‘A connection to home’

PROMISE – Veteran Service Corps (VSC), a non-profit organization based in Promise, South Dakota, and the West River Eagle in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation, have partnered to provide subscriptions to the West River Eagle to incarcerated relatives and college students away from home. The program focusses on veterans and their families.

West River Eagle Editor, Fran Carr, got the idea after the Labor Day Powwow/Wacipi in August 2024. “A woman came into the office to make sure her relative’s subscription was up to date. She said it really mattered to him to see the pictures from the powwow that it made him feel connected to home. It made me wonder what we could do to give other people that same feeling.” She approached the leadership of Veteran Service Corps, who got on board right away.

“I encourage relatives to make a donation in honor of a veteran in their life,” said Carr. “Since last fall we’ve been able to offer two subscriptions. With a renewed focus on advocacy by and for veterans in current events, we’re hoping to offer at least 10 more by the end of the year.”

“We’re happy to be partnering with the West River Eagle to administer this fund,” said VSC Secretary, Gloria Smith (CRST), of Promise, South Dakota. “This kind of program is central to our mission. We know that access to local reporting on government and governance is essential to the functioning of a healthy democracy. We see increasing access to the paper as part of our commitment to freedom and democracy.”

The Nomination Form can be found at https://bit.ly/WRE_Subscription-Fund. Donations and nominations can be mailed to: Subscription Fund, Veteran Service Corps, 27292 Promise Road, Mobridge, SD 57601-5505, or Subscription Fund, West River Eagle, P.O. Box 210, Eagle Butte, SD 57625. Please include the information requested on the on-line nomination form. Suggested donation is $65.

Nominees do not need to be members of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. However, they do need to be members of a federally-recognized tribe. Priority will be given to those without family support, veterans, those farthest from home, and those who have not previously received a subscription. The fund will provide a six-month print subscription or a one-year digital subscription.

Since June 2024 the West River Eagle has been offered free for pick up locally. “This program further supports efforts to make the paper more available in the community,” said Carr, “and it will help expand our readership and the reach of our advertisers. Plus, we’re really happy to be of service to the oyate in this way.”

Subscribe at https://www.westrivereagle.com/subscribe.

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