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Why We Do What We Do
hawkwing's mission is to promote cross-cultural education while assisting the Lakota people with basic human needs. Conditions are among the worst in all the Americas. We serve the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota and complete special projects on other Lakota Reservations. Cheyenne River is the size of Connecticut with about 14,000 Lakota people. We estimate 3,000 children under 18 need immediate support.
Income, employment & transportation The unemployment rate on Cheyenne River is 87.5%. There are few jobs because of geographic isolation, the lack of natural resources, the lack of economic development and lack of skills. Though many people believe that Indians receive a government stipend, it is not true. Mostly, people live off of surplus food and welfare, if they qualify. Some people rent their lands to ranchers and miners, but rents collected by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) are rarely sent. A lawsuit against the BIA uncovered devastating mismanagement.
There is only one bank, two motels and two grocery stores in the southern part of the Rez- far from many families. There is no public transportation, movies and few restaurants. Few people have working cars and scavenge from one vehicle to another to keep a vehicle running. This is a major barrier to accessing health care, education and jobs.
According to the US Census of 2000, Dewey County, which is completely within the Reservation’s borders, is the poorest place in America. A stunning 93% of the people on Cheyenne River Reservation are significantly below the poverty level.
Education Education is under funded by the Federal Government with some of the lowest rates found in America. Teachers rarely have enough textbooks, pens, pencils and paper. Drop out rates are 70% - there are few incentives to graduate with no jobs and few going to college. Thanks to the work of hawkwing there are now five satellite libraries across Cheyenne River for the children and mobile library units for the elders are beginning to happen!
Housing & Water Most people live in overcrowded, dilapidated housing. Many homes lack electricity, running water or phones. Due to rising energy costs, many families are facing a cold winter this year. The Tribal Chair testified before Congress this year that the housing situation on Cheyenne River is in crisis. The districts of Cheyenne River get their water from the aquifers many of which are polluted. As part of our work, hawkwing has brought new beds and bedding to over 170 Elders.
Health Health services are understaffed, under funded and geographically removed. Preventive care is rare. Eye and dental care are very limited. The life expectancy is the lowest in the Western Hemisphere, averaging only 48 years. Infant mortality, the highest in all of North and South America, is 3 times US rates. A quarter of adults over 40 have diabetes, 6 times US averages. Tuberculosis rates are also 8 times the US average. 80% of families struggle with alcoholism rates 3 times the rest of America and suicide rates of 1.5 times higher with an estimated 3 to 5 attempts a week among youth according to testimony before Congress. Cervical cancer rates are 5 times the US rates. Yet, federally funded healthcare has been cut by 30% three times in the last five years.
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