Cheyenne River Sioux Elder Brings Health Education to Rural Communities

Native American adults have higher health disparities than their non-Hispanic White counterparts, and reservations in the Northern Plains often have medical facilities that are few and far between. Program Partners like Donna participate in the Community Events service of PWNA’s Sioux Nation Relief Fund (SNRF) program to bring health education straight to the people who need it most. As a Program Partner, Donna receives household supplies to distribute at health fairs around the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Attendee Dawn, age 51, says that outside of these events, health education is limited. Dawn lives alone, so the SNRF supplies will last her a while, and she plans to use everything. “It helps me and everybody, and I’m just thankful,” Dawn shared.

Cheyenne River Sioux Elder Brings Health Education
to Rural Communities

Native American adults have higher health disparities than their non-Hispanic White counterparts, including asthma, heart disease, and tuberculosis. Reservations in the Northern Plains often have medical facilities that are few and far between, so Program Partners like Donna participate in the Community Events service of our Sioux Nation Relief Fund (SNRF) program to bring health education straight to the people who need it most.

Through SNRF, a program of Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA), Donna receives household supplies for communities in need, which she distributes at health fairs around the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. “It’s hard to find stuff around here, and a lot of people don’t buy these supplies, just staples like toilet paper. They need these things, and they’re glad they get them,” Donna explained. She added that these gatherings are important and noted, “There are a lot of health issues, and people don’t normally get this education unless we come out and give it to them, because this community is isolated.”

51-year-old Dawn recently attended a community health fair in Red Scaffold, South Dakota and agreed that outside of these events, health education is limited. Red Scaffold is a small community with dirt roads and a handful of homes. When road conditions are good, Dawn travels 25 miles to shop at an off-reservation store and tries to save money by bargain shopping. She’s noticed that “everything has gone up in price. I look for generics.”

At times, the weather causes the roads to close, leaving the small community even more isolated. Dawn told us, “The roads are closed a lot, and nobody gets out here to us. Community members get together and shovel, and some people don’t have vehicles.”

Dawn lives alone, so the SNRF supplies will last her a while, and she plans to use everything. “It helps me and everybody, and I’m just thankful,” Dawn shared. She’s working temporarily for a local feeding program after being laid off from her previous job.

Your generous gift today can have a positive impact on tribal communities where people like Dawn are thankful for everything they receive.