a U-Haul truck , if that is the avenue we take to get the donations on their way. Once again, Tulalip is not only helping one tribe, but two and that is their way. I am especially grateful for their compassion and generosity as well. We are so close to being on the road.

We have also been in touch with our contacts on both Reservations and have even had Robert E. Eagle Elk on our radio show, who called in live from his office a couple of times. Last Sunday I aired a pre-recorded interview with Frieda Williams who has been one of the lead people in this project. If you would like to hear these programs, please go to: www.blogtalkradio,com/NAMAPAHH_Radio



Tomorrow, on Feb 11th, we are planning a Volunteer Day. We will meet at Frieda’s office (6729 Totem Beach Rd, Tulalip, WA )at 9:30am. I have a small core of volunteers who have cleared their schedule and made special plans to be onsite at the Collections Pod to help sort and create two loads for the Reservations. If you want more information, please contact me at: robin.carneen@gmail.com or call my cell ph: (503) 544-9794. We are doing this rain or shine, and a potluck…pray there is NO SNOW, or we will have to re-schedule…no more set back’s Creator, we are moving forward! Please contact Frieda Williams for directions: (360)716-4220 /425-754-0656

This last week, I also got a MySpace message & phone call from a very nice Modac woman living in Eugene Oregon, named Tambi Schonchin. She will be sending small financial contributions to help with our efforts to get our donations back to SD. She told me she and others in her circle are planning their own large-scale outreach effort and drive, taking our lead. She, like friends of mine : Karla LaRive, Tamara Brennen, Ellen Bello, Jeri Baker, and many others, are folks that act/ or have acted quickly on behalf of their organizations and communities to help this Region through this crisis. This circle is growing each day & is bigger than we know. Many, many people have responded. I have also written to celebrities like Ophra Winfrey and contacted our local Skagit County Speedway hoping that someone with larger connections and high profile will be the last push we need to get there.

To date we have received the following in-kind donations for Rosebud & Pine Ridge Indian Reservations:

• Nearly a 40 X 15 ft. pod-full of warm clothes, blankets, sleeping bags, non-perishable food items, hygiene products, toys, dolls, and various items that will make life a little better this winter
• Financial donations of close to $300-$400
• Gas Cards
• Rental of the 40X15 storage pod from Tulalip TERO
• Countless volunteer hours from youth and adults
• Staff hours from the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club, Tulalip TERO, Tulalip Community Relations, Tulalip Maintenance
• Transportation from people’s homes, churches and organizations to the various drop off locations at Tulalip
• Public Relations and advocacy, including internet, in person, news coverage and flyers on behalf of the effort
• Special charitable donation by the Tulalip Tribes Board to help partially pay for the transport the donations back to South Dakota
• Offers of drivers and caravan vehicles and volunteers to transport and represent the Circle of Hope~ Circle of Giving/South Dakota Outreach
• Donation by Tulalip Tribes and Tulalip TERO of canopy, chairs, tables, food & water for Volunteer Day coming up(Sorting Day)
• Networking with others like:
The Native American Music Awards Association: www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com
Native Progress- One Spirit: www.nativeprogress.org
Link Center Foundation: www.linkcenterfoundation.org
PRES Pine Ridge Enfance Solidarité's (France)
http://www.myspace.com/pineridgenfansolidarite

Examples of what others have done thus far:
• Skylar Wolf Children and Family Christmas Benefit Concert & Coat Drive

Coat donations are gladly accepted and can be sent to:
The Skylar Wolf Children and Family Christmas Benefit Concert & Coat Drive
c/o Wolakota Office, 101 Main Street, Kyle, South Dakota 57752
Attn: Edwina Brown Bull or Wendy McNaughton Apple
Office open until Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

Public Relations and Contact Info:
Skylar Wolf Children and Family Christmas Benefit Concert & Coat Drive
Karla LaRive | STUDIO WEST MANAGEMENT
Subsidiary of PK Productions, LLC
P.O. Box 752 Hot Springs,
South Dakota, USA 57747
605-890-3819 mobile
karla@studiowestmanagement.com

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• Native American Music Association Christmas Toy Drive for the 7500 children:

DEAR NAMA FRIENDS & FAMILY,

The Native American Music Association has been graciously invited by the President of Sicangu Oyate (Rosebud Sioux Tribe) to join his wife and he in a Christmas Toy Drive for the 7500 children ages 1 thru 18 on their reservation.

Help Santa find Rosebud so that these children may know and share in the true spirit of the holidays. Join NAMA, President Rodney M. Bordeaux & his wife Jody Waln in this direct and gracious effort.

NO GIFT TOO SMALL FOR THE CHILDREN.

Please keep the children in your hearts and minds
this Christmas. We wish you a very healthy and happy Holiday Season.


Send Toys To:
Rosebud Sioux Tribe
PO Box 430 (For UPS: 11 Legion Drive)
Rosebud, SD 57570

Let us know about your local efforts so we may document them and include them in our next Awards Show broadcast

OR PLEASE SEND FINANCIAL DONATIONS TO:
Native American Music Association
511 Avenue of the Americas #371
New York NY 10011
212.228.8300 tel/646.688.6883 fax

www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com

All Contributions Welcome
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY
NAMA's Emergency Winter Relief Efforts remain underway for the Elders & Disabled on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Financial donations are still needed for propane purchases.

To Send Winter Items or Toys to the Pine Ridge Reservation
please ship to:

OST District Coordinator Office
Post Office Box 1796
( For UPS - East Highway 18)
Tero Building Basement
Pine Ridge SD 57770
We Are Making A Difference!

It has been great to see the outpouring of help that has come to this community. Thanks for your help!
Reporter from Rapid City Journal, Rapid City, South Dakota

I just wanted to thank you for your assistance, and to let you
know that your labors have already begun to show fruit.
Blessings,
--Russell Masartis
Tree of Life Ministry, Mission, SD
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California tribe donates $100,000 to blizzard aid
By Journal staff | Sunday, November 30, 2008
"When the tribe was made aware of the situation at Pine Ridge and at Rosebud, we knew we had to assist our brother and sister tribes," said Chairman James Ramos of the San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians of San Bernardino. Wildfires in California galvanized desire among his tribe's members to help the Lakota, he said. http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/11/30/news/local/doc4930da383681c974072921.txt
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Background information about this effort:

• To read past articles about the initial efforts, please go to these two links:
http://www.northcountyoutlook.com/1204_Tulalip_SD_givingcircle.htm
• To read the latest Tulalip-related news articles, click here: http://www.tulaliptribes-nsn.gov/Home/NewsArchive.aspx. (Everett Herald)
• To see a slideshow about this effort, click on this link:
http://www.picturetrail.com/flicks/6598595/preview
• If you are on FACEBOOK: Join my Cause.... http://apps.facebook.com/causes/189163?m=a554242c&recruiter_id=7425876
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/beneficiaries/34220?m=4a365e51
If you wish to send direct money orders to:
Full Name: TULALIP FOUNDATION
EIN: 26-0807036
Tax Status: 501(c)(3)
Tulalip Tribes

Attn: Finance/ Frieda Williams/Lynne Bansemer
6700 Totem Beach Rd.
Tulalip, WA. 98271

Make checks payable to: Tulalip Tribes TERO

Deposit to account # 01-0210 / South Dakota

Enter South Dakota tribes/Adopt A Box on the notes line
To contact or send donations directly to the two Reservations, contact:
John Spotted Tail

(605)747-5266
jsst55@yahoo.com
c/o Rosebud Sioux Tribe: 11 Legion Ave P.O Box 430; Rosebud, SD 57570

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Robert E. Eagle Elk: (CAP DISTRICT OFFICE) District Coordinator
(605) 867-5381
Wbear27@hotmail.com
P.O Box 1796: Pine Ridge, SD 57770
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My final PS: WE STILL NEED A SEMI-TRUCK ASAP! Or CARAVAN+DRIVERS!
ALL FINANCIAL DONATIONS WELCOME!
Thanks again to the Circle of Hope~ Circle of Giving: Tulalip Tribes, Tulalip TERO, the Tulalip Lion’s Club, the Tulalip Boys and Girls Club, volunteers, private citizens, contributing businesses and other organizations. Much appreciation for those who have given or become involved thus far, they are giving for many reasons and we appreciate each and every one of them. It should be noted that the outreach and generosity has come from all walks of life and has been like sinew that is helping to mend a long-broken hoop.