PRESS
RELEASE
POC:
CRST Public Relations
Rock
LeBeau
(605)964-8308
For
immediate release July 01, 2005
GROUNDBREAKING
CEREMONY FOR THE ELDERLY
VILLAGE
With the blue print of the future Elderly Village in the forefront, the
Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Elderly Village kicked
off June 29, with an estimated 60 attendees. The
location is southwest Eagle Butte on Airport Road.
"With
the efforts of the Shakopee Tribe we are able to
accomplish the development of the Elderly Village," said
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman, Harold Frazier.
He thanked the Shakopee Tribe of Minnesota for their contribution and involvement.
"The Shakopee Tribe has helped CRST by generously giving us a grant
for $1 Million and a $3 million dollar Loan towards this project." Chairman
Frazier said "there were many people to thank since the Cheyenne River Sioux
Tribe has been working toward a Nursing Home since 1974." Doneen Hollingsworth,
SD State Secretary of Health said, "This will be the first state-licensed, federally
certified Nursing Facility on an Indian reservation."
Honored
speakers were Wisdom Keepers Director, Dana Dupris;
District 4 Council Representative, Kevin Keckler;
Representative from Senator John Thunes’ office,
Lila Mahlhoff; Representative from Senator
Tim Johnson’s
office, Ellie Wicks, who read a Proclamation
from Senator Johnson; South Dakota Department
of Health Director, Doneen Hollingsworth;
Representative from Governor Round’s
office, Roger Campbell and Congresswoman Herseth
sent a proclamation because her representative
Ira Taken Alive was unable to attend.
Guests
who attended included many of the CRST Wisdom Keepers, the
city mayor, John Bachman; Tribal employees, Tribal
representative from Standing Rock Sioux Reservation,
Archie Fool Bear; guests from Presentation College, SD Department of Social Services, Deb
Bowman and many community members. Also present was the CRST Honor Guard and
Si Tanka University drum group, who sang an
honor song for the opening ceremony.
The Elderly Village Ground Breaking Ceremony
concluded with a prayer and ground blessing from
Steve Charging Eagle, Red Scaffold resident, where
all guests looked to the four directions in prayer
for the development of the village.
The
honors of digging fresh, ground dirt were CRST
Chairman, Harold Frazier; Treasurer, Benita Clark;
Secretary, Collette Iron Hawk LeBeau; Vice Chairman,
Raymond Uses the Knife; CRST Vice-Chairman,
Kevin Keckler; Councilwoman, Dixie LeCompte
and Sharon Lee; Marcella LeBeau,
elder; Elderly Village contractor and architect,
SD Department of Health, Doneen Hollingsworth
and a veteran.
The purpose of the village is to help provide
housing for elderly and bring economic growth
to Cheyenne
River.
“We are excited for this project to be completed so we can provide
a safe and healthy way of living for our elders. The facility is primarily
for Elderly Tribal Members, but this will be an open facility, not just
for Indians but for everybody!” said Chairman Frazier.
The
Elderly Village will provide
about 60 jobs and has a target date of opening
in July of 2006.
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