Comments on: Reservation Child’s Wish: Fresh Water, Bubble Gum and a Backpack

By: Valerie Pape

Valerie Pape — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:46:07 +0000

We would like to know where we could send money for tighing to this reservation and the needs of the children

By: kelly

kelly — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 17:11:19 +0000

These people just don’t know how to handle the aid they are given. I have been on this reservation and the people are like vultures. Most of them think that work is an option and the world owes them something.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 05:23:12 +0000

Please send donations to Wounded Knee School District, any help to the Lakota immersion department would be great. School supplies, kids clothes, any type of donation for the kids at this school in Manderson S.Dakota. Thank you.

By: lopez

lopez — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:10:06 +0000

1 month ago I took in a 10 yr old Lakota girl from Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. I already had 4 kids of my own, but I too saw her living conditions and I could not say no to her mother in taking care of her. Being in the city she wants to learn more and do more. Hip Hop, music, singing, and more. She wants to take violin lessons and school but the school she attends has no more violin loaners. I am so grateful that she is eager to learn. She left Pine Ridge with a backpack of clothes.
If you want to help, I would be so thankful to you. I cannot afford much now with 5 kids. If you can help sponsor I will share with you her growth and talents. I get no financial help from no one but blessings from the creator. God Bless.

By: Bridget

Bridget — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:00:17 +0000

As of all of Diane’s documentaries on Hidden in America, her team does a wonderful job of highlighting the challenges this population faces without making them pitiful. Can you imagine the resiliance and pride this culture has. We could all learn to have some of the same. My church is doing Operation Christmas Child AGAIN this year, and I have requested that we do something more local, if it’s for the res, for kids in Appalachia, for people living in Detroit or Denver. It doesn’t matter. Despite the politics and the numbers, and the false information, we owe it to all the kids in America to take care of them before we give away all our riches to other countries.

By: carol delaquintana

carol delaquintana — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:29:09 +0000

that was the most compelling story ive seen, i feel for the children how can i help and know it will really get to them, there must be some way to help them get better housing,, there has to be a way I’m still crying two days later,,, really want to help

By: Janet Littlecrow

Janet Littlecrow — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:07:49 +0000

None of us can do anything to change the past, but we can build a better future for our young people. Growing up in a city with a university, I had opportunities that kids on the reservation here we live today have never had. Before anyone judges & says “why don’t they just leave” ask yourself where you would live if you wanted to go to a city for jobs, but had no money, credit cards, car or place to stay. It’s VERY difficult to rise from such crushing poverty without assistance. I got Pell Grants & Guaranteed Student Loans, which my high school counselor wouldn’t even tell me about. And we STILL face discrimination!!! It’s crushing when people treat you bad for no reason, even for a battle-hardened 53 yr-old mixed-blood corporate veteran & college-educated woman! We are as smart and ambitious as anyone else, give us just a little bit of help & you’ll be amazed what we can do!

By: KOURTNEY

KOURTNEY — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 07:13:31 +0000

Yes people you may help Tashina. Please contact her mother via facebook to help. Her name is bobbie gibbons.

By: ashamed

ashamed — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 03:15:49 +0000

After watching the program with my daughter, I asked her what she thought. She said frank and flatly “We are American’s, we are selfish, we get what we want the easiest way we can, basically we stole America” This is the same child that got detention because she said something similar in History class.

Never have I been so ashamed to be called an American. I do not know if words can describe how humiliating and devastating what we the American’s have allowed our government to do to the true American. I would wager there are very few among us born Americans that can actually tell of a 100% heritage. Myself, at best I am a mutt; a mixture of so many nationalities that I do not know where I come from. We Americans can not teach our heritage because we do not know it. I can only imagine the joy and pride that would come from knowing exactly where we came from and not blindly following what a website says. Can you imagine knowing that the past of your ancestors were such strong, brave and kind souls. How would it feel to make your own ceremonial outfits that mirror your ancestors. We have no idea, but the Native American does. Native America history should be included in every history class and I agree down with Columbus Day, isn’t Columbus day just a way that the blue collars can have a 3 day weekend? Ask someone on the street I bet they do not know what Columbus day is.

Ok so we can not change the past. It really does us no good to sit here and go back and fourth saying this one is right this one is wrong. Blah blah Complete waste of time. I challenge each and everyone to put yourself in the same place as anyone on a reservation. How would you feel? What would you change? How do we change it? So how do we make the future brighter? In the report I did not see one clinic or health facility. Yes it is unmentionable for 19 people to live in 3 bedrooms but what about their health? Why is there no AA on the reservation? Why not give incentive or a bonus for anyone who stops drinking and seeks help? If there is no Alcohol allowed then who is policing the reservation? I say put the young and healthy in a position to destroy the contraband; fine or incarcerate the violators. Why have rules if no one is following them?
The housing is deplorable; why not give the young warriors the tools, material and the skills to rebuild what is there. How bout an “EXTREME RESIVATION MAKEOVER” Where is Ty Pinnyton when we need him? Everyone knows when you have put your own work into something it means so much more. If the land is so barren that no vegetables can grow, why not have community greenhouses where each family can have an area to grow fresh vegetables. It was unreal to hear an elderly woman say she has not had a fresh cucumber in 8 years! Come on people, wake up! When is the last time you waited 8 seconds, 8 minutes, 8 hours, 8 days, 8 months for something anything you wanted, less alone 8 years! I do not have the answers but I am just one person who is willing to help make a change. I admit I am completely ignorant about the Native American culture but I am willing to learn. We need to aid in empowering these true Americans so that they can have the pride in everything they do. One way is to teach, educate and just care. The old saying feed them for a day or teach them to feed themselves for a lifetime. (I am sure someone will correct that saying for me)

By: Patty

Patty — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 02:47:53 +0000

Diane: I will try to find the mailing address of Tashina Iron Horse so I can mail her bubble gum and a new backpack. Iwould like to know what else she or her classmates need in the way of school supplies. I wish I could get her the clean water she and all the rest deserve. For the uninformed people’s comments on here, the Native Americans did not ask to have these living conditions. Yes, some of them can help themselves haver a better life. Before you start casting your stones at the Native Americans, think about how many white americans who live on state aid and who have government housing; a nice apartment or house. Can’t they do the same that you are asking of the Native Americans. Can’t they do better for themselves too. Why is it they can receive state aid, (food stamps, insurance, housing, WIC, etc), have clean running water and a roof over their heads that doesn’t leak or have black mold in it? If you watched this show, your heart should have compelled you to feel disgusted at their living conditions. I, as an adult and educator, could not stomp on a child’s dream to have a better life. With the vicious comments I have seen on here, it made me sad to be a human.