Tis the Season of Giving

There are some places less than 500 miles away from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul that are in the most dire living conditions I've ever seen outside of the favellas (slums) of Sao Paulo, Brazil. I have been to these places and I know it to be true, as hard as it might be for someone who's never been there to understand that this can be reality in "our land of plenty".
This is the United States of America where our Indian Reservations are akin to prisons without walls.
Don't take this wrong.  I love being there, I love the people.  I have friends that are not blood, but are family.  The level of poverty and despair can be tentatively measured by the appalling statistics:
Please go to nativeprogress.org now to open your heart and your wallet.  It IS the season of giving, even though most of us believe that season never ends!


The following information is taken directly from nativeprogress.org.  This is a wonderful organization that I contribute to when I can. Their work is directed to the people with the greatest need.
 Last year for Christmas my husband's gift to me was a receipt to NativeProgress for food for the People and it brought me to tears.  I have quite a wonderful husband and he knows what is important to me. 
He supports my trips out there and maintains our home and his company by himself, sometimes for long stretches of time, with nothing but loving kindness and the funds to make it happen. He does all this while living with a terminal kidney disease.  He's quite amazing!  I'm very grateful and I don't take him for granted, without him, I wouldn't be able to do what I do.  I just wish I could do it more.


Direct quote from NativeProgress.org:

Can you imagine that in the United States of America:

• There is a group of people who have the shortest life expectancy of any group in the Western Hemisphere, outside of Haiti,
• Families, children and elders go without food on a regular basis,
• Families are often without heat during sub-zero temperatures,
• People are without employment opportunities or adequate medical facilities.

That is the plight of Lakota People living on reservations in South Dakota.

• Life Expectancy is 48 years for men and 52 years for women.
• Unemployment is estimated to be 87%
• 90% live below the Federal poverty level.
• The teenage suicide rate is 3 1/2 times higher than the national average.
• Infant mortality is five times higher than the national average
• Diabetes, heart disease, cancer and malnutrition are epidemic.

Despite hardship and adversity, the Lakota maintain their cultural knowledge and traditions and preserve for their children and for the world, ancient wisdom that contributes to quality of life.

• About 1/3 of the population still speak the Lakota language
• Almost all maintain their traditional spiritual and cultural beliefs
• They are leaders in knowledge of environmental preservation.
• They are a sharing society - when one eats, they all eat - or they all do without.
• Their exquisite beadwork, quillwork, quilting, sewing, painting is art at its best.
• They wish to preserve their culture and find ways to be self-sufficient.
  
  
  Their work is directed to the people with the greatest need.

  
  

  
  

  Now back to my own words; when you are out shopping for your friends and loved ones, please look for the best deals you can and take the difference to help our precious Brothers & Sisters on the Reservations. Particular needs are money for wood to heat their homes; warm blankets, boots, coats and mittens and good, healthy, food.  If you'd rather purchase a gift as opposed to sending money, One Spirit has a wonderful "Okini" program that directs these gifts directly to the people with the greatest needs. If you've ever been out there in the winter, it is harsh; with unrelenting winds and ice cold temperatures.   Let's make this a holiday season for all the right reasons.

  
  

  
  

    

   Many Blessings to Everyone!