Santa's helpers deliver gifts and hope to Pine Ridge Anishnabe

Observer Staff

1/15/2004 12:00:00 AM

(The Pine Ridge Reservation is located in the southwest corner of South Dakota and covers the two poorest counties in the nation with an 86 percent average unemployment rate. For the sixty-three percent of Native Americans living below the federal poverty level on the reservation, everyday struggles leave little hope for a prosperous Christmas.)

Plowing through sleet and snow, four Saginaw Chippewa community members fought the bitter cold to bring a bit of warmth to 178 Anishnabe youth.

Waiting patiently for the arrival of St. Nick's helpers, the youth sang carols to pass the time.

"Santa is here, Santa is here!" one child yelled as the others cheered and rushed to the window to watch the the arrival of packages and canned goods.

"The kids were so excited they couldn't wait and many opened their gifts on the spot," said Senior's Program Director Lisa Kennedy. "Some of the parents remarked their children had never seen such gifts before and they were full of amazement."

One of Santa's helpers said the drive was long and difficult due to a snow and ice storm. All drivers-Bean Sprague, Maynard Kahgegab, Sr., Keeshta Wemigwans, and Matt Quaderer-agreed they would do it over again just to experience the happiness of the children.

"If the sponsors knew how happy the kids were and saw the smiles on their faces when we opened the van up-they would know the presents were worth their weight in gold," Bean explained. "Because of the generosity of this community, those kids believe in Santa."

Of the total 446 Angel Tree applications received by the SCIT Senior Center, only 35 went unsupported.

The following is a list of youth applications and sponsorship by location: Pine Ridge-178 applicants/178 sponsors; Walpole Island-31 applicants/31 sponsors; Bay City-20 applicants/20sponsors; Wayne County-29 applicants/19 sponsors; Grand Rapids-83 applicants/65 sponsors; Port Huron-18 applicants/18 sponsors; Mt. Pleasant-64 applicants/64 sponsors; Battle Creek-8 applicants/8 sponsors; and Saginaw-15 applicants/8 sponsors.