Dear ONE Spirit friends of the Lakota people,

Thanksgiving in the US was the 4th Thursday in November. Our family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. How was yours? Did you also have family come to visit, lots of good food and the warmth of a fireside? We were grateful for much at Thanksgiving. And we were grateful that we were able to help Lakota families on the reservation. We received the following letter just after Thanksgiving:

"…On behalf of myself, my family and the kids, I want to say a humongous thank you to you and your organization. Thanksgiving was awesome this year, we forgot to bake the yams but we had them last night. I did most of the cooking. My husband helped me brine the turkey so it was tender and delicious. So were the dressings and other side dishes. (In addition) we had fruit for the kids."

"…Any time we bring food home brings a smile to the kids faces. They are so helpful with the unloading of groceries. With the many, many challenges and stressful events happening, it is comforting to know that tonight we will be able to prepare a healthy dinner for the children. "

"…So once again I want to say a big thank you or in our language, 'Wopila tanka!' "

But there were many families for whom there was nothing we could offer. Not enough money for food for the many families who had none.

And for a few families, food was not the answer. During Thanksgiving week, four children committed suicide on Pine Ridge reservation. Three young children in the Allen area and one in Oglala took their own lives. On the reservation, teenage suicide is 5 times higher than anywhere else in the US.

Why do they kill themselves instead of fighting for their lives? They have been fighting for decent conditions all their lives and, in many cases, nothing has come of it. They get tired of fighting for their lives. Tired of trying to escape from alcoholism and abuse. Tired of trying to escape from drugs and violence in their community and homes. They get tired of trying to escape from the perpetual cycle of poverty. Suicide is a guaranteed escape from it all and many succumb to the temptation of at least that kind of peace.

We at ONE Spirit are doing what we can for the Lakota youth on Pine Ridge Indian reservation, and that is limited only by the resources available. We could do so much more if we had even a modest increase in funds.

During Thanksgiving week this year, we ALL lost four children.

We at ONE Spirit are supporting the youth on the reservation through a program called "My Buffalo Land's Children". This program provides mentors for the children to develop their natural artistic and musical abilities. With even a modest increase in funds, we can supply access to computers, reading and reference books, and leisure activities that can detract from the lure of alcohol and drugs.

The Lakota people have asked for our help in creating youth centers around the reservation where the young people can come to use their artistic talents, play music, work on computers, use a library and, most important, have adults available to them who know and understand the difficulties of reservation life. John Dubray, from the Allen area where 3 teens recently committed suicide, wrote prophetically a few months ago about the youth:

"In these communities are many young people with visions, dreams, and hope for a better future. They like horseback riding, playing basketball, playing softball, and many things that young people like to do. In this community the love for the horse is rampant. This community is truly a medicine horse community with many of the young people practicing their culture. In this poor socio-economical community the chances of the young reaching their dreams is little or none. By twenty years old they have already given up their hopes and dreams, many times the young look and feel many years past their age. The waste of talent is extremely hard to watch, especially if you love your people the way I do."

The Lakota people have the skills and abilities to build youth centers and develop programs. They don’t have money for building materials. They estimate that the materials for one youth center would cost about $75,000 – less than the cost of the cheapest home these days.

You and We can help

Winter is an especially trying time for the Lakota people on Cheyenne River and Pine Ridge Indian Reservations. Many are forced to choose between feeding their families or keeping them warm. We need to continue these programs while raising the funds to help build much needed youth centers.

ONE Spirit values each and every donation and wishes to Thank You all for your generosity in helping us support the Lakota people in their drive to better their living situation on the reservations.

The survival of the world depends upon our sharing what we have and working together. If we don't, the whole world will die. First the planet, and next the people.
-Fools Crow, Ceremonial Chief of the Teton Sioux

Visit One Spirit at www.nativeprogress.org