CROW CREEK SIOUX RESERVATION – 2009/2010

• Population: 2,225
• Average annual income: $5,000

THE SITUATION: CAN-DO was informed of a human rights violation occurring at the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation in Fort Thompson, South Dakota. This reservation is one of the poorest communities in the country. And in the frigid winter, the electrical power company gauge prices — charging a 1/3 higher that the state average. Worse, they will disconnect the electricity for residents on the reservation if the bills are not paid in full. Many of these households have elderly family members or children whose lives depend upon electronic medical equipment such as nebulizers. With an unemployment rate of 80% and an average annual income of $5,000 – 11% less than the national average – it is extremely difficult for residents to pay the over inflated bills. Lack of electricity not only leads to residence loosing their food, lights and heat but in some cases, leads to severe illness, disease and death. The US Department of Health and human services states that between November 1st and March 31st, utility companies cannot disconnect a customer’s electrical power due to extreme weather temperatures. The law also states that a customer cannot have their power disconnected if they have medical problems or agree to a payment plan.

OUR ASSESSMENT: CAN-DO conducted an on-site assessment at the Crow Creek Sioux Indian Reservation in order to gather evidence on the current living conditions being endured by the local community. The assessment team gathered information from conducting interviews, shooting video footage and raw photographic imagery straight from the source. The thorough documentation and analysis process is essential for CAN-DO to establish a direct approach that will result in lasting relief for the impoverished people in Crow Creek. The evidence is insurmountable. Deep shame surfaces in the reality of abuse and blatant human rights violations that are happening here, in the United States. Socioeconomic disparity and fundamental lack of equal opportunity has harvested a community of American’s on a burning decline.

Despite CAN-DO’s overwhelming documentation, Central Electric Cooperative still claims that, “Central Electric does have a winter disconnect procedure whereby power is not disconnected in cold or inclement weather.” The facts and video CAN-DO gathered during assessment proved otherwise.

What was most disturbing was that the power being generated is produced on tribal land. According to the tribal council, when the hydro-electric dam was first built there was an agreement and promise, promise of free electricity for the reservation, those promises have not been honored. Today, people are forced to live without power in sub-zero temperatures. WHAT WE DID: With a long-standing track record and proven approach to providing lasting solutions with full accountability, efficiency and results, CAN-DO approached the crisis on the Crow Creek Reservation at the local level. Dedicated to listening to the voice of the people, the plan started by raising the nation’s awareness of the urgent human right abuses taking place on the South Dakota region. It was crucial that while funds were being raised the immediate survival needs of the community were effectively being met.

We immediately be brought the issue to the attention of the mainstream media and Government officials and addressed as an emergency situation. Losing power was not only an inconvenience; it was life threatening for the people of Crow Creek.

CAN-DO contacted the electric power company and advocated on behalf of the people of Crow Creek for the electricity to not be turned off during the negative 20 degrees temperatures.

We also paid to have the accounts brought up to date for residents in most critical need on the reservation.

PHASE 2

CREATING SUSTAINABLE CHANGE: CAN-DO is focused on working with the local community to meet their immediate survival needs while improving the overall quality of life. The best way to help revitalize a community is by listening to the people, and including the locals on the project.

Since Crow Creek faces an unemployment rate of 80% and the annual household income stagnates at $5,000, CAN-DO set out to generate income opportunities and access to food for the community.

Community Thrift Shop:
• Built a community thrift shop and food pantry on the reservation
• By using social media we were able to keep the shop full of supplies and items throughout the coming years

Green House Initiative:

• Built a state-of-the-art greenhouse and community garden on the reservation for residence to harvest their own crops.
• Presented a 5-Point Revitalization plan to Congress in 2010 in Washington, DC on behalf of the people of Crow Creek

VIRTUAL VOLUNTEER – PHILANTHROPY IN REAL TIME: CAN-DO’s Virtual Volunteer stream was up and running during the Crow Creek revitalization project. Donors could log in and see the greenhouse being built in real-time, and talk with the locals on the reservation LIVE. This revolutionary new technology has gained the attention of Members of the US Senate, the media, and even school children across the nation as they watched live how their contributions have directly impacted the lives of the Crow Creek community. During several live exchanges, community members chatted live with viewers from all over the world expressing not only their appreciation but the current situation they face living on the reservation.

Read CAN-DO’s 5 Point Revitalization Plan for Crow Creek presented to Congress in Washington, DC. [PDF]

Press Releases:

• March 26th, 2009: “Third World Conditions at the Hands of the Power Company” [View Press Release]
• March 18th 2009: “CAN-DO Confronts Power Company in Nation’s Poorest County” [View Press Release]
• March 4th, 2009: “CAN-DO’s Call for Obama Administration to Stop Human Rights Abuses” [View Press Release]
• March 3rd, 2009: CAN-DO & CBS call on Pres. Obama’s Administration to step in.
• March 1st, 2009: CAN-DO’s efforts in Crow Creek has caught the attention of Oprah’s Angel Network
• February 27th 2009: Senator Tim Johnson’s response to the Crow Creek energy crisis [View Letter]
• February 25th, 2009: “Families Freezing in Nation’s Poorest County” [View Press Release]
• February 6th, 2009: “Yes we CAN-DO” – “Restoring a Culture and Revitalizing Our Country” [View Press Release]