I want to update everyone who has been involved in the Pretty Bird Woman House fundraiser on the situation with the house purchase.
After you read this you might also ask: Why isn’t anything easy in Indian Country?
While we were running this fundraiser, the City Council of McLaughlin, which exists as a separate entity within the boundaries of the Standing Rock Reservation, passed an ordinance requiring that any nonprofit wishing to establish a boardinghouse or shelter in a residential area get the approval of the City Council first.
This means that even though Pretty Bird Woman House could have closed on the house on January 4th, they had to wait for a Council meeting on January 7th.
Everyone was certain that after hearing about the shelter, the City Council would just say “of course you can.”
Not so.