HUD Secretary Julián Castro Witnesses 13 People Living in 2-Bedroom House on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
HUD Secretary Julián Castro and Nick Tilsen, director of Thunder Valley Community Development Corporatioin
PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION — U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro paid a visit to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation on Tuesday as part of a two-day trip to Indian country. He was joined by retiring U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota).
He first stopped at the Prairie Wind Casino and Resort to meet with Oglala Sioux Tribe officials and then traveled to Sharps Corner to visit Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation.
Thunder Valley Community Development is developing housing on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation using energy efficient homes.
During his visit to the reservation, Castro paid a visit to a two-bedroom home where 13 people live in extreme overcrowding conditions.
When asked what he was taking away from his visit to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, he said:
“The resiliency of the people and the need. I witnessed families that have up ward of 13 people living in a two bedroom. HUD wants to ensure that tribal communities are able to thrive and I look forward to working with the people of Pine Ridge.”
“The purpose of this visit was to listen, learn and be mindful of the challenges and work hard to find the necessary resources to improve life on the reservation,” Castro continued.
Senator Tim Johnson, Nick Tilsen & HUD Secretary Julián Castro
While at Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation in Sharps Corner, near Porcupine, Castro examined a model home developed by the organization.
“Thunder Valley is helping improve the quality of life on Pine Ridge by planning for sustainable building and development,” stated Sen. Johnson. “Unique challenges continue to face Indian Country, and Thunder Valley is making great strides towards creating more sustainable and affordable housing. I’m pleased that Secretary Castro joined me to witness firsthand the innovative work being done here and meet the dedicated people that are working to improve their community.”
“Thunder Valley is an example of the power of partnerships,” Secretary Castro added. “Community leaders have come together to develop a bold vision for the future — one full of new possibilities in housing, transit and the economy. HUD has been proud to join our federal partners in helping make this local vision a reality on the ground. Together, we’re going to make this an era of expanding opportunity here in South Dakota.”
Editor’s Note: Red Dawn Foster and Bianca Spotted Thunder contributed to this story and reported from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
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About The Author
Levi Rickert
Levi Rickert, a tribal citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, is the publisher and editor of Native News Online. Previously, he served as editor of the Native News Network. He is a resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
At the rate urban-based tribal members are flocking back to their homelands– best for our visionless tribal leadership to begin ordering army tents to house their returning membership. The councilmen who have for years looked after themselves, their immediate relatives and friends are starkly going to realize the tragedy of it all. Lack of employment for its masses for decades and lack of housing will manifest its dire consequences in the near future. Multiple families living in a two-bed room house is a daily way of life on our reservations. Alcoholism, suicides, domestic violence, drugs, etc. are a sum of this scenario. That’s my take on this overdue visit of the aforementioned officials.
125 N 1 st ave w. 13 people in a two bedroom house is very common on all rezez me and my 3 boys had a one bedroom for yrs they got the bed room I got the couch I’ve never had a bedroom
In the words of my Mom that’s your tale I sit on mine. Perhaps I have no right to speak since I don’t live on the rez. I have however lived in one of the poorest counties in Southeast Kentucky. I know what it means to live without running water and heat with coal and wood and wonder will the stamps last the month. I am Cherokee on both sides and proud of my heritage. I know all to well the history of broken promises. Seeing is believing.
I’m half Cherokee, my family is of the Elk clan. For centuries our tribes have known nothing but survival, death, depression, and the list goes on. Tribes have been wiped out of existence, pure genocide. In order to thrive ALL TRIBES must unite as one and together we CAN get the job done. Homes could be built, water could be flowing, our children and grandchildren would be educated with their best. Suicides would end, and our gatherings would be plenty.
What would it take to make this happen ? We all really need to examine this question and fast come up with an answer before it’s to late. We need to ‘make’ this happen. We, all of our tribes, are the originals here in this country, our ancestors were born here, fought here, died here. We owe it to them to continue the fight and to our babies as well. Let’s make this a better world for them ! I can’t take hearing about a little boy or little girl committing suicide I just can’t let one more die.
It’s not fair to any of us to allow this to keep on happening, we have to fight in a positive way to make these positive changes. I live in the Seattle WA area, and if anyone’s got an answer to my question let me know because I would like to see positive changes in our tribes for all our people before I go on to the spirit world to join my ancestors.