Indigenous Lives Matter! OUR LIVES MATTER!

Mission Statement 

My mission is to expose discrimination and the degrading, unethical practices of Indian Health Services on the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe reservation and across the state of South Dakota. 

The leading cause of death for Natives living in South Dakota can be traced back to Indian Health Services. For most members of the Great Sioux Nation, the only way you have access to medical care is if you stay on the reservation. If you live off the reservation, you’re like a dog on a chain, you have to stay within your tribe’s coverage area.  

For instance, I am enrolled in the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. My reservation is about an hour drive southeast of Pierre, SD. In order to receive medical care and prescription coverage, I have to drive down to the reservation to get it. Most Natives who leave the reservation lack the resources necessary to even get back there to see a doctor, and, like in my situation, IHS will NOT pay for you to see a local doctor. 

My goal is to advocate for reform within Indian Health Services to allow for higher quality health care for tribal members, both on and off the reservation.