Clara Caufield. Photo from Native News Project / University of Montana School of Journalism
How to stir up a bunch of elderly ‘Angry Birds’
By Clara Caufield Sometimes it grows wearisome to be a poor Indian living on a reservation, barely skating by, living from the “first to the first.” A friend of mine recently called it “survival” mode, talking about the majority who struggle to pay the light bill in the winter, stay warm by burning wood or purchasing precious propane and even get enough to eat at the closing days of the month when the SNAP card is exhausted. Legions of Indian people on Reservations live this way which is why we “Rez folks” sometimes think it is normal, inured to deep and chronic poverty. We’re not the only ones in America to endure this lifestyle, I just know more about our situation. As the publisher of a small reservation-based rag (A Cheyenne Voice) I manage to skate by without relying on Federal assistance, but my net worth, definitely falls in the “low-income category, poverty by choice. But, I was recently very happy to accept a $100 donation from the LIHEAP program for my electric bill provided by the National Relief Charities Fund for tribal elders. But many people in my family survive on public assistance, including my 80 year old mother, Teddy McMakin, vocal spokesperson for the elders and former Chairman of the Tribal Elderly Commission, before the current Council in its wisdom wiped out funding for that group. She worked hard all of her life, gainfully employed in order to care for a vast brood of children and grandchildren after my father passed away. Now at the eight decade mark and in the grip of diabetes, that is no longer possible. But she still earns extra money to supplement her small pension by quilting, mending or even baking. She finds these circumstances very frustrating because of her proud and independent nature, very rarely asking for help. Many in the extended family help as we can, but the reality is that most of us are poor too, the notable exception a brother who serves on the Council and has his own successful business. Often, we have to argue because she asserts “No you kids need that yourself”. Mom is very proud of her 37 year old HUD house, fully paid off and she maintains it as best she can, under a limited income. Some things, however, are beyond reach, such as a new furnace, the original one now only sporadically blowing out heat. It could be fixed but the parts are hard to come by. That is why she now relies primarily on a wood stove, essential during the arctic weather characterizing Montana from November – April. Recently, construction staff from the Northern Cheyenne Housing Authority (NCHA) came to her house to do a survey of needed repairs in part because they have received grant funds to repair and renovate houses belonging to tribal elders. “Yep,” the housing guy said “Your furnace is shot. We’ll put that on the list, along with your leaking roof, a bathroom sink, handicapped shower, tub and safe flooring (she doesn’t have these now) and other things. We might be able to get to that next summer.” Insulation, which Mom requested is apparently not an “allowable” grant cost. Winter is tough on poor people, especially on the Reservation and sometimes you have to do things against the grain in order to keep warm. That is why Mom and her two “sisters” (actually cousins) Carol Red Cherries (at 80, the only surviving “Cheyenne warrior girl” from the Korean conflict) and Margie Shoulderblade, also 80 recently went to the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council offices in Lame Deer to inquire about charity funds for wood, their primary, if not only, source of heat. Each month, the Charging Horse Casino pays a dividend to the Tribe which is used by the Council to assist tribal members – the “Charity Fund." Though none of them liked it, the elderly trio, hats in hand, asked the Tribe for help. What they discovered made them and me mad. They were advised that no charity funds were available. Only one Council member, Merlin Sioux, Lame Deer District was, as usual in the office. The other necessary signatories were on a trip to Washington, D.C. Turns out that eight of the eleven elected officials were on a week-long trip to Washington, D.C., an excursion financed by NCHA. In addition, a number of NHCA staff and other tribal employees also went making for a group of approximately 20 people. (That is an estimate because no one in authority will confirm the exact numbers.) Apparently, the purpose of the trip was to lobby Congress and federal agencies for additional money to assist the poor Cheyenne people. Only four tribal officials stayed home and I list them here to commend them for that decision: Vice-President Winfield Russell; Merlin Sioux, Lame Deer; Joe Fox Jr., Ashland; and Tracy Robinson, Ashland. When asked why he stayed home, Vice-President Russell commented “They could have used that housing money to help our tribal members, especially our elders.” Travel is expensive. One seasoned tribal traveler estimated that such a trip would cost about $5,000 per person. Of course, we can’t know the exact amount because NCHA and the Tribe hold that confidential information very close. Still, I think it fair to say that a large amount of federal and possibly tribal funds were used for this trip. I couldn’t help a cryptic comment: “They had to take so many people in order to carry all the money back.” And, maybe this trip will be fruitful for the Tribe, resulting in many new grants and federal funding. Let’s hope so. Some members of that entourage recently posted photos on Facebook, showing them at a Washington Wizards basketball game, all smiles, enjoying a grand old time. That must have been fun! I wonder if they will also post photos of the fine dining experiences they will certainly enjoy, or of them crowding the conference rooms of the Montana Congressional delegation for a “photo op.” And we can be confident they will speak for the poor Cheyennes who need more federal funding. In the meantime, there are no charity funds available from the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. NCHA, of course, doesn’t have a charity program, those funds reserved for more important purposes. Yet, being resourceful Mom, Carol and Marjory will figure out how to get enough wood to keep warm during the remaining cold months. “We’re tough old birds,” they say. And now they are “angry birds.” Wonder why. (Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennevoice@gmail.com). Copyright permission Native Sun News
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