Derby Shelton Assists Lakota Indians: Lakota Indians living at the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota Rotarian Shawn Fields who happens to be the Huntington Library Branch Director arranged for a donation of used books that Derby/Shelton Rotarians are sending to South Dakota. For several years now, Derby-Shelton Rotary Club has assisted the Lakota Indians living at the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. The reservation has inadequate health services that are under funded, under staffed and geographically removed. 93% of the Reservation families are living significantly below the poverty level. Unemployment due to lack of jobs within a 200 to 300 mile radius is currently at 87.5% leaving the people unable to meet basic needs. Education is also 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. Therefore, the club teamed up with Hawkwing a Native American Federal non-profit 501(c)3 organization created to offer cross-cultural education while assisting the people of the Lakota (Sioux) Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in South Dakota meet their basic human needs. The Club has participated in a Beds for the Elderly program and collected mittens and hats in the past. This year, Rotarian Rotarian Shawn Fields who happens to be the Huntington Library Branch Director arranged for a donation of used books that Derby/Shelton Rotarians are sending to South Dakota. Thanks to the work of Hawkwing and donations such as Rotary's there are now five satellite libraries across Cheyenne River for the children and mobile library units for the elders are beginning to happen!
