Saginaw Chippewa Santas deliver presents to
Pine Ridge
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota: Santa Claus traveled more than 1,200
miles and arrived at the Piya Wiconi (New
Beginnings) administration building Wednesday
and Thursday, handing out presents to students
in the Oglala Lakota College Head Start Program.
The presents were delivered by semitrailer this
year, courtesy of members of the Saginaw
Chippewa Indian Tribe from Mount Pleasant,
Mich., who have been providing gifts to the
children of Pine Ridge since the 1990s.
Three years ago, event coordinator Louanna
Bruner focused the gift-giving program on the
Head Start children. In the fall, the children
are asked to make a list of three things that
they need and a couple of things they would
like. Mount Pleasant families review the lists
and adopt one or more of the children and buy
them gifts on the list.
In past years, the Chippewa tribe brought
several vans loaded with the gifts. This year, a
semi was rented, loaded and made its way to
western South Dakota. Nearly 20 tribal members
and helpers made the trip from Michigan and
stayed to help with the gift-giving.
Colleen Green, director of the Native American
Program at Central Michigan University, told how
students in that program go shopping for any of
the children who have not been adopted by tribal
members. The gifts are then wrapped for their
transport to Piya Wiconi.
Green said that almost 450 children received
gifts this year. The most common requests are
shoes, boots, jackets, jeans and other clothes.
The most unusual gift this year was a
toddler-sized rocking horse with furry hair and
a bright red bridle.
Photos were taken of each child receiving his or
her gifts, images that will be given to the
donor families. A video of the event also was
made.
The most common comment?
"Oooooh, I got what I wanted," according to
Michelle Yankton, Oglala Lakota College Head
Start director.
"Parents are thankful for what is done because
there are no jobs right now," Yankton said.
"Grandparents have voiced that. They are glad
for others who are fortunate enough to give,
because without them, the light in their kids'
eyes would not be there."
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/12/19/news/local/doc494b4595bf930675503936.txt
