The state of South Dakota is home to 9 Native American Reservations. The majority of these reservations have had floods covering their lands since the spring of 2019. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem referred to recent flooding as the greatest natural disaster the state has ever seen. Noem said federal disasters have been declared in 58 of 66 counties in the state and on three tribal reservations. The March bomb cyclone and heavy rains since have created a slow-rolling natural disaster.
When I was in Lake Andes, South Dakota in April it was right after flood waters had receded but the town of Lake Andes was still closed off by flood waters at one road. Another more recent deluge has once again flooded the state - this time closing of the town of Lake Andes for more than a week. (this is just one small town of many communities that are impacted.) When one lives in a town, one can often still access supplies and there are other humans to work in consort with. But many on the reservations live in more isolated places miles from highways. They and their families and animals are in more danger.
Recently Govenor Noem said the Indians should move into tipis on higher ground. Anyone familiar with the oppression of native people knows how racist this comment is - coming from a white person in power. But, being resilient Indians that we are - in defiance- that is what a handful of families did. South Dakota borders the state of Minnesota and Iowa - there was a recent tornado and flash flooding. The tornado hit the city of Sioux Falls, SD and floods hit southern Minnesota where in the Lower Sioux community a young native man was washed away in the flood waters. The mid-USA is seeing historic amounts of rain which means that many farmers were not able to plant and those that did are seeing extremely small yield in the fields.
miigwetch (thank you)
marice rendon, ilrp for natives
Last modified: 2019-10-17 20:37:52+00