There are many non-profits working with American Indians. They are well-intentioned, and have good people running their organizations. But, many of them enable the people they are helping by doing for them. The people being helped should be involved in the process.
Be careful who you donate to. Find out who is doing what, and where the money is going. Are the organizations getting participation from those who are being helped? Last week I was told by a Lakota woman that churches bring their youth groups to Pine Ridge and these groups pick up trash along the roads. The woman was insulted by this. Ask what you can do to be useful to the community.
We want to be useful to American Indians - not harmful.
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