Club Updates
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation Water Project
How did we get involved?
In 2019 Charles formed the 3DC19 project along with other Rotarians and Non-Rotarians. This project created various types of PPE and distributed them without charge to hospitals and other organizations throughout the Americas.
One of the orders went to the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe at Pine Ridge. When Charles contacted Ken Lone Elk about additional needs for the pandemic, Ken said that Charles should deliver the following order in person because he was going to visit his parents.
Houses on Pine Ridge are on large plots of land that were initially given to each family when the tribe was relocated to Pine Ridge. There are a few cities, but no residents. This makes laying water pipes to houses a significant project. It also made Charles' job finding Ken Lone Elk difficult.
After going to multiple residences, Charles eventually ended up at the house of Ken's granddaughter and delivered the PPE. This was significant because she works in the Emergency Room at Wounded Knee Hospital.
After Charles and his family proceeded on to his parents, Ken called him and apologized for being called away on family business. Charles and his family stopped again at the reservation on their way back. It was then that Charles and Ken were able to talk about water projects. Holland Rotary, the Rotary Club of Boulder CO, and other Rotary Clubs have gotten involved with Running Strong to provide water to about 50 residences.
This partnership has led to other projects, including.
- A 3D printer for the Running Strong organization.
- Artificial Intelligence equipment to help with pepper plant yield.
- 3D printed shoehorns for residents of the new nursing homes on tribal land.
- High-speed internet access through a donation from Steelcase of wireless equipment.