SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has declared a state of emergency due to the government shutdown.
The declaration document states that the federal shutdown is the longest shutdown in terms of duration in U.S. history, impacting employment, funding, and services to the Tribe and its members.
With the government shutdown, services such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and the Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) are at risk of being delayed or unavailable.
According to the document, this will leave the most vulnerable Tribal members without essential resources for food and heat for the approaching winter months.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe SNAP program currently has 2,319 recipients, the WIC program has 203 monthly participants, and the LIHEAP program has 902 participants.
Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Steven Sitting Bear declared the State of Emergency to address the funding crisis of these programs on October 24. The emergency declaration will remain in effect until the crisis is resolved.
“Congress, your citizens need you to come together. Our tribal nations need you to fulfill your promises and obligations written in treaties and trust agreements. The consequences of your divisive political rhetoric are putting unneeded stress on your countrymen and women. This shutdown hurts our people first. We demand that you get back to work and reopen the federal government before anymore damage is done.” Sitting Bear said.
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