The Indian Welfare State Dilemma

Wow...it is hit the wall time for me. I must first tell you, that I do not have contempt for the Indian People at Standing Rock. I feel bad that their lives have been diminished so much as a civilization of people. I recognize that their environment has such a huge influence on them. They have no idea that outside of the reservation people are productive. Maybe even on the Reservation it could be so much better....if only a leader would rise up among them and lead them out of this huge abyss. I know there has already been such a person....Jesus Christ ....as the Redeemer of all mankind. Yet, not all who have been taught of Christ want to accept Him as the living water. He already appeared to their ancestors and taught them the way, the truth, and the life. They have turned away from this knowledge.

It seems that the people on the reservation have become comfortable in their misery and loss of hope. In fact, that has become their way of life. Most do not have a desire to improve their lives with any conviction or self destiny. They hate life on the Reservation...so they say! They are stuck in a cycle of drugs, alcohol, immorality, and poverty. Also, they have no hope for a better life than what they are living now.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE INDIAN FAMILY?

Today the American Indian people dismiss the notion of lack of commitment to the Indian nuclear "family", yet they do not promote and encourage the in-tack family unit of a father, mother and child. They have learned to "work" the welfare system, which does not promote the family unit with its current policies. The majority of men on the reservation do not work, or even support the children they have fathered. Most women have children from multiple partners out of wedlock. The fathers are not even named on the birth certificates of their children in most cases. This is done in order for the women to personally receive all of the benefits financially they can through the child welfare program. This also lets the men off the hook for any responsibility of child support. They have learned how to work the system for sure. Many children on the reservation are under the custodial care of the grandparents due to the lack of soberness of their own parents most of the time. This cycle goes on to repeat itself generation after generation and they cover up for each other all the time.

The tribe members enable each other in this dysfunctional family life and it has become the "Indian Way". They defend the indefensible acts of their family members who take the monthly welfare checks received as benefits for their children's' support and sell their welfare food stamps and other benefits to purchase drugs and alcohol. In many cases leaving them penniless by the 5th of the month, with no money left for food and care of their children. There are some who sell their food stamps valued at $40 and receive only $20 cash in return in order to buy the alcohol and drugs they desire and crave. Some sell "all" of their food stamps and other benefit funds at this type of currency exchange as soon as they get their monthly check.

The level of physical and sexual abuse and neglect of their children is documented, but rarely dealt with in regards to protecting the child by the tribal families themselves. They will cover up, enable, and lie about what is happening. You will seldom read the truth about child welfare services(CWS) and children being taken from homes. It is always portrayed as the "evil" child welfare services people taking the tribes children, but never the truth regarding the neglect, alcohol and drug abuse situations these children are barely surviving.

Last week a young mother of a 8 month and three year old girls left them alone at home in the evening when she went out on a drug and drinking binge. She, herself was left off in a ditch by her acquaintances on the way home from partying late into the early morning. Those close to her know this happened and do not report her. No one dares do that. Why? because they are involved in the same behavior. It is a code among the people to not cause trouble for someone else, but what about the innocent children and their safety? This is not an isolated situation.

SCOURGE OF SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMS

Federal, State, and Tribal Welfare programs that do not require any effort from the recipient, becomes a trap for them as individuals. They lose the mental capacity to think outside the box they are in and have become dependent on the free money and support. The reservation system can not be solved by throwing money at it. Welfare payments for those capable of working needs to end before the "Rez" people will ever have the desire to work and change their lives for the better. It is either that or distinction by their own actions.

The individuals who really benefit from social welfare are those who administrate the programs. What they gain from it is not wealth but POWER over someone else. Our modern day politician has perfected this power vs welfare in order to buy a vote. It is truly captivity of a people in order to keep themselves in power. "Promise equality of the world to the impoverished", is their battle cry. Deluding them into thinking they deserve "something for nothing". If they truly cared about even one individual on welfare, they would not throw money at them for a long term to pacify them. But work with them to pull themselves out of the state of poverty they are in. Thus changing the trajectory and mindset of families and generations.

MENTAL STATE OF VICTIMS

Victim-hood also takes away any incentive for an individual to pick themselves up, dust off, and get on with life. Once again, we have a lot of social leaders who love to lead in "defense" of the defenseless. We see them all around us. As long as there are victims there will be those who want to represent them and also keep them believing they are "victims" without a way out. How else are they going to get power and votes?

The lawsuit by the members of the Ogala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota (Pine Ridge Indian Reservation) is tragic. Not tragic only because of the amount of alcohol abuse and consumption on the reservation, but tragic how misguided their tribal leaders are to bring this lawsuit forward as if they as a people, bare no burden of responsibility for their choices. They are suing the beer manufacturing companies for selling alcohol in Nebraska, and their tribes people purchasing the alcohol and "smuggling" in onto the reservation in South Dakota. In the Bismarck Tribune it reported on February 10, 2012 -

Quote: "The lawsuit alleges that the beer makers and stores sold to Pine Ridge residents knowing they would smuggle the alcohol into the reservation to drink or resell. The beer makers supplied the stores with "volumes of beer far in excess of an amount that could be sold in compliance with the laws of the state of Nebraska and the the tribe". According to the supposed state law, they can buy beer but must consume it at the stores.

The tribe has prohibited the use of alcohol on their reservation since 1970, but have failed miserably at enforcing this law. Maybe they forgot to explain this to the people living there on the "Rez". The tribe is rampant with alcohol abuse, diseases, and deaths related to alcohol consumption. Speak nothing of the mental abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse, and violence that is associated with those who consume alcohol.

The tribe wants you to believe that they are the victims of the beer producing companies. It is not like they truly have a gun held to their heads to purchase and consume the alcohol, right? I was thinking maybe there should be a counter suit filed against the reservation on behalf of the American Taxpayers. It could represent the money the American taxpayers have paid for generations to prop them up financially.

Think of the waste of hard earned funds spent on the purchase of alcohol by individuals on the reservation. The money they receive from our government was intended only to be used for purchasing food items, clothing, or the basics of utilities and home related costs. On the reservation, their health care and medicines are provided for them through the Governments - Indian Health Services.

The state of poverty they live in is exacerbated greatly by the abuse of the financial support they receive from the government, and how they use these funds to purchase alcohol and drugs. When the welfare check comes at the first of the month, I would suggest you stay off the roads near reservations. Many of the Indians go on a drinking and drug binge for days and drive intoxicated.

WHERE ARE THE INDIAN LEADERS OF TODAY?

The problem on the reservation is the lack of moral leadership. The Indians have turned away from their teachings of health and well being, and God. It is much easier to not take responsibility and blame someone else, rather than look at the failure of their value system as a people. They talk the talk, but do not walk the walk. They have failed themselves.

Even before the Indians were put on the reservation, their propensity towards consumption of alcohol and drugs have been documented. Yes, they were supposedly introduced to some alcohol when the white man set foot on American soil. But I am not buying it completely. I can not believe they did not have problems with some form of drug use before the white man come to America. Drugs have existed for centuries throughout the world.(Peyote is an example) . It is easier though to blame the white man and be the victim, than take responsibility for the moral decline of your people and their values.

In their history they have often been led by modern day self described "Prophets". These religious leaders have attempted to lead their people to turn away from the use of alcohol since the early 1800's and even before. This guidance always seemed successful when they had a strong religious leader who could persuade them spiritually regarding this matter. In the groups that were able to reduce alcohol consumption, it is recorded that they flourished and were productive during those periods. If they put their minds to it, they are capable of turning away from alcohol and the ills related to the consumption of alcohol .

I truly believe in the agency of the human soul. We are not destined to repeat the past mistakes of our ancestors due to genetics or environment. We can change and make our lives better. The Indians are capable of this also, and have proven this many times over. It is a cop out used by those in leadership on all reservations, that alcohol or drugs for that matter, are to be blamed on those from "with-out", when it is their people from "within" who seek to purchase and consume them.

The leadership of the Indian people is the key for their survival. Take away their entitlements, victim-hood mentality, and the history of the past excuse of the Indians being forced off their lands. Besides, I don't know of many Indians who want to go back to living in bark huts, tee pees, or cave dwellings without electricity, running water and sewer. Tribal leaders, lead your people to health and well being. Teach them to work for their own survival like they did before the white man came. Turn away from blaming, government dependency and victim hood, and be visionary in what your people can be restored to once again.

It takes poor leadership or none at all to keep people in a state of misery. In fact, I believe that the Indian tribal leaders thrive personally on the welfare dependency and power they derive from the status quo of their people in this state of being, while they and their family members always seem to live much better than the majority of those whom they serve. This is not just my perception but also the perception of the people living on the "Rez".

It has been long enough that the white man has been paying for the sins of our fathers that moved the Indians off of their ancestral lands. It has not helped the Indian people at all to continue to throw money at them and have them live as if they are being acted upon instead of taking responsibility and acting for themselves. The only hope they have is to become self sustaining and independent of the United States Governments welfare money. Rise and come forth as the strong warrior people you were destined to be, and get back to the strong, independent, and resourceful people you once were.

What makes a person a true convert to Christ?

This is my question of the week. Living on an Indian Reservation, the common answer to why things are done a certain way is, "This is our ways". I am not sure that someone saying that really represents any truth to what a person really believes here. It sometimes comes across as an excuse for doing things that make no sense, or have not been thought out real well. In the scriptures we are told that the "Traditions of the Fathers" will be a stumbling block.

When you live with a group of people steeped in "Traditions" it is easy to sometimes be critical of the things they do. I was taught to turn things back on myself when I question why others do things I do not understand, or cannot follow their reasoning for continuing down a path that is not getting them what they truly want. For instance.....I think to myself,, "Do I have a belief about something that has no foundation in truth, but because I am not willing to change, I rationalize why I continue to do it or believe it?"

Like why did I procrastinate getting my Christmas Cards out again this year? This happens every year for some reason. Analyze that someone. Anyway, why can't I figure this out and start writing Christmas Cards around Thanksgiving instead of having this anxiety hanging over me when I continue to put it off. Here it is almost the end of January and my cards will go in the mail this week finally. So if someone can help me out, I would appreciate it! (I have no idea when my mother used to send cards out, so I cannot use my mother as an excuse!)

Now, when it comes to being truly converted to Christ......how does, or when does this happen in someones life. Thirty four years ago I served a mission in Italy. The people there were so steeped in the tradition of the national religion. It was very hard to share the gospel there, and to have people allow us to teach them. Now the church is strong and big enough in Italy they are building a Temple in Rome. When did the church really take hold?

The thing that is frustrating with being on the Indian Reservation, is to realize that many of the people here were baptized at some point and are no longer not only not attending church, they are having alcohol problems, family problems, etc. Why have they struggled to stay strong in the gospel? There have been a ton of missionaries come and go here, and yet things never seem to be able to maintain themselves on a church level. When does a change happen in a group of people that things really stick?

Choking to death, or so I thought!

I have been trying to get my daily exercise in and it has been so beautiful outside lately. I thought what the heck, why not try going for a run to the post office. (I detest running, but I do it to hopefully kick in my metabolism!) It was a little colder outside than I imagined. The run did happen, but the cold air managed to kick in an episode of "sports induced asthma". (I had pneumonia as a child and my bronchials easily get irritated).For hours after my run, I am coughing and hacking away with bronchial irritation problems.

Eighteen months ago I had the Endoscopy procedure done to check my esophagus because of concern about acid reflux complications. I was once a soloist singer, and can no longer hardly sing from damage to my throat and vocal cords due to the affects of acid reflux while sleeping. I had no idea I was even having acid reflux problems at night while I slept peacefully. But I was having problems with my voice becoming hoarse easily. The doctor also finds a tightening in my throat a condition called a "Schiatzi Ring" where the esophagus narrows and does not allow food to pass easily if the food is not chewed well. This is an important part of the story I am going to share!

I was not doing well at getting my meals worked into my schedule that day. I had breakfast in the morning, but before I knew it, it was already 3:30 pm and I had not stopped for lunch. Trying to always eat healthy, I decide to grab a few carrots to munch on, so that I do not spoil my appetite for dinner.

I was busy working on stuff on the computer, when I swallowed my first bite of carrot. It was then my fate was sealed. The first swallow of carrot did not pass merrily along down my esophagus. It lodged itself about midway down my neck in my esophagus. I am not talking a little blockage.... I am saying total blockage. If you have never had this happen to you, it is not quite "choking to death", but a feeling like you are going to die anyway.

So in my panic I think, chew another snippet of carrot to push the blockage down. So I chewed and chewed to make sure the carrot was at puree stage and swallowed. All it did was now create a stage of impaction. Now I am really in trouble, and I am alone at home. Major panic is now really setting in. The blockage is painful.

My breathing now is getting a little labored and I am trying to remain calm, but very nervous. I try to cough up the blockage and nothing happens. I get a drink of water and try to drink and the water cannot even pass into my esophagus, it just backs up and comes out with tiny remnants of my carrot puree. (Raw Carrot does not soften like a piece of bread or cracker will with water.)

OK, now I am at major panic time. The area where the carrot is stuck feels like it is swelling and causing more tightness around the blockage. I think at this time I will do the "Heimlich" maneuver on myself so I go to the kitchen table and throw myself over a chair in hopes that I can move the blockage, but no luck. Plus, the chair is about a foot too tall for me to lean over effectively. My pureed carrot part does come back up, but the blockage is firm. I am also worried about breaking a rib for nothing. I am now starting to get light headed, either from panic or from the blockage. My body is reacting like I am in distress, and I am in distress. The carrot blockage is now causing more pain.

Now, what would you do in my shoes?

I try water again, with no luck. I can see myself on the floor passed out or dead when my husband walks through the door. It would ruin his day totally!
The fact that I live two blocks from the Indian Health Services emergency room did not even cross my mind. I am not sure I could have made it, but I don't even think of it by now. I am trying to keep calm, but I am very panicked and that does not help my bodys' responses. I just know I do not want to die this way.

I call 911 for the first time in my life! The operator comes on and I can hardly talk by now. She calls the local paramedics. The paramedic that answers the phone has a five minute discussion with the 911 operator regarding whether they really need to come because I can talk a little, be it not well. But the fact that I can talk, means to the paramedics that I am not choking to death. Then the operator tells them to come to my house, that my speech has changed in the time she and I have been talking, and that she recommends they check this out because I am alone. She practically has to command them to come to my aid.

Then I have to attempt to explain to them where I live in Ft Yates, like they do not have a GPS on their vehicle in this day and age. What are the chances? So annoying. They could have been to my house in the time they delayed acting like they could not follow my directions. I must have interrupted their viewing of their favorite show or something. There are not that many streets in Ft Yates to get lost in, trust me. I explain to them no less then four times, and each time the paramedic on the phone interrupts my discription of where I live and how to get here. How hard can turn left at Taco Johns, and go down to North Street and turn right be?

If they were my sons, or employees I would have disowned them or fired them on the spot. Seriously, can someone become so callused to think that every person who calls 911 is doing so because they are lonely and want some attention? To say the least they arrive and I am still having distress. They still go on with their line about me being able to communicate, so it can not be that big of a deal and that they can't do anything to help me. I try to drink more water at their request and immediately the water comes back up my throat, it has no where else to go.

Now the most interesting phenomena happens, my saliva begins to overproduce. Why the body does this I have no idea. But not only does the saliva produce, but it produces mass amounts and it becomes really thick and I still can not swallow. Now I am leaning over the kitchen sink drooling saliva in mass amounts. (Found on line later this is common with blocks in the esophagus.)

It has been 40 minutes from the time I swallowed this sweet little carrot piece, and finally my throat loosens up and the carrot mass begins to move. All I can figure is that having someone there with me, allowed me to subconciously feel safe. I am not as panicked of loosing consciousness while alone. Thus, my body relaxed, especially in my esophagus, and the carrot was able to dislodge itself. The Paramedics leave before I kick them out, and I gladly sign the papers of refusal of transport. (I would not get in their vehicle if you paid me a $1000 dollars at this point.)

So I spend the next day researching my condition. Yes, it can sometimes be life threatening. Most people have to go to emergency to get the lodged particle removed. It can also be a sign of other problems and blockages in the throat such as cancer, etc. I am still shaking in my boots, as they say. I now chew my food well, and have not dared eat a raw carrot since. Running, is definitely off my list, and I am sure the irritation to my bronchials by the "sports induced asthma" contributed to my episode of blockage. The "schiatzi ring" was probably the biggest culprit. But the combination of all factors did not help.

I have also tried to call to get into a specialist to have this checked out, and of course more red tape of seeing a primary care physician for a referral, blah, blah blah, etc. etc. I am new to the area. I have been into the Indian Health Services clinic four times since being here trying to get established and current medications correctly prescribed. I have not seen the same doctor twice. This does not go over well with me because I like a personable experience with my doctors. Every time I see a new doctor, I have to go through this long drawn out explanation of my background, health, etc. I have yet to have a prescription filled out correctly the first time around.

In talking with one of my daughters, she shared with me an experience she recently had at a wedding reception. A young man took a bite of cake and it lodged in his esophagus.(All be it too big of a bite if he takes a bite like my husband does!) Her father-in-law recognized what was happening as the young man is coughing and suffering with this blockage, and that he is in distress. He loads him in his car and they take him to the emergency room, where they do procedures to take care of the blockage. Her father-in-law, knew what to do, because he has been going through treatment for conditions related to his esophagus, and knew what was happening to the young man. Drinking water did not help him either, the cake became like a cement dam of dough in his esophagus. Instead of the water diluting the cake dough it just made it thicker.

Moral of story, be aware that if someone can still talk, it does not mean they do not need immediate attention for a food blockage. Have them try to force themselves to throw up. If this does not work and they can not swallow at all, get them to the emergency room.

One more thing, can anyone tell me why physicians order blood tests, and never call you or send you the results? You would think that would be part of what you pay for with your visit.... Feed Back! We need more doctors who are holistic in their treatment, and a lot less doctors who prescribe medication to treat only symptoms and love to operate! Discussion for another day!

Almost there!

Made it to Billings, Montana last night. The roads were great up to that point. Once we passed through Bozeman, Mt. and then turned towards the road to West Yellowstone things seemed to change

The route is a long winding road along an icy river this time of year. Did I mention the roads were icy also. The pictures below show the river and the roads to through West Yellowstone and Island Park, Idaho.

We stopped to see my cousin Mary Lundstrom Winterton at her cabin on Bills Island, near Island Park, Idaho.


Nothing like arriving the evening of Christmas Eve, and having a cookie decorating party. We all gathered at Damons' family home since they offered the use of their home for housing. Damons folks went to Arizona for Christmas.... they are really the smart ones to go to where it is warm.

On our way to Rexburg, Idaho

It has been three months since we have seen all of our children. Boy were we anxious to see them all again.

The trip to Idaho was uneventful, except for.....the spare tire we changed when we arrived in Bismarck from Ft. Yates (Due to our fear that the tire on the trailer at the time was very worn and seperating and would blow!) was not very stalwart. As we pleasantly traveled along the freeway towards Billings, Montana, our "newly" placed spare tire's lug bolts had another plan to escape along with our spare tire down the interstate on it's own. Roger looked back in his side mirror as he felt a big bump and pulled over just as our spare tire went flying by us into the median and independently traveled for over 150 yards in two foot prairie grass. The search was on for the escaped tire! (My fear of snakes in the grass did not help the search.) Thankfully a couple in a truck stopped to help us and drove down the median until they found our tire and brought it back to us.

We felt lucky that our delay was only two hours to get a repair man to come and bring new lug bolts, and for us to limp along to Dickinson, North Dakota. (One of the new oil capitols of the United States) We bought a new tire and continued on our way. It sure beat the five hour repair truck wait we had this past summer after our tire blew on our U-Haul truck when moving to Ft. Yates, North Dakota this summer. All I can say is that I will take tire problems over engine problems any day.

Smilebox Playback

Click on the Smile Box reference below to check out our Christmas Card greeting with Pictures.

Smilebox Playback

Rubber Meets the Road

My observations regarding our experience here on the Reservation. Sometimes reality is worst than what you could ever imagine. That's where the rubber meets the road.

The reality on the reservation is as follows:

1. Addiction to alcohol and illegal drugs is rampant.
2. Government dependency is debilitating to the soul.
3. The hope level among the people here on a scale of 1 to 10,with 1 being low and 10 as great hope.....on the "Res" as they call it, is at a "1.5".
4. No economic prosperity
5. Few intact families (Father, Mother, and children living together)High level of
physical and sexual abuse due to alcohol consumption and associated behavior.
6. Diabetes is out of control, along with kidney failure (Due to diet, but mostly
alcohol) High level of dialysis patients and early death associated with these
diseases. (Not to mention the number of people dying in alcohol related
accidents).
7. Poverty level is high.
8. Teen Pregnancy and single parenthood common and promoted.
9. Victim-hood is a way of thinking,and the US Government and the white man owes them!
10. National, state, and Local (Trival) Government enabling and dependent on the
dependency of the people on the reservation. Power through subjugation.

Is there a way out.... possibly with the following changes in the mind set of individuals?

1. Positive Community and religious Influence
2. Education or skill development valued and sought beyond high school
3. Work opportunities developed by individuals
4. Benefit of economic development by local community leaders
5. Personal accountability and integrity.
6. Self reliance
7. Alcohol and illegal drug consumption stopped.
8. Dietary changes with excercise.
9. Intact family unit valued by individuals and promoted in the community.
10. Work ethic developed by each individual.


Development of Basic service businesses needed on the Reservation:

Hardware store
Hair cutting
Recycling
Trading post - to sell local crafts
Landscape Nursery or Landscape maintenance businesses
Flower Shop
Clothing shops
Shoe Shops
Craft and Fabric stores
Bakery
Food establishments -Pizza, Sandwich shop, Soup and Salad
Appliance Repair
Gas Station on Highway (Take advantage of travelers needing services)
Movie Theatre
Public Park - with Indian statues
Second Hand Stores for Clothing, appliances, etc.
Summer Indian Folklore Entertainment - to generate Tourism Industry
Manufacturing businesses
Sports shop - Fishing and Hunting Tour guides
Boat Dock -
History Museum of the Standing Rock - Sioux people
Drug Store