EXTRACTS FROM COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION REPORT

(By Public Health Service)

HOUSING

Over half of the homes on the reservation are either one-room frame or log structures. Tents provide temporary living quarters for guests for family attendance at powwows; however, about 1 percent of the families live in tents throughout the year.

Nine percent of the homes are presently sod covered. Asphalt-based roofing is fast becoming common as a replacement for sod roofs. Fixtures in a oneroom dwelling typically consist of one door, two small windows, a wood range, a small table, one or two chairs, kitchen cabinet, and a double bed. A heating stove may be used, depending on the space in the room. The average square feet per person is 76.9. This is extremely substandard when compared with "Minimum Standards for Human Habitation." The requirements as set forth in this publication require 150 square feet for the first occupant and 100 square feet for each additional occupant.

FUEL

Wood is chiefly used for heating and cooking. It is cut and gathered along the banks of creeks, rivers, and in canyons. Householders travel from 1 to 8 miles in horse-drawn wagons or pickup trucks to wood sources.

LIGHTING

Only 9 percent of the premises have electricity.

Kerosene lamps provide light

for the majority of the homes. Some homes also use gaslamps.

WATER

Over 60 percent of the families obtain their water from wells.

Because wells in this area are very costly, only a few families have wells on their own premises. The existing wells utilized are located near the general store, church, community hall, or day school.

Families living near ponds or streams use the water without disinfection. The so-called springs are barrels with both ends removed and dug into bogs beside a stream. Not one of these springs is a bacteriologically safe source. Not one home surveyed had water under pressure in their home. The old, infirm, or those without any means of transportation pay $1 to $1.50 per 50gallon barrel to have their water hauled from the nearest source. It may be from a creek or a river.

The melting of snow or ice, as a source of domestic water, is still a common practice. Many of the private and community wells are in a poor state of repair.

BIRTH AND INFANT DEATH RATES FOR OGLALA SIOUX

1960:

Births:

At hospital: 292 (72 percent).

Away: 76 (50 percent at home).

Premature: 16 (6 died, 40 percent).

Full term: 276 (75 percent of total live births).

Live births: 368.

Infant deaths: 36 (97.2 per 1,000 live births (Oglala Sioux); 26.4 per 1,000 live births, all races; 1959).1

Stillborns: 9.

Total births: 377 (31.4 births per 1,000 population; 24.1 births, all races, 1959).1

1 All-races figures according to 1959 reports.

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births, breakdown by age in 1st year of life

Infant deaths by cause per 1,000 live births in 1st year of life

Death rates for selected diseases of Oglala Sioux per 1,000 population compared with all races rates, 1959

The Welfare Branch of the BIA Pine Ridge Agency, composed of four social workers and two clerks, has the major duties of extending general assistance, child welfare services, and counseling to our Indian people living on the Pine Ridge reservation. Our population is now about 2,500 families comprising nearly 9,000 people living on the reservation. The population is scattered over three large counties-Shannon, Bennett, and Washabaugh and the most distant town on the reservation is 90 miles from the agency. Part of our work includes field trips to all communities and home visits to clients within reservation boundaries.

The branch of welfare extends assistance to those ineligible for categorical assistance from State and Federal programs. We work closely with the two State departments of public welfare located at Martin and at Pine Ridge. Since the State of South Dakota and their division of child welfare largely regards the reservation as an "uncovered area," the branch of welfare provides child welfare services. Close work is required with the Oglala Sioux Tribal Court in matters involving children where neglect, desertion, delinquency, etc., are involved and upon receipt of a tribal court order, we make placements for foster home children. At the present time we have 99 children in foster homes; the homes are located both on and off reservation.

Welfare caseload and expenditures (June 1962-May 1963) at Pine Ridge

Other duties required of welfare personnel include the supervision of more than 400 minor children's individual Indian moneys accounts and part of the budgeting and planning with many adults with regard to the use of land sale moneys or lease income. We also approve boarding school applications for the Oglala Community Boarding School here at Pine Ridge and for other off-reservation schools which we may use, at Pierre, Flandreau, and Wahpeton, when applications involve social problems. We also have a contract with the Bureau of Catholic Missions for care of Indian children at Holy Rosary Mission, Pine Ridge. The mission contract presently calls for 110 children at a cost of $400 per school year per child. This is one of three such contracts still existing in the United States.

In the wintertime, when work is not available, our general assistance program may double during the months of January, February, and March. By April farmwork or tree planting may be in progress. Despite some acculturation many of our people cling to seasonal work on farms and ranches, returning each fall to place their children in school. With automation relentlessly increasing, seasonal labor is becoming more difficult to secure. The people we have on assistance cannot for the most part, compete with machinery and many do not have the education nor the desire to challenge the modern world.

Our concern is for the poor care and neglect of children we find, the increasing number of children born out of wedlock, the high incidence of marital breakdown which includes separations, divorces, or desertion. We are concerned over the lack of employment available locally, our knowledge that the reservation cannot support the people, the inadequacy of housing and the low standards of living. Other problems are school dropouts, our idle youths, the increase in delinquency, the replacement of the father as the head of the household and the continually increasing need for public welfare and general assistance. We are faced with multiproblemed families and are aware that we are only providing emergent services. We cannot tackle all problems alone. Our concern is then, the people and the children, and their attitudes. If apathy and anger can be found together it is here on this reservation.

By MARION TAYLOR,
Agency Social Worker.

FAMILY PREPARATION FOR PROSPECTIVE TENANTS IN LOW-RENT HOUSING

(By Bessie T. Cornelius, home demonstration agent)

In the past 6 months we have moved, or are in the final stages of moving 51 families (Indian) from substandard, overcrowded homes into new, 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom, modern, beautifully designed and well-constructed houses. Most of these families were crowded into one- or two-room homes with relatives. These Homes were for the most part unsanitary, poorly built, unsafe, and entirely unsuitable for human habitation.

To help families make the changeover as smoothly as possible it was necessary to do some very intensive work with the families. Many were not used to living in a closely knit community, people with varying backgrounds were going to live in close proximity. All had one interest in common, a great need for adequate housing.

Home visits were made to all applicants to try and get a true picture of the actual living conditions of the families involved. Homemakers were interviewed by the extension agent to help determine the family needs in order to make this important move.

Meetings were set up so interested people could get necessary information relative to the reason for low-rent housing, the requirements for tenancy in the housing, and low-rent housing policies.

Intensive training sessions in family and community relations, management of time and money, use of appliances, care and maintenance of facilities, refinishing of reclaimed furnishing and care and control of children in the housing area, took place under the direction of the extension agent with the help of specialist from South Dakota State College.

The work that has been done so far is by no means adequate. We must do a followup job so no family feels that they must meet all changes alone. An organization known as the tenant council has been formed with officers and committee chairmen elected by the tenants. Through this association it is hoped that

the people will come to regard the housing as their responsibility and will participate freely in its growth and development.

We need help to establish a sound recreation program for the young people, help to create a center for nursery school care.

There is a great need to help families with counseling in personal affairs. We cannot afford to abandon the help that can be given to self-help programs for the reclaiming and rebuilding of old furnishings so they can furnish a home with a minimum of money plus a lot of energy and guidance. We need to continue the classes and help given to families in time and money management. Above all, we need to help people develop their talents and in this way enable them to take the leadership to continue a sound program on the reservation. This is one of the most important jobs to be done here today, help develop people.