Please lend me your ears (and eyes) for a few minutes as I describe the awful plight of the Native American Indians, and why we Jews should be concerned and do something about this enormous problem.

Since we don’t see any of these Native Americans in our normal everyday lives, it is hard for us to realize that one time, some 200 years ago, they occupied all of the United States, and they had a rich culture, and we destroyed all that. Do you own a home, or condominium? You think you own the property that it sits on – but do you know that your property was stolen? Stolen from the Native Americans.

When you studied American history in grammar school and high school, did you know that you were not given a good picture of our dealings with the native Americans? Did you know that our United States government violated every treaty that we made with them, and sometimes we would massacre them, in addition?

Did you know that most of the Native Americans live in reservations, managed by a part of our government called the Bureau of Indian Affairs? And on these reservations, the Native Americans can’t grow their own food; there is not enough land. They can’t grow maize (corn) and they can’t have buffaloes for meat. So the Bureau of Indian Affairs gives them modern processed food which is entirely foreign to their way of life. And the result – diabetes. At the Pine Ridge Reservation in western South Dakota, home of the Oglala – Lakota people, about half of the people have diabetes. And at the Porcupine Clinic in Kyle, South Dakota, there is only one doctor for 16,800 patients. Even children now are getting adult type diabetes.

Some of the Native Americans live in villages and cities in the western states, and the unemployment rate there is the highest in our country. And these cities comprise the poorest counties in our country. And these cities are where there is another disease that debilitates the Native Americans – it is called alcoholism.

So – now that we have had a quick look at the plight of the Native Americans, why should we Jews be especially concerned? First, we enjoy the fruits of this land that was really stolen from them. Next, one of the most important credos of the Jews is that we are concerned with, and care for, humanity. And finally, there is that ugly specter of genocide. What we have done to the Native Americans, destroying their health, taking away their land, is a slow drawn out form of genocide. And, we Jews know full well what that is like because of our experience in Nazi Germany. Are we going to ignore the plight of the Native Americans? I hope not.

All right, now that we are aware of the situation and we decide to send some financial aid, where do we send it? There are dozens and dozens of Native American groups that are desperate for aid. Just to become aware of the situation is an education in itself. The Oglala Lakota College merits our attention. This college awards bachelor’s degree and almost all of the students remain in the Native American community after graduation so the college is really a self-help institution. The address is in Kyle, South Dakota, 57752. And one more touching thought about the college. At the graduation ceremony, each student receives a feather of the American eagle, a feather on the hair of each man and a plume on the hair of each woman. And this is the highest honor that anyone can receive in the Lakota society.