Zaagkii Project

Northern Michigan residents give generously during the Dec. 13, 2008 Cowboys & Angels free benefit concert to help fight American Indian domestic violence, teen suicide

"Cowboys and Angels": Third annual free northern Michigan benefit concert a success in effort to battle domestic violence and teen suicides on one of the the poorest American Indian reservations in the U.S.

(Munising, Michigan) - Northern Michigan residents helped fight American Indian teen suicide and family violence during December 13 third annual free benefit concert in northern Michigan.

The non-profit Turtle Island Project (TIP) in Munising organized the third annual "Cowboys and Angels" concert that was held to benefit the White Buffalo Calf Woman Society (WBCWS) in Mission, South Dakota – the first Native American domestic violence shelter in the world.

The WBCWS battles domestic violence, sexual assault and an alarming increase in teen suicides on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, the home of the Sicangu Lakota people.

Poverty, depression, a lack of jobs, drugs, alcohol and other social problems are among the reasons behind Rosebud suicides and family violence.

Rev. Dr. Lynn Hubbard performed original songs and seasonal music during the concert on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 7 - 9 p.m. at the Falling Rock Cafe and Bookstore at 104 East Munising Ave. in downtown Munising

The WBCWS was founded 30 years ago by a group of courageous Native American women including current executive director Tillie Black Bear.

"The White Buffalo Calf Woman's Society and its domestic violence shelter are vital to address social issues like teen suicide and domestic violence on the Rosebud reservation," said Dr. Hubbard, pastor of the Eden on the Bay Lutheran Church in Munising, MI. "Women and children are treated with dignity."

"The Rosebud Reservation has been described as a Third World Country in America's heartland," Hubbard said. "Social problems on the Rosebud can sometimes seem overwhelming but the answer starts with a person donating money or volunteering their time and praying for the people.”

The TIP has organized numerous free benefit concerts in the U.P. and SD for the WBCWS including two by Iron County-based folk groups, White Water and Duo Borealis.

For more information call 906-202-0590 or email turtleislandproject@charter.net
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Related Information:
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White Buffalo Calf Woman Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 227
Mission, SD
57555

Call Tillie Black Bear, co-founder & director of the WBCWS:
1-605-856-2317

http://www.wbcws.org
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Turtle Island Project
Rev. Dr. Lynn Hubbard, Director/Co-founder
137 East Onota Street
Munising, MI.
49862

wk: 906-387-2520
cell: 906-202-0590
hm: 906-387-5616

Turtle Island Project main website:
http://www.turtleislandproject.org

Turtle Island TV (blipTV)
http://turtleislandtv.blip.tv/

Rosebud Tribe official website:
http://www.rosebudsiouxtribe-nsn.gov
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Photo stills of the Rosebud Reservation by KOTA TV Sioux Falls, SD
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Photos in "Sorrow on the Rosebud" graphic by photographer Lara Neel, Argus-Herald Leader newspaper
Kudos to reporter Steve Young, photographer Lara Neel & Argus Leader staff/management.
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Lakota youth suicide epidemic: Links to newspaper series/videos
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Links to stories and video by Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, SD on the tragic suicide epidemic involving Lakota youth and young adults.

The youth suicide problem on and around the Lakota Rosebud Reservation is finally get the recognition it deserves.

Kudos to reporter Steve Young, photographer Lara Neel & Argus Leader staff/management.

Lakota community leader Tillie Black Bear and others have worked tirelessly to bring this issue to the attention of many.
Black Bear and a few other brave native women founded the White Buffalo Calf Woman's Society 31 years ago this October - the first domestic violence shelter on an Native American reservation.
http://www.wbcws.org

The WBCWS has done its best to provide counselors and alternatives - and held a suicide summit earlier this summer.

The non-profit Turtle Island Project in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (Munising) and others have been trying to get South Dakota media to pay attention for over a year.

On Sept. 21, 2008, the Argus Leader newspaper did a thought-provoking, great but sad series of articles (and related videos) on the problem. Some 16 Rosebud members have killed themselves and over 400 youths have attempted suicide in the past few years.

Except for some American Indian media, only a handful of the white news media (including KOTA-TV and the Lutheran Magazine) have done much coverage of the issue that caused Rosebud Leaders to declare a state of emergency in the spring of 2007.

Numerous American Indian news outlets and websites helped the Turtle Island Project spread the word last fall. (That media includes Indian Country Today, Native Times, Native America Calling, News from Indian Country, Yahoo Indigenous Peoples Forum, Red Nation Society, Pow Wow TV, Native Radio, and others we don't mean to leave out). Thanks also to the Custer Lutheran Fellowship Church in Custer, SD.

Here are links to vids/stories:

Why are young Lakota killing themselves?
South Dakota reservation's suicide rate said to be among highest in world
http://beta.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080921/NEWS/809210301/-1/archive

Despite stable home, teen chose death
Mother struggles to understand reasons behind son's tragic act
http://beta.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080921/NEWS/809210302/0/archive

Searching for solutions
http://beta.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080921/RESERVATIONSUICIDE/309210002/0/archive

Tribe takes steps to 'stop this pain'
Rosebud Sioux embracing range of strategies to stem tragic trend
http://beta.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080923/RESERVATIONSUICIDE/309230004/0/reservationsuicide

Opportunity presents hope for youth
http://beta.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080923/RESERVATIONSUICIDE/309230002/0/reservationsuicide

Son's death prompts desire to help
http://beta.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080923/RESERVATIONSUICIDE/309230003/0/reservationsuicide
Videos:
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=videonetwork

Links to 7 vids by Argus Leader newspaper in Sioux Falls, SD on Rosebud Suicides
http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-siouxfalls-085-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=immersiveplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=db124a4dd1f2adc4c50863371b671925bf4f678c&maven_referralObject=860244729

http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-siouxfalls-085-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=immersiveplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=db124a4dd1f2adc4c50863371b671925bf4f678c&maven_referralObject=860263600

http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-siouxfalls-085-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=immersiveplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=db124a4dd1f2adc4c50863371b671925bf4f678c&maven_referralObject=860200284

http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-siouxfalls-085-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=immersiveplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=db124a4dd1f2adc4c50863371b671925bf4f678c&maven_referralObject=860318427

http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-siouxfalls-085-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=immersiveplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=db124a4dd1f2adc4c50863371b671925bf4f678c&maven_referralObject=860284629

http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-siouxfalls-085-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=immersiveplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=db124a4dd1f2adc4c50863371b671925bf4f678c&maven_referralObject=860417856

http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-siouxfalls-085-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=immersiveplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=db124a4dd1f2adc4c50863371b671925bf4f678c&maven_referralObject=860366636
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Pre-concert news coverage:

Mining Journal:
http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/519709.html

TIP TV Journal on bliptv:
http://blip.tv/journal/7338
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Gather:
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977527979
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Popular Helen Dagner blog:
http://helendagner.com/viewtopic.php?p=30892

Current TV:
http://current.com/items/89597879/cowboys_angels_free_benefit_concert_dec_13_fights_american_indian_domestic_violence_teen_suicide.htm

Word Press:
http://turtleislandproject.wordpress.com/2008/12/07/cowboysangelsconcert
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email:
TurtleIslandProject@charter.net
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Falling Rock Café and Bookstore
104 East Munising Ave
Munising, MI
49862

Nancy & Jeff Dwyer, owners
http://www.fallingrockcafe.com