I have been following the news on the rare Mexican wolves, and have terrible news from the Southwest. Two Alpha male lobos have been ruthlessly stalked and killed, seriously endangering the packs of the rarest wolves in the world. Another Alpha male is missing. With these Alpha’s gone, the fate of the entire population of the wild lobos hangs in the balance.

At last count earlier this spring, there were only 42 lobos left in the wild. At least half of the packs that bred last year have lost their alpha males. These latest killings couldn’t come at a worse time, and we need to step it up in order to save the remaining lobos from certain extinction.

Alpha males are crucial to the survival of the pack. They provide leadership and food for the entire family, including pups born just months ago. Without the alphas, the fatherless pups of at least two packs of these rare animals are less likely to survive… putting lobos ever closer to a second extinction in the wild.

Please consider donating to this most worthy cause in saving the wild lobos in the Southwest. Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the survival of these and other endangered species. The following is a list of how our contribution will help these highly endangered animals to survive…

~ Post rewards to help law enforcement capture lawless wolf-killers and put them behind bars.
~ Mobilize thousands of activists to demand more law enforcement capacity at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to catch and prosecute poachers.
~ Push federal officials to fast-track a science-based plan for restoring lobos to their rightful home in the Southwest.
~ Counter the hate-filled propaganda of extremists through a robust public education campaign.
~ Use proven on-the-ground techniques to keep wolves away from livestock and out of harm’s way.

Please consider making an Emergency Donation today!

Much gratitude and thanks to those dedicated to preserving the wildlife on this planet. We have much to be held accountable for, yet we give so much in the way of stewardship of this great and beautiful Earth. The balance can, and will be restored if we can remain dilligent in the care of those who cannot defend themselves in this time of need.

Even though I do not spend a whole lot of time thinking about it, I am smart enough to take the time to prepare for an Emergency, should it strike in any form. Although one cannot imagine every scenario which may occur, we can gather some essential items in general to survive most situations. Of course, Food (in the form of MRE’s – Meals Ready to Eat – essentials for emergency preparedness) and a comprehensive kit of Medical Supplies would be at the top of the list, along with an Emergency Radio to keep us updated and informed in case of a power outage, or if we are forced to leave our homes. There are some pretty cool solar powered radios available for a decent price, and it is totally worth it.

Now, there are different levels of Emergencies. Having several packs ready to go at all times, one for each member of the family, is a great idea. We can keep these packs in a place which is easy to access on the go, in case we need to leave in a hurry, making certain everyone knows where their pack is. Practice Emergency routines once in a while to keep this in mind without creating a panic… we do not need to obsess. Keeping emergency supplies in our vehicles is also a great idea, just in case we are not home when danger strikes.

Another thing to keep in mind is our water supplies. Just in case our water becomes tainted, or we are uncertain of the purity, we should educate ourselves with Water Storage information and gather Water Filters, Purifiers and Storage Containers.

I would like to follow up on this subject in the near future with a list of supplies which may be helpful for those uncertain of what to gather. Sometimes it is not possible to gather all we may need, either because of our location or financial situation, yet common sense will show us what we need most so we can at least stand a chance of surviving if the unthinkable happens. Remember, when the Hurricane, Tornado, Earthquake or Disaster warnings go out (or hit), the time to prepare is over… like trying to buy fire insurance when the house is on fire.

I am lucky in that we have an extended family and friends who have thought about this occurance for quite some time now, and we are prepared to gather in a place of safety if at all possible. Educating ourselves in survival techniques is very important, as one never knows when an Emergency situation may occur, and it is better to be prepared so we are less likely to panic, and supplies may not be readily available. As always, I am most happy to hear ideas and suggestions which may be helpful in an Emergency situation.

Greetings Friends of SOTY:

In addition to Pine Ridge and the Navajo reservations, SOTY is working with the Northern Cheyenne in child sponsorship – yes, we know you are all waiting and we thank you for your patience. We hear from our friends on the rez’s who are putting together the lists that with winter being so hard and still on-going, the progress has been slow because just keeping up with daily life is hard enough. But thank you for your patience and understand that your desire to sponsor a child will be met soon – thank you!!

IN THE MEANTIME – IN ADDITION TO DONATIONS OF COATS AND WARM FOOTWEAR FOR PINE RIDGE (along with DONATIONS FOR FORWARDING THOSE ITEMS greatly appreciated), WE ARE GEARING UP FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS BY HELPING THE NORTHERN CHEYENNE.

PLEASE READ BELOW HOW YOU CAN HELP NOW! IT’S EASY!!! MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY AND HELP OUR TRIBAL YOUTH!!

The Northern Cheyenne have started a grass roots effort within their tribe to build a summer camp (to begin with) and an eventual on-going program for their youth. They have asked us to ask our supporters to help them begin their efforts this spring with the following easy to mail items = SEEDS!!!

The aim of the program is to teach the youth how to return to the SELF-SUSTAINING life of their ancestors and that begins with sowing seeds for their own gardens. The intention is for the gardens to also provide nutritional and nourishing food year-round for the youth and families as well.

What’s needed?? They are requesting seed packets of the following items:

corn
squash (of various kinds)
beans
carrots
raddish
cabbage
lettuce
and other hearty vegetable seeds that can survive cool nights in the mountains and plains.

The camp will be in Lame Deer, Montana and they can also use whatever garden supplies or gift cards to places like Home Depot or WalMart (for building supplies) that anyone feels like sending.

YOU CAN BUY A SEED PACKET OR TWO TODAY AND PUT THEM IN AN ENVELOPE AND MAIL IT OFF. YOU CAN HELP FEED A GREAT MANY WITH A SINGLE PACKET OF SEEDS – IT’S A BEGINNING AND THEY WELCOME YOUR DESIRE TO WANT TO HELP WITH THIS SIMPLE DONATION.

Please mail your donation of vegetable seeds to:

Cheyenne Freedom Camp
PO Box 628
Lame Deer, MT 59043

We will keep you updated here on Myspace and on our website: www.saveourtribalyouth.com as news and progress of this project continues.

Thank you for your help and support for all our tribal youth!!

All of us at Save Our Tribal Youth