Help Sought for Standing Rock Native Americans

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Ron Williams, a community activist and former member of the Pottstown School Board, who has been providing supplies for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation which, became famous for the Standing Rock protests of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Dear Friends,

I am in the process of making arrangements to deliver donations to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota and am writing to make a personal request for your assistance in this effort.

In the winter of 2016, after observing the efforts being made by the people of over three hundred tribes who had come together to protest the infringement of Sacred Native American lands by the Dakota Access Pipeline, I determined to lend my support toward that effort by providing needed winter supplies.

I was able to fill my van with items, including heaters, blankets sleeping bags, bedding, food and cash, and I set off to the Dakotas. Never having been in either of the Dakotas I was given the name of a contact in South Dakota who could help me get the items into the Standing Rock Oceti Sakowin (Očhéthi Šakówiŋ) camp, adjacent to the Cannonball River where it feeds into the Missouri River. 

Ron Williams helps to maintain Pottstown's Native American
memorial at the intersection of Industrial Highway
and South Franklin streets. 

I had my contact’s name and very little other information and so I set off with a lot of apprehension, given the time of the year and weather conditions I knew I would encounter along the way. The average temperature in the region I was heading for was around minus 20 degrees with a mixed lot of weather conditions that didn't make for a lot of confidence on my part.

My trip to the Plains introduced me to something more than the pride I felt for offering my support to that effort. My contact for this trip was located in the small community of Wanblee, South Dakota, located on the northeastern edge of the Pine Ridge Reservation, some 260 miles away from my ultimate destination at Standing Rock. 

I could not personally deliver my haul directly to Standing Rock because at this time there were many authorized and non-authorized roadblocks set up along the routes leading to the encampment. There were also reported accounts of individuals being turned around if they were found to be bringing supplies in to the encampment. 

My contact was a resource for individuals heading to Standing Rock. These individuals could pick up needed items/food etc. and carry them safely into the encampment.

But this is not about my trip to Standing Rock. This is about my contacts (now my friends) home, Wanblee, and the hard truths of reservation life.

When I drove into Wanblee, South Dakota in the midst of a very cold and wintry day, I encountered a
community that seemed to be huddled down and simply trying to survive. The first group I met wanted to know if I was the new pastor, (not me), and one of them jumped into the van and guided me through the town to a small group of homes where we were able to get some direction to my contact. 

Ron Williams, second from left, also helps organize the 

Pow Wow in Memorial Park every year.

As we drove away, my rider pointed out a few simple but newer homes that she explained were empty because no one could afford them.

My reason for traveling to this community was meant to be a "one-time;" trip, but the conditions I witnessed during this first trip caused me to reconsider the things I take for granted in my world and the challenges that the residents of this reservation were experiencing on a constant basis.

The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is one of the poorest locations in the United States and because of its location at the eastern edge of the reservation there is limited access to government resources.

Unemployment on the reservation has been recorded as high as 89% and the poverty level as high as 80%.

There are few employment opportunities accessible within the reservation and the relative isolation of Wanblee simply amplifies this condition. 

Poverty rates on the Pine Ridge Reservation
is as high as 80 percent.

Although Wanblee is the location of approximately 700 residents, many homes can be inaccessible during the winter and, more specifically, during the school year.

With that in mind, once the school year begins, many families will send their school age children to live with relatives and friends during the school week. This puts a burden on the families housing the students to provide for them and ensure they are cared for. 

The homes in and around Wanblee are not ample and many homes lack adequate insulation. In my discussions with my contacts in the community I found that there was a great need for items that could help these families and made a commitment to do what I could to help out. 

In addition to the children and students, I also found that a substantial part of the older population were in need as well. So I began my efforts to do what I could, and my wife Mary jumped in right next to me in this effort. 

As those of you who know us are aware, we have been collecting many items for our excursions out to the reservation for the last three years. With the help of our friends and a loving community, we have been able to fill our van to the roof, including the passenger seat, with donated items, and we are grateful to all of you. 

I need to mention that The Hill School's HobarT's Run has been on the top of our list for their participation in our efforts and I can never thank them enough. On my last trip I was able to mostly fill the van with school supplies along with food, clothing, blankets and some sleeping supplies.

A playground on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

Food is a major item for the reservation. While food stamps and government commodities are provided to many of the residents, it is hardly adequate. Heat is also a major concern. 

Temperature during the winter can frequently be as low as minus thirty degrees, and the need for space heaters and propane heaters is great. 

In addition to the items I will list below, we would like to gather "new" toys for between 40 and 50 children between the ages of "very young" to 12/13 years old. 

If individuals or groups can help out with this effort, please contact me and we can make arrangements to pick up or receive these items. We would like to be able to deliver these holiday Gifts to the reservation by the end of November, so we would need to arrange to collect them by mid-November.

Here is a list of donations we would like to collect for that trip:

• Space heaters
• Clean, gently used blankets
• Pillows
• Roll up mattresses
• Winter coats - (durable for wind and cold conditions)
• Winter Gloves - (serious need among the elderly)
• Denim pants - all sizes
• Boots and Shoes - (new or gently used)
• Baby Powder
• Diapers - all sizes
• Baby clothes
• NON-PERISHABLE FOOD

If you can help our effort our please contact me for arrangements at 610-327-1838.

Thank you,
Ron Williams