Porcupine Clinic Out of Heat

[This is a bit old. October 26. I haven't heard or read any updates. Click on the title of the article to read the whole thing on the Western Shoshone Defense Project website, as well as suggestions for helping out. --EJ]


Porcupine Clinic Out of Heat

By Stephanie M. Schwartz, Freelance Writer

Member, Native American Journalists Association

October 26, 2007 Firestone, Colorado

Porcupine Clinic, located in the small community of Porcupine, South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Oglala Lakota [Sioux] Reservation is out of heat. According to Stella White Eyes, Administrative Assistant for the Clinic, the Clinic has closed its doors until it can find resources to fund their heating costs.

Porcupine Clinic is the only independent Indian community-controlled health clinic in the United States. It is not connected with the Federal Indian Health Services (IHS) program and is funded primarily by grants and donations. Unfortunately, those resources have become exceptionally rare this year.