Give the Gift of Cheer 

Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA) knows that Native Americans living on rural reservations don’t always have the means to provide holiday gifts for others, let alone themselves. PWNA’s Native American Aid program and its Elder Gift Bag service help Tribal partners provide stockings full of essential items like toothpaste, socks, hand sanitizer, disaster blankets, and more.  

Our Program Partner Julie T. with the Porcupine Elderly Nutrition Center on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota explained what a major impact NAA donors had on her community, sharing, “To be able to provide this for them… it’s good to give people gifts. We so appreciate PWNA and what we were able to make happen. Thank you. You’re filling needs that we didn’t even ask for – it’s a blessing. Elders are so appreciative.” Julie mentioned that Elders are more likely to participate in future programs at the Elderly Nutrition Center with such a supportive environment.   

65-year-old Diana of the Oglala Sioux Tribe offered a cheerful, “Wopila [thanks]” for her stocking. “It helps because the stores here aren’t cheap.”  

Oglala Sioux Elder Frieda considered some of her stocking items to be a luxury. She shared, “It’s all really nice, especially the expensive facial stuff. I’m so appreciative because many of our people don’t buy any of this for themselves.” Frieda noted that even though she has a car, she’s unable to drive and must rely on others for transportation. At times, winter storms leave her stuck at home without electricity, and she can’t run her space heaters to keep warm. She was grateful for a flashlight in her stocking as she shared, “We all need a flashlight.” 

Frieda’s sister Babette also commented on the need for supplies, saying, “We lose electricity a lot – one time for a whole day with no heat.” December is the coldest month of the year in Porcupine, with an average low of 15 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Babette also noted that local roads are terrible to drive on in the winter. She shared, “We’re the last ones to get sanded. One time we were stuck for five days at Frieda’s house and had to hire someone to plow.” As for the stockings, Babette was happy to find crossword puzzles and especially lotion, as it’s an expensive product. She noted, “My hands and feet get so dry.” 

72-year-old Rhonda estimated a savings of $100 at local stores for everything in her stocking. For cheaper prices, she must travel an hour and a half to Rapid City, but it can be dangerous to travel during the winter. Rhonda told us, “The roads were constructed with the least costly materials, so they don’t last. That’s why we get potholes, and the roads are wavy, going up and down with no shoulder all over the reservation. We buy a lot of tires, shocks, ball joints, and struts. There’s no tow truck, so if you see a lot of abandoned cars, it’s because there’s no one to help.”  

Despite the challenges of living on the reservation, Rhonda always looks forward to the holiday season when she can enjoy time with her family – her Tiospaye. Growing up, she remembers when everyone gathered in the middle of a big building on Christmas Eve and her father handed out peanuts and plain candy. She shared, “It was a good time. I remember the era of no jobs, and everybody relied on each other to help. Elders know that the holiday means a lot, so the fortunate ones try to save for it ahead of time. Some households don’t have their basic needs met.”  

Rhonda cited an unemployment rate of 89% on the reservation, adding that most of the workforce was either employed by the Tribe or the school system. She explained, “Jobs are really hard to get.” Retired from her career as a Tribal secretary, Rhonda relies on social security for income.  

NAA needs your help to provide Elders like Rhonda, Babette, Frieda, and Diana with essential items over the holiday season. Donate to NAA today to give the gift of cheer.