A new registered student organization on campus is trying to further the knowledge of Native American traditions while also reaching out to Native American communities.

The Native American Intertribal Council of EIU is reaching out to Pine Ridge, a Native American reservation that is in direct need of electrical options.

“We wanted Native American cultures to be represented so that we understand who Native Americans really are,” said Rebecca Franz, the RSO’s president.

A number of families are currently without electricity because they were unable to pay their bills.

“Rebuilding Pine Ridge will be our first goal,” said Franz, a communication studies major.

Although Pine Ridge is the eighth largest reservation in the United States. It is also the poorest. Pine Ridge is located in South Dakota and people on the reservation are estimated to have a life expectancy of 45 years.

Unemployment on the reservation is currently between 80 and 85 percent, and 49 percent live below the federal poverty level, Franz said.

Franz also said many families have no electricity, telephone, running water or sewage systems.

Many families on reservations choose to use wood stoves to heat their homes.

This year NAIC-EIU’s goal will be toward solar energy as the reservations main electric source, Franz said.

“(We are) working toward transporting a buffalo herd to the people so they can feed themselves,” Franz said. They will be taking steps to re-establish a buffalo herd on the Pine Ridge reservation by helping to pay for the transportation of the buffalo to the reservation.

Having such a far distance between families on the reservation, specific needs are necessary such as electricity.

“The electric company charges a lot of money and it is our job to propose solar energy,” Franz said. Since the tribe cannot afford to distribute electricity, the group is raising money to establish a solar source.

She said in order for a group to make a difference at Eastern, there must be diversity in each student council.

“Now having an RSO for an organization allows the program to do more,” said Ed Hotwagner, the chairman of the student affairs committee for the student government.

For more information on the organization and meeting times visit the Facebook page for future announcements.

“It is not required for one to have Native American blood to become a member or to participate, only that you have a Native heart,” Franz said.

Dominick Polito can be reached at 581-2812 or drpolito@eiu.edu.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction March 27, 2011:

One of the goals of the The Native American Intertribal Council was misidentified. The RSO will be taking steps to re-establish a buffalo herd on the Pine Ridge reservation by helping to pay for the transportation of the buffalo to the reservation. Also the tribe cannot afford to have electricity distributed so the group is raising money to establish a solar source. The DEN regrets the errors.

Tribe member Oongfeather does a “sneak-up” as part of a pow-wow performed in Terra Haute, Ind. in 2010. The Native American Intertribal Counsel, a new registered student organization on campus, plans to organize a yearly pow-wow as a club.(Submitted photo

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