All Possible Options for Drought Relief Explored on Pine Ridge Rez

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Challenges. Discussion »

PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATON – With temperatures lingering near 100 or above degrees and no rain, the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation's drought continues.

Only .11 inches of Rain

Yesterday the temperature hit 106. Today the forecast is 99 degrees and the next three days - Sunday through Tuesday - the forecast is for 104 degrees each of the days.

On Wednesday, Oglala Sioux Tribe President John Yellow Bird Steele issued an Emergency Drought Disaster Proclamation ora State of Emergency.

The State of Emergency called on the Bureau of Indian Affairs to provide immediate assistance with fans and/or air conditioners to the needy and elderly; financial aid to the Tribal Government so that it can assist with public safety concerns, water delivery to reservation ranchers and farmers; and financial aid and other assistance to Indian ranchers and farmers on the reservation regarding the loss of their 2012 hay crop due to the drought.

The Native News Network received the following statement from Nedra Darling, spokeswoman for the Department of the Interior-Indian Affairs:

"The Bureau of Indian Affairs Great Plains Regional and Agency Offices are working with President Steele and his staff to address the concerns for the ongoing drought. We are in communication with USDA's Farm Service Agency regional and headquarter representatives in an effort to explore all possible options for relief to the current situation and working to facilitate the emergency response."

The severe drought has caused an immediate need for drinking water for cattle and horses.

Precipitation for the month of July is nearly three inches below normal for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, according to the National Weather Service. Only .11 inches of rain has fallen this month.

posted July 21, 2012 9:10 am edt