Every spring is special.
But not every spring offers so much hope to Lakota families for a better tomorrow.

My friends and I have a non-profit organization called Trees, Water & People that works on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations in South Dakota. We have installed more than 140 solar heating systems for families there and planted windbreak trees and shade trees for an additional 160+ families.

Tomorrow... a new spring cycle starts for us.

Tomorrow the descendent of Chief Red Cloud - Henry Red Cloud - a lakota elder and 21st century Oglala Sioux warrior will pour concrete - for a wind turbine that he and I and others will install in May. The concrete needs time to cure before it will be ready.

In a few weeks...on April 26 about 15 of us will arrive in Pine Ridge to plant more trees. We will also bring six fire dancers and continue to bring the "Dance of Fire" to our Lakota friends. While the Lakota have been dancing for 10,000 years... we who are not Native Americans have at least a few moves worthy of sharing... :>)

On May 7-8 at Rosebud - we will plant more "energyscape" trees - trees planted in ways aimed to lower outrageously high Lakota utility bills. On May 9 we will participate with Rosebud and national tribal leaders in putting on a 1/2 day renewable energy conference.

On May 10th we will go to the Little Thunder family home and install a demonstration solar electric system and on May 11th we will install a demonstration wind turbine.

Our goal is to develop new ways to work WITH nature... that are culturally appropriate and help real families with real problems.

It is not for me to worry about the past but to rather build a better future.... one family at a time.

I hope you will too.

Check out our work at www.treeswaterpeople.org .... or email me at richard@treeswaterpeople.org

We could use your support and involvement in spreading this approach and technology to other tribes...

Richard Fox