"With most of the midwest and the east coast hammered by winter storms, it should come as little surprise that the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation is being ignored. The snow and ice killed power and water to the reservation, with a population of almost 50,000 people, almost two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, the Indian Affairs Bureau carried on with business as usual.

The local utility company was providing propane to as many people as they could, but conditions were so bad that a shoe drive was held at the University of South Dakota to try and provide even the most basic necessities for these people.

That was before the Countdown with Keith Olbermann show got wind of the situation.

Olbermann, a liberal pundit known for his rivalry with Fox hosts Bill O'Reilly and Glen Beck, ran a story about the neglect and the fund raising efforts on Tuesday, linking the donation sites to his website. The hope was that somehow they could raise $35,000 by the end of the month to help get this situation fixed and stabilized. On Wednesday, an amazed Olbermann announced that his viewers had donated approximately $185,000 in about 24 hours."

Get the Story:
Chris Greenwood: Broken promises to Indian tribes continue (The Phoenix Independent Examiner 2/13)

Related Stories:
Over $250K donated for Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (2/12)
USA Today Blog: World ignoring South Dakota tribes (2/11)
Opinion: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe still needs help (2/10)
SCIA 'negligent' for South Dakota tribes hit by storms (2/9)
San Manuel Band creates fund for tribes hit by storms (02/03)
Ho-Chunk Nation helps out Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (02/03)
Power returning to Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation (2/1)
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe struggles after big storm (1/28)
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe out of water after storm (1/27)
Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation battered by storm (1/26)