People have often asked me where my passion for the Lakota-Sioux Native American Indians started, and I always reply that I have had this fascination for them as long as I can remember! Lakota is the correct name for these people, the word Sioux is a French rendering coming from an Ojibwa (Chippewa) word for their enemies "nadouessioux", meaning "little snakes".

The Lakota people of today primarily live on the Rosebud, Pine Ridge, Lower Brule, Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Reservations of North and South Dakota. Kinship is central to the Lakota way of life. Courage, fortitude, wisdom and generosity are among the celebrated virtues. The Lakota learn these traits from their Elders and prove them in their daily lives. Every act and judgement is considered in terms of duty and benefit to the extended (Tiyospaye) family, which often includes hundreds of people. The worst insult a Lakota can give is to say "you live as if you have no relatives." When the term "relatives" is used, it refers to all living things, from the tallest tree to the tiniest ant, and the Lakota believe that we are "all related", no matter what colour or creed.

It is because of the love for these people that I have, that I am trying to help them live a better life. They truly are a forgotten people, and my new found friends belong to the Oglala tribe, ancestors of Chief Crazy Horse, Red Cloud and Black Elk but to name a few. The Oglala are the largest tribal group in the Lakota Nation and live on the Pine Ridge reservation. This is located in Shannon County in southwest South Dakota, on the Nebraska border. It is the poorest county in the United States and the people truly live in "Third World" conditions.

The saddest thing is because the land where they live is so vast, huge tracts of barren land intersected by the sacred Black Hills and Badlands, people do not seem to realise that these people still live here. Many people I have spoken to assume that were all wiped on in the wars of the 19th Century, but this could not be further from the truth! They still live in a beautiful but a hostile and unforgiving land, no longer able to live as their ancestors did. They have just entered the fifth year of a severe drought which only adds to the troubles already existing I have been to the Pine Ridge reservations, South Dakota a number of times since 2002, and will continue to make trips to support the local population, as much as possible. I have an Elders programme set up where you can help an Elder/Elders of your choice (or I can recommend one), by communicating with them directly and helping them in any way you wish. For more information look over:- http://www.lakota-aid.co.uk/lkhelpelders.htm