History & General Info

Over 43 years ago, Marion Clifford and two friends originally founded the “Mustard Seeds” as a way to help migrant farmers in Boulder and Weld Counties here in Colorado.

A co-worker convinced Marion to visit the Cheyenne River Reservation (C.R.R.) with him to see the needs of the people and to meet his grandfather, who was the Medicine Man.  That was the beginning of a commitment Marion made to C.R.R.  43 years ago and why she founded Native American Connections (NAC).

Native American Connections is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to gathering donations, both material and financial, and then distributing them directly to the Native American people on the Cheyenne River Reservation.   She does assist other tribes when requests are received.

Donations are tax-deductible.

NAC Address:  Marion Clifford, Director, Native American Connections, PO Box 18774, Boulder, CO  80308.  Phone:  303-665-7303.

What Native American Connections Does

  • NAC collects food and clothing from several large retailers in the Longmont and Boulder area.  Marion delivers any perishable items to the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless every Monday and Friday.
  • NAC also assists with some home repair.  We have recently started working directly with Habitat for Humanity (HFH), which has an office in Eagle Butte.  Both agencies agree we can be more effective by coordinating efforts.  HFH knows the most urgent needs, NAC helps provide the materials and HFH helps provide volunteers.  We think it is a great step in the right direction!
  • NAC provides materials for winterizing homes.
  • Fuel to heat homes is a major concern for the coming year.  NAC tries to help financially when funds are available.
  • NAC provides and prepares Thanksgiving Dinner, which feeds between 1500-2000 people.  Some come in for a sit-down dinner; others are provided a “Meals on Wheels” type of delivery.   Marion bakes and oversees volunteers in baking around 300 turkeys and preparing all the other Thanksgiving goodies.  She has done this for 20+ years!
  • NAC provides blankets, coats, boots and gloves to those in need before winter hits.  Temps run as low as -50 degrees, with Wind Chill temps as low as -90 degrees!
  • NAC collects Christmas toys and gifts for approximately 1100 children between 0-14 years of age and also for 500 senior citizens.  In 2007, grandparents were given the opportunity to choose two new gifts for each grandchild, at no cost.  Good, used toys were available to supplement the new ones.  This event is usually our first December trip.
  • With the second December trip, NAC provides the transportation and driver to deliver the gifts provided for the “Letters to Santa” program in conjunction with Fairview High School in Boulder and The Main in Eagle Butte.  Children write a “letter to Santa” and the students at Fairview High School fill the requests in the letters. The Main Youth Center volunteers ensure those gifts are received by the letter-writer.

Acceptable Donations

The people on the Cheyenne River Reservation can use almost anything that is in good, gently used condition.   Some needs, but not all, are listed below:

  • Non-perishable foods such as canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned tuna, canned milk, peanut butter, honey.
  • Baking supplies (flour, sugar, yeast, salt, powdered milk, spices, baking pans).
  • Infant formula and diapers.
  • New or good used clothing and footwear of EVERY size; winter clothing needed in the fall.
  • Furniture of all types, beds, mattresses and bedding (some people sleep on the floor).
  • Household items (such as pots, pans, dishes, glasses, silverware, pictures, artificial flowers, rugs) and cleaning supplies.
  • School and art supplies, sports items (baseball, basketball, hockey, football, golf, fishing), back packs.
  • Bicycles, skateboards (they have a great skate park), rollerblades, vehicles.
  • Sewing machines, fabric, thread and other notions for sewing/crafts.  The women are well-known for their beautiful Star Quilts so fabric is treasured. 
  • Turkeys and “trimmings” for Thanksgiving dinner.
  • Christmas gifts for children and senior citizens.
  • Financial donations are always accepted to help with storage and transportation expenses.

Donations Storage

Currently, NAC has four 10’ x 25’ storage units in Lafayette, at a total cost of $725 per month.  The units are almost full of new and used clothing, household items, medical/school supplies, non-perishable goods and Christmas items we have collected for 2009.

Transportation to the Reservation

We deliver a 24’ truck to C.R.R. as often as we are financially able to do so.  Our goal is to deliver goods once a month.  We try to make two trips during November (one for supplies and one for Thanksgiving Dinner) and two during December.  The trip from Boulder is a 12-hour drive each way, through some interesting and beautiful country.  The cost per round trip for 24’ truck rental and fuel runs $900 -$1,600, depending on diesel /fuel prices (it would be more, except for discounts given by rental agency).

Donations Disbursement

Donations are dispersed at the Cheyenne River Reservation via appropriate channels, i.e., clinics, nutrition center, nursing home, school offices, Teen Center and trusted persons from the smaller villages.  Volunteers are in place to unload as soon as they hear Marion has arrived.

Cheyenne River Reservation Statistics

  • Division:  Teton
  • Tribe:  Cheyenne River Sioux
  • Bands:  Sioux bands of Minnecouiou (Plant Near the Water), Sihasapa (Blackfeet), Oohenumpa (Two Kettle) and Itazipco (Sans Arc or Without Bows)
  • Traditional Language: Lakota
  • Location: North Central South Dakota
  • Size:  2.8 million acres (size of Connecticut)
  • Major Employer: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
  • Population:  14,861 as of 2000 Census
  • Eagle Butte’s distance to closest large cities:
    Rapid City is 180 miles SW
    Pierre is 110 miles SE
    Mobridge is 80 miles NE
    Bismarck is 180 miles NE

Per 2000 U.S. Census – Statistics for Cheyenne River Reservation

  • Both Ziebach and Dewey Counties are consistently ranked in the bottom 1% economically of the 3,142 counties in the U.S.
  • Ziebach County is ranked as the 4th poorest in the nation, according to the 2000 Census.
  • According to the U.S. Census, over 45.1% of the total population of the C.R.R. is under 18.
  • 61.2% of youth under 18 in Ziebach and 38.2 in Dewey are living below the poverty line.

Employment Opportunities

Unlike many reservations, Cheyenne River Reservation’s Council has chosen NOT to have a casino on their land.  The location is too remote and they do not feel that is an answer to financial difficulties.  Because of the remoteness of the reservation, the opportunity for any type of employment is severely limited.  Jobs on the reservation itself are very limited.  There are no “head rights” funds.

The Cheyenne River Lakota Sioux are Trying to Make a Difference in Their Children’s Lives

One terrific attribute has been added for the youth in the headquarters town of Eagle Butte – The Main.

  • Over 20 years ago, one of the young teen girls had a dream of a Youth Center on the Reservation.  The first one was a former beer joint, remodeled by volunteers (including Marion) 20 years ago.  The Teen Center later moved to a bigger building, remodeled with Tribal funds.
  • That same teen managed to collect $1.5 million dollars toward a bigger and better youth center over a period of time.  Billy Mills, the first Native American to win a Gold Medal in the Olympics (in running) matched the $1.5 million, and the current building was started.  Billy Mills runs “Running Strong for Native American Youth” in PA.  (That ‘teen with a dream” is the Executive Director of The Main today and still dreaming big.)
  • Today, C.R.R. teens and younger children have a state-of-the art teen center with a regulation size basketball court (with retractable seats), a modern kitchen large enough to cater events (and learn how to cook), a Teen café with 12 Dell workstations along one wall, an Arts & Crafts studio, a Dance studio that is mirrored on three sides and a large, well-stocked Library.   Also included are several guest rooms for volunteers who come from around the world to intern as teachers and to implement programs.  Accepted Volunteers are an “elite” group; they withstand a rigorous background screening.  Some stay six months, some stay two years and some return many times.   Some just seem to stay and become part of the community.
  • The kids REALLY love basketball and the whole community gets involved.  They have Midnight basketball games, even during snow storms.  Some of the boys (and girls) are 6’ 4” or more!
  • The older part of The Main is used for a Head-Start program, which has proven to be a great success in getting children ready for school.
  • The suicide rate for teens on the C.R.R. has dropped from 17 successes to 3 attempts per year.  Outsiders (including a rep. from Colorado) are requesting knowledge from C.R.R.  about the programs they have instituted to help accomplish this.

Marion Clifford

Marion Clifford, Director of Native American Connections, was adopted by the Cheyenne River Reservation people in 1986.  She is “Sister” and “Grandmother” to many.

The English translation of her Native American name is “Big Hearted Woman,” and it certainly fits her.   Marion lives in Louisville, CO and works tirelessly on her mission.  If NAC doesn’t have sufficient funds, Marion uses her Social Security income (which isn’t much) and does without things for herself.

By the way, Marion will be 85 years old in January, 2010 (plans on 20 more years).  She is an absolute dynamo and an inspiration to all who know her.

Sincerely,

Pat Mayer, Volunteer
Native American Connections
Home Phone:  303-702-1869
E-mail:  patmayer@nachome.org