OST President Two Bulls declares an emergencyFaced with rash of suicides

Mary Garrigan Journal staff Posted: Friday, December 11, 2009 7:00 am

In an emotional appeal to the people of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Oglala Sioux Tribe President Theresa Two Bulls declared a state of emergency Thursday in the face of overwhelming numbers of suicides and suicide attempts on South Dakota's largest reservation.
Between October 2008 and August 2009, the OST Public Safety Department responded to 96 suicide attempts or completions, Two Bulls said. Since September, there have been a rash of teen suicides on Pine Ridge. During November, the OST ambulance service responded to 17 suicide-related calls.
One of them was the death of a Pine Ridge High School student who hanged himself last week. On Thursday, a contingent of the teen's classmates were present for Two Bull's proclamation on the same day friends and family buried the boy and "sent him into the spirit world," Two Bulls said. "In our culture, we say children are sacred. Instead of just saying it, we need action now."
Specifics about OST's suicide prevention plans weren't revealed Thursday, except that Two Bulls mandated that Indian Health Services and all OST programs assist the Sweetgrass Project, OST's suicide prevention program, "to the fullest extent of their services."
She also called for schools and youth centers on the reservation to develop an action plan to keep gymnasiums and recreation centers open and available to youths on weekends and other "down times."
The state of emergency declaration was broadcast live throughout the reservation by KILI Radio.
"We can no longer have numbers like that," Sweetgrass Project director Carol O'Rourke said.
O'Rourke promised that the reservation would be blanketed with suicide prevention symbols of yellow ribbons and sweetgrass during the upcoming holiday season, a time when officials particularly worry about people who are contemplating suicide. "You'll see a lot of yellow ribbons during the holiday season," she said.
Tribal leaders need education about suicide prevention, said Rick Grey Grass, an OST council representative who expressed alarm about the recent rise in teen violence, pregnancy and suicide he sees.
"We need to step up to the plate as elected leaders and find something for our youth," Grey Grass said. "I'm listening, and I want to help and be a part of what's going on."
Two Bulls called on parents, grandparents and other adults to listen to the tribe's youths.
"It's time to listen to teens to hear how we can help them -- physically, mentally and emotionally," she said. "A lot of these youth don't get a hug a day. They never hear that they're loved. We need to start using that word."
Contact Mary Garrigan at 394-8424 or mary.garrigan@rapidcityjournal.com.