Cheyenne River Recovery Updates
Winter storm damage - February 2010 Update
“The people of Cheyenne River have been through a lot. We’re so grateful we have not had any loss of life in our community. We’re grateful for the help we’ve been given, and we’ve learned to use our resources wisely in order to be prepared for the future.”
- Eileen Briggs, executive director, Cheyenne River Tribal Ventures
Running water and electricity have been restored to most parts of the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, but the need for costly repairs remains. Tribal Chairman Joseph Brings Plenty has said recovery efforts are now focusing on “requests for federal disaster relief and the longer term task of fixing our damaged water infrastructure. Our battered water infrastructure, our water intake and water pipeline needs to be rebuilt..” The Tribe is still waiting for a federal disaster relief to repair its faulty water system.
Many households suffered broken pipes , frozen sewer systems and other damage after a fierce ice storm blew through the reservation in north central South Dakota, knocking down nearly 3,000 utility poles and demolishing the reservation’s water system. Thousands of people on the reservation suffered a loss of power and running water, many for more than two weeks during the bitter winter weather.
Donations are still being accepted through the South Dakota Community Foundation and Native Americans in Philanthropy, a portion of which is being matched by the Bush and Northwest Area Foundations. The funds topped $300,000 as of late February, thanks to generous donations, many of which were $10 or $20 at a time.
Chairman Brings Plenty posted a statement on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe’s website expressing his gratefulness for the donations and promising a full accounting of how the resources have been utilized.
Northwest Area Foundation has worked with the Cheyenne River Sioux Nation since 2004 on poverty reduction initiatives through the Cheyenne River Tribal Ventures.
Eileen Briggs describes the courage and resolve on the reservation. Listen