Cherokee Nation Aids Tornado Ravaged Joplin

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

JOPLIN, MISSOURI - Tahlequah, Oklahoma is an hour south of Joplin, Missouri, but it is close enough for 14 students from the Talking Leaves Job Corps, operated by the Cherokee Tribe of Oklahoma, to make the journey there to assist the devastated town by a tornado on Sunday, May 22.

14 Students Assist Joplin

The tornado that struck Joplin that Sunday evening was one of the most destructive tornados to hit the United States in decades. As of Monday, Memorial Day, the official death count in Joplin was 139.

The students and two instructors from the Job Corps' Health trade program went to Joplin to assist with medical and other relief efforts. In addition, the Tribe sent members of its Cherokee Nation Marshal Service to assist with the rescue and recovery efforts.

The Cherokee Nation also began collecting personal supplies, such as toiletries, water, diapers, baby formula and batteries to be taken to Joplin.

Job Corps is a no-cost education and career technical training program administered by the US Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16 through 24 improve the quality of their lives through career technical and academic training.

posted May 31, 2011 7:00 am et