Starting today (Nov. 23, 2020), the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe has enacted a COVID-19 Shelter in Place order for the city of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, due to rising cases and hospitalizations. The Cheyenne River Youth Project also is closing its buildings to the public for the duration; the tribe anticipates lifting this lockdown on Wednesday, Dec. 2.
In preparation, CRYP staff worked hard last week to conduct three major curbside distributions for the Cheyenne River community in just three days. First, in collaboration with Partnership with Native Americans and with support from Pierre, South Dakota-based Rilling Produce, the nonprofit youth organization distributed 175 free boxes of fresh, nutritious produce on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
Next, in partnership with the CRST Indian Child Welfare Act office, CRYP staff members served 175 free, home-cooked meals in a drive-thru version of the youth project’s eagerly anticipated “Thanks for Kids” dinner on Thursday, Nov. 19. The meals included turkey, ham, stuffing, potatoes, corn, pies and refreshments.
“I love putting together these recipes and helping to feed my community,” said Khalid Garreau, the CRYP youth programs assistant responsible for this year’s menu. “It means so much to me that I can to my part to carry on this important tradition, especially this year.”
“We’re so happy we could provide these meals to our community,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director. “We prefer not to commemorate this particular colonized holiday. Instead, we choose to celebrate our Lakota Nation’s most precious treasures — our children. They are our future leaders and culture bearers, and they are our greatest hope. While we cannot gather for this celebration in 2020, we still can take care of each other by sharing this meal.”
Finally, on Friday, Nov. 20, CRYP and PWNA joined together to distribute 153 free turkey boxes for the community. Each box included a turkey, turkey gravy, stuffing, corn, cake mix, chips, drinks, lotion, lip balm, healing salve, hygiene kit, dental kit, and cleaning kit.
Then it was time to shut down Cokata Wiconi (Center of Life) to the public, although key staff members will be on site to complete essential services throughout the coming week.
The team is encouraging local families to take time during this lockdown to renew their Family Services applications online. According to Dawnee LeBeau, deputy director, families also may submit “Dear Santa” letters online, ensuring that all children in their households may participate in this year’s Wo Otúh’an Wi Toy Drive.
“This fall, we launched a new online system that allows our families to complete all of this paperwork through the CRYP website,” LeBeau explained. “It’s 100-percent hands-off, to keep everyone safe.”
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