Native Americans in South Dakota (Sioux Falls, Rapid City: middle-class, for sale, unemployment)

[sdgoldpanner]

Farouche,
I think you would like SD. There are friendly people out here, and they outnumber the others.

[Farouche]

Thanks Jammie and sdgoldpanner! I think I would love South Dakota as well, and hope to visit this coming summer. I wish I could visit this winter, to see if I really can take the low temps, but I can't manage it until the summer.
sdgoldpanner, as I said before, I admire what you're doing, and hope you let us know your and Tom's progress toward your dream. Much luck!
Jammie, I hope you find your place. I'd love to know where you decide to call home. Much luck as well!

[lcb]

Farouche, try checking for healthcare work at

http://www.healthcarehiring.com/hosp...uth_dakota.php

or http://www.theagapecenter.com/Hospit...uth-Dakota.htm.

Just this week I was told of a rural community in south central SD looking to hire a Certified Nurse Practitioner in the $100K range. Another rural community in the south central region, right on the river (prime location), is looking for a Nursing Home Administrator. That position also pays well - in the $100 K annually. I think nearly every hospital in the state is hiring nursing staff.

You'll find you dollars go a tremendously long way in the housing market here. We have no income tax and very reasonable property taxes.

With the election just a week away, if you are a person who takes pride in taking ownership of the government, check out our voter turnout - we are often among the highest in the nation. Just another example of these hardy South Dakota folks who like to really take part in life - not just watch it pass us by!

[Farouche]

Icb,

Thanks for the info! Your healthcare information is very encouraging.
I only wonder how much worse the winters there are than here in Massachusetts. Perhaps I will be happy, however, because I find myself most winters wishing that we would get more snow. Day after gray day of bitter cold without snow gets old after awhile.
The only winter I was happy with in my recent past was about three years ago, when everyone around me was moaning and complaining about the snow and the cold. I spent the entire winter with a smile on my face, I think. My son and I spent days building a snow cave in the side of the 20-foot mound of snow a few feet from my front door, and before you know it, all the neighborhood kids were hanging out, helping us dig and having a blast!
That spring, hearing a lot of noise, I walked out my door to see what was going on, and the overzealous head of maintenance was there with his crew, cutting down the two beautiful seventy-year-old pines that grew on the "island" where we had built our snow cave, and which greeted me everyday when I walked out of my front door.
The next part of the plan was to raze and level out the whole island, shrubbery and all, and tar it like the rest of the parking lot.
Ugly, and totally pointless! Only in Massachusetts.
Devastated, I asked "****" why, and he proudly answered that it was his idea to remove the trees and island so that he could get his snowplow around the circle easier in the winter! I'm still fuming mad about this.
Spineless, gutless wonder! I have a feeling people in South Dakota are not so afraid of the snow or a little extra work.
Good luck, Icb, and thanks!

[bonnie0319]

Hi,

I haven't lived in SD for many years. When I did, I was a young child. My father was one of the good old boy racists who was fond of saying "The only good Indian is a dead Indian". I also haven't seen him in 20 years.

I now volunteer with a group working to make changes on Pine Ridge Reservation. I hope to get out there this summer. nativeprogress.org is the website.

I have found that most white people don't realize there is a problem in Indian Country. Most schools teach that Indians are in the past. White culture teaches us that Indians have it made with all that free money from the government. It is so frustrating to have to continually educate white people on the realities. Why is it we simply believe whatever we are told and never bother to look deeper or do some basic fact-checking? And, at the same time, examine our own privleges?

I do not know the answers for Pine Ridge or for any other native community. I do know that white people have get over ourselves and start taking responsibilty for what we allow to happen.

Again, a soapbox. I sponsor three people from Pine Ridge. I know their struggles. They are much like mine were as a poor white kid from the wrong side of the tracks. The difference, is that I was white and can now pass among the middle class with no questions asked.
I am thinking of serving in Rapid City with a community organization group but am worried I will meet a lot of resistance when it comes to overcoming racism.

Not sure if any of this made any sense. Thanks for reading anyway.
Bonnie

[melaniemmcbee]

Originally Posted by bonnie0319

Hi,

I haven't lived in SD for many years. When I did, I was a young child. My father was one of the good old boy racists who was fond of saying "The only good Indian is a dead Indian". I also haven't seen him in 20 years.

I now volunteer with a group working to make changes on Pine Ridge Reservation. I hope to get out there this summer. nativeprogress.org is the website.

I have found that most white people don't realize there is a problem in Indian Country. Most schools teach that Indians are in the past. White culture teaches us that Indians have it made with all that free money from the government. It is so frustrating to have to continually educate white people on the realities. Why is it we simply believe whatever we are told and never bother to look deeper or do some basic fact-checking? And, at the same time, examine our own privleges?

I do not know the answers for Pine Ridge or for any other native community. I do know that white people have get over ourselves and start taking responsibilty for what we allow to happen.

Again, a soapbox. I sponsor three people from Pine Ridge. I know their struggles. They are much like mine were as a poor white kid from the wrong side of the tracks. The difference, is that I was white and can now pass among the middle class with no questions asked.
I am thinking of serving in Rapid City with a community organization group but am worried I will meet a lot of resistance when it comes to overcoming racism.

Not sure if any of this made any sense. Thanks for reading anyway.
Bonnie

I'm Melanie origianlly from Pine Ridge, but thankfully I was adopted by a wonderful family. Thank you for helping my people. They so desperately need it, I lived there, and have experienced horrid things there, and they need you guys. If there's anything I can do to help your organization, count me in. You can send me a private message, and we'll go from there.

[darylska]

melanie really nailed it. i'm white, but know many indians and see what a struggle reservation life is. talk about a never ending circle! it really is a mess. we can go on and on about how/why it became what it is, but melanie has sadly and accurately described what things have come to for so many on the reservation today.

[sdgoldpanner]

Farouche,
I beleive it was you that were asking about hospital jobs. If not just disregard this note, and for the benefit of others,
I have found a site where one can search for ANY particular job in ANY particular state, through their search engine.
Just log on to http://www.job.com
It is quite a site!!!

Bob

[ElkHunter]

I grew up in South Dakota. We didn't call them Indians. We didn't call them Native Americans. We called them "Neighbors"

Jim

[Farouche]

jgussler,
Great point, and very encouraging!

sdgoldpanner,
Just read your message. Thanks so much for the info, and I will check it out.

melaniemmcbee,
It's great to hear from you again! Hope all is well.

Everyone who has responded to this thread has given me a great appreciation for South Dakota and its people.
I wish everyone a wonderful 2007!