American Indian Youth Camp Emphasizes Healthy Lifestyles
Story-Date: 05:51 p.m. PST Sunday   , August 10, 1997

American Indian Youth Camp Emphasizes Healthy Lifestyles

BY K. MARIE PORTERFIELD, INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY, RAPID CITY, S.D.
Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News

PORCUPINE, S.D.--Aug. 11--Protecting the environment, culture and
career choices were some of the topics covered recently at the Building Our
Communities Camp held in Porcupine, S.D.

The camp, which drew 240 young people from throughout South Dakota's Pine
Ridge Reservation, wasn't all learning and no play.

Campers, who ranged from 8 to 18 years of age, had a three-on-three
basketball tournament, rode horses, hiked and played volley ball, too.

According to Paul Iron Cloud, executive director of the Oglala Sioux
Housing Authority, which sponsored the camp, next year will be bigger and
better.

``Last year, we relied on donations,''he said. ``This year we were awarded
a drug elimination grant from Housing and Urban Development that allowed us
to expand. We're already in the planning stages for next year.''

Mr. Iron Cloud said that the camp was designed to show children and youth a
better way of living than some of them learn living in cluster housing.
Organizers of the camp-out worked to involve parents as well.

``We've got a lot of problems on this reservation with drugs and
alcohol,''he said.

``People consume these things in cluster housing even though it's forbidden
in the leases,'' he said. ``The kids are the ones who suffer.''

Substance-abusing tenants abuse their housing units, according to Mr. Iron
Cloud.

``We have to go out the first of every month to fix windows that have been
broken in the units. That money could be used for other repairs,''he said.

Twenty counselors, coordinated by Kevin Peniska, Bryant High Horse Jr.,
and Tiny DeCory, bonded with the campers so strongly, they didn't want the
week to end.

``At the final talking-circle some of the counselors were in tears,''Mr.
Peniska said. ``We really got close with the kids and we felt grief when it
was time to go home.''

-----

ON THE INTERNET:

Visit Indian Country Today on the World Wide Web at
http://www.indiancountry.com/

-----



(c) 1997, Indian Country Today, Rapid City, S.D. Distributed by
Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News.



------------------------------------------------------------