Reservation Nights Nominated
Will Peters and his son, Lil' Jess, have been nominated by the Native American Music Awards in the category of Best Debut Duo or Group. The awards are set for October 3.
The public can vote for their choices. Let's help out Will and Jess. Log onto Native American Music Awards and click on NAMA 11 voting. Vote under Debut Duo or Artist of the Year
Congratulations Will and Jess! |
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Annual Gathering
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| Our Annual Banquet is set for November 7, 2009, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Please save the date and join us. Log onto Re-Member for further details |
| See you there! |
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Board of Directors
Ted Skantze, President
Barry Karlson, Vice President
Greg Slenk, Treasurer
Dianne Roberts, Secretary
Kathy Alles
Rev. Tracy Huffman
Nicole Hultgren
Jim Mays
Phil Pratt
John Swanson
Staff
Tom McCann, Exec. Director
LaDonna No Neck Office Manager
Vicki Karlson, Volunteer Trip Coordinator
Jennifer Sklener, Financial Manager
Mike
Shelhamer Construction Manager
Jerry Bottger
Corbin Conroy, Chris Burdine
Construction Supervisors
John Her Many Horses, Tour Guide
Stephanie Palmier Cook
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Contact Us
P.O. Box 5054
Pine Ridge, SD 57770
www.re-member.org
605-867-2282 phone
877-205-2105 toll free
605-867-2285 fax
contact@re-member.org
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Reservation Innovation -The Janis Family
 Searing heat, no running water, no electricity, fifteen miles of dirt roads and cattle guards: such were conditions faced by Re-Member volunteers for several weeks recently as they trekked daily out Bombing Range Road to the Janis family homes, situated twenty miles outside of Kyle on Pine Ridge Reservation.
The hour and a half drive, and the daily conditions pale in comparison to the daily challenges that are overcome by Keith and Jenny Janis, the proud and practical parents of eight children who they are raising in two trailers just over a few rolling hills from the abandoned military target practice area, for which the area and road is named.
Jenny has cooked over a wood fire outside her trailer in blizzards and through severe weather to provide a hot meal for her children. Keith has made countless harrowing trips to town for gasoline to provide a few hours of power and light to his family via their generator. Water is delivered weekly by the Tribe, and an outhouse, delivered by Re-Member earlier this summer sits on the edge of the property.
Two wood stoves heat the homes, a perilous operation as indicated by the burn marks seen across the carpeting - in one case, just several feet from the bed of one of the children.
In less than a month of work, Re-Member volunteers have skirted both trailers that comprise the Janis home. In one of the more ingenious reservation innovations, Keith designed and constructed a breezeway and loft to tie the two units together. With help from Re-Member volunteers, new stairs and decks have been built, windows have been replaced, flooring has been patched and the fireplaces have been set upon concrete board.
And outside, on the side of the trailer overlooking the children's play area, Jenny now has a lean-to kitchen with a roof over her head, and a wall built as a wind-break.
The Janis homestead will likely never connect into "the grid" given its location, practically insuring that life will never truly be easy for this Pine Ridge family. Yet, with the hard work of Re-Member volunteers, life will have been made a bit safer and warmer in the undoubtedly long and cold winter months to come.
Cory True
Re-Member Program Manager |
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Re-Member is Honored by Tribe
 On August 7, 2009, Re-Member was honored for its work on Pine Ridge. Initiated by Larry Swalley, our friend and one of our presenters, Larry told the Tribe :
Re-Member has been in existence on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation for the past 12 years providing much needed assistance to the general members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Re-Member has provided a volunteer base from many states across the USA who have given their hearts, mind and spirit at helping the general population with Bunk Beds, Out Houses, Roofing, Skirting, Porches, Ramps as well as Food Bank, and Personal Hygiene products. Re-Member has also provided a venue for area artist to showcase their talent and wares as well as employment opportunity for members of the Tribe. This volunteer base and service has been absolutely invaluable to the membership of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and has improved the lives of many families both socially and economically.
This member is one example of how Re-Member has assisted in savings of over $1,400 in propane expense per annum, by applying skirting around my trailer home.
A quilt was presented to Tom McCann, Executive Director, with ceremony.
Re-Member is both humbled and appreciative of this honor, and we thank the Lakota people on behalf of all of our volunteers and staff. |
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Become a Member of Re-Member
One of the best ways you can help Re-Member grow is to become a
member. It's easy and can make a huge difference in the success of our
work on Pine Ridge. When you become a Member of Re-Member, you will become a member of our tiospaye,
our "extended family." You may choose from five levels of annual
membership, at different levels of participation. Our goal is to reach
500 members in 2008! Won't you join us?
Learn more about membership here.
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Find Us on Facebook
 Check out our page on Facebook to keep up with Re-Member happenings, connect with other volunteers, upload your trip photos and videos, and much more. Be sure to join our cause to donate and invite friends! You can view our page here. |
Kiksuya is a Lakota word meaning "Remember." To Re-Member means to put back together that which is broken apart. "Re-Member"
reminds us to recall the unfortunate history of the treatment of the
Native Peoples of our country, and in particular, that of the Lakota
People of Pine Ridge Reservation, and to reconstruct the broken pieces
of that relationship.
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