Funds help heat Indian homes

| Thursday, February 08, 2007

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For the 10th consecutive winter, people on the Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River Sioux Indian reservations will stay warm with help from Running Strong for American Indian Youth.

The nonprofit organization began offering heating help after reports that poor working families were burning fence posts and other items in order to survive the cold winter. Billy Mills, the Pine Ridge native and Olympic champion who founded Running Strong, said last year's heating program helped a record 1,307 people.

According to a news release from Running Strong, the Pine Ridge tribal government has raised $45,000 to be used throughout each of the nine reservation districts. Running Strong doubles those funds through a $90,000 matching grant, which is earmarked to help American Indian families buy propane, oil, electricity or firewood.

Running Strong's Pine Ridge heating assistance program will operate through district Community Action Programs rather than being directly available to people.

Oglala Sioux Tribe authorities say the heating assistance comes at the right time.

"Temperatures are dropping," said Robert Running Bear, the tribe's coordinator for energy and heating. "Families across Pine Ridge appreciate the support Running Strong is able to provide."

For the fifth year, Running Strong will provide matching home heating funds for families of dues-paying members of the Cheyenne River Youth Project. The organization will provide $30,000, according to the news release. Families can request up to $100 for home heating help.

"We know there's a lot of pride in making the most of a hard situation," said Julie Garreau, executive director of the youth project. "We ask families to match the money Running Strong makes available, so that they are actively helping themselves. It's always a struggle and we know that our members appreciate the program."

- Journal staff