In 1998, we moved across country from Ohio to the Lummi Indian Reservation in Washington state so that I could reunite with my bio family. After we were there three months I lost my tribal job and we were staying with my brother and started a small Espresso shop and located it on the rez, shortly after that my brother got mad at me while he was drunk and threw us out of his house assuming that I would just move back to my supposed life in the world. But my stubborn self said oh no way. So we started to stay at our Espresso stand that was just one small 10X30 building. One of my cousins noticed us sleeping in our car and gave us a broken down little one person camper and we parked it nearby and began staying in it. The tribe screwed around and did not put in our hookup to the electric so we (by the grace of the Creator) ran an extension cord from the warehouses next to us for power. We hauled our water from the Food Bank on the other side of the warehouses, and stayed there for nearly 4 yrs. A few months after we began staying there our car broke down so for the next 3 yrs we had no transportation and had to bum rides from my drunk or drugged up cousins to get to town to buy supplies for the business.
Finally the tribe closed our espresso stand down and kicked us off of the corner where we were located and told us to move our stuff. One of my uncles told us we could park everything on the back of his land so that we were not homeless with an espresso building, a travel trailer, and a motorless gill netter (boat). We stayed there for another several years and then he without telling us took us to court and made up some story that he had asked us to move every month for the past year and we ignored him. So the court told us to move. So we did and we moved on to some property that my cousin had and lived there for another few years.
Now all this time we were either without electric except for a gasoline generator, and had to haul all the water that we needed. We were just trying to survive and that we did and very well if I may say. All of this time my families, both my mothers side and my fathers side are in a bitter feud about who's kid I was and to what family did I belong too. No matter what my birth certificate said, they argued. The ones like my uncle and my cousin who gave us places to live went through holy hell with my other relatives over why are they helping me. See half of my relatives thought I should just go back to my adopted family (even though there was nothing there for me, and even though it was not my fault that I had been adopted out) and the other half believed that I was related to them and that the Tribe should provide me with land and a house and etc. Well, the tribe said they would but I would have to pay a huge amount every month for the land, the house, and the utilities. I was a tribal member and still am, but you would not know it by the way that they treated me.
Any way, all of this time we were living without the normal conveniences of life such as running water and electric. Most of this time we had no income because when we had the Espresso stand it did not make any profit and I did not start getting my disability from the VA until after 2003. After living like that for nearly 12 years last year we moved to Missouri where I had found some land that we could afford on my disability and we moved onto the land in October.
Now here is the problem. We have been out here living with a generator for power and hauling water to drink and clean up with and an Ice Chest to keep our food cold. We have been doing ok, but keep promising that someday we will be able to afford to get a well, and have the electric put in and live like normal people. We have check with several well places and other than it being about 4-5,000 dollars to have one put in, we have found one guy that will let us make payments to him. The other problem is that the Co-op that handles the electric wants 750 dollars for each of 7 poles to run the electric from where they are the closest to our home 1,000 feet away. Well, we only have my disability and my husband is working on his own claim for disability from the VA, but that is taking a long time as usual.
I am not asking for any money or anything like that, but I would appreciate it if you would please take a small time from your day and say a prayer for us so that we might be able to find the help we need to get these essential things in and live a normal life. Thank you in advance for all your prayers and blessings.
Love and hugz,
Debi
I will pray for you Debi.
Sounds like you have a lot to handle. I was a little struck my irony because my son (who is in his 20s) is trying hard to get us OFF of electricity and dependence on outside sources to survive, because he's sure the economy is going to collapse at sometime and he wants to be ready to be independent. The fact you have done so well so long without what many people think are "necessary" utilities shows your own self-sufficiency and skill at making do with what God gives you. I'm impressed by that. You haven't given up.
Have you also thought about setting up cisterns to catch rainwater, to offset having to haul so much? I know Missouri has received quite a bit of rain this year.
There may be hidden blessings to not having to be beholden to the utility companies for a monthly electric and water bill. But I realize that is hard for you; and will be praying that God will look at your situation and give comfort and help as His will desires.
You are a fine example of what people can do to survive. Also contact your VA advocate and see if they know of programs out there for assistance in getting you the well put in or help with the power problem. There might even be programs out there for just such cases as yours. My husband is a disabled vet so I know about budgeting, etc. We are now in the process of getting my son through the hurdles for his Disablities from his injuries in Iraq.
The idea of rain barrels is a good one, I would put them up on some type of platform, with a drain spicket in the bottom. You can get those at the Hardware store for just a few pennies. get the one that you can attach a hose to and also find something to cover the barrel with when it isn't raining, to keep mosquitos and other stuff out of it.
I have never been in Your area so dont know what the soil is like, etc. but if you get your well in or rain barrels, try and start a small garden to help sustain you. Also go to the site on the web, called Craigslist. They have some wonderful things in there, for every area of the country. A lot of stuff is either very cheap or free. I am working on getting us a free mobile, to replace the one that is falling down around our ears.
Keep your chin up. We are here for you.
Kat
Thank you very much for both of your replies, as I am sure that God has a plan for us even in this difficult situation.
We have thought of the rain barrel idea and so far we are using it to water our small garden that we put in. We bought seeds last year in the fall, when they were very cheap and have been doing our own version of square foot gardening.
We did check with the VA on programs but they do not have anything that we would qualify for at this time. But the Veterans Service Officer that my husband seen last week was able to put in an appeal for my husbands VA claim so that we can have that possibly turned around. When he is finally approved for the disability he will get three years back pay and that will help too.
I also believe that someday the whole system of economics in this country is going to fail so we are also thinking of building some windmills and solar things for alternative power. Also we are trying to get in touch with a well company so they can come and put in a well for us, because this particular one does accept payments for the well.
That is why I was only asking for prayers, because there is an abundance of power in prayer.
Debi
Hello,
I've read your message and my heart goes out to you. I do suggest you contract the VA and talk with them. If you've never owned property, you are likely elligable for grants and loans at discounts.
Also, I had to survive at one time and this is what you need to do. If you can go on ebay, look up INVERTERS. Get your self a 12 or 24 volt battery and hook it up to your inverter. You'll be able to run a hold trailer off of it. when the battery dies, recharge it with your car.
I bought a small one for my son recently 700watts and he runs 2 small lights, his TV and a dorm refrigerator off it, however, I suggest you buy a 3000 watt so that you'll always have power to run a complete trailer. How water heater and all. This is one of the best you can get. Xantrex XPOWER3000 3000W DCQuadOutlet AC Power Inverter.
Go to ebay and get one. If they don't have the exact, make sure you get Xantrex brand, because they are the best. As far as your water, do a google search and you can probably dig your own well.
I hope this was helpful.
Take care and God Bless you both.
Ann Marie
Isn't there anything the Department of Indian Affairs can do for you concerning the tribe? Seems to me they are not doing their part.
