Heroine of the week

Cecilia Fire Thunder, the President of the Oglala Sioux in South Dakota, speaks truth to the white boys who think they run things in her country.

“I will personally establish a Planned Parenthood clinic on my own land which is within the boundaries of the Pine Ridge Reservation where the State of South Dakota has absolutely no jurisdiction.”

Another blogger called Pine Ridge, spoke to Ms. Fire Thunder, and posts snail mail and email addresses where you can send checks and letters of support to help fund such a clinic. She also points out, correctly, that like most Indian Reservations, Pine Ridge is not flush for cash, so if you have a little extra, you might want to consider donating to the rez directly. Pine Ridge, by the way, is the location of one of only four Indian colleges in the U.S. that is accredited to issue its own bachelor's degrees. Schools on Pine Ridge are in the bottom 10% of funding by the Dept. of Education and the BIA, teacher turnover there is eight times the national average, and the dropout rate is the highest in the nation, according to their education web site.

The mailing address is:

Oglala Sioux Tribe
ATTN: President Fire Thunder
P. O. Box 2070
Pine Ridge, SD 57770

or

ATTN: PRESIDENT FIRE THUNDER
PO BOX 990
Martin, SD 57751

For donations specifically for the Planned Parenthood clinic, make checks out to OST Planned Parenthood Cecelia Fire Thunder. General donations may be made out to the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

Fuck Custer, fuck the Seventh Cavalry, and just for the record? The Crazy Horse Memorial and Indian Education Center in South Dakota are way more interesting than that stupid Mount Rushmore bullshit.

Thanks to C.P., A.E., and No Nym for sending me links to the article. Thanks to Ben Wolfson for the heads up on the blogger with the mailing addys.