Many residents of the Sioux Reservations in South Dakota live fifty, even one hundred miles from the nearest hospital, and most families don't own a car.  And even when a sick or injured person can make it to the hospital, medical staffs and facilities on the Reservations across South Dakota's vast territory are unequipped to deal with many serious medical conditions.

Transportation to the Indian Health Service, V.A., and Regional Hospitals in Rapid City is a common need, but commonly unavailable.  The IHS Hospital, for example, does not even have an ambulance.

To address these critical requirements for emergency medical transportation, NAHA purchased and gave the Rosebud Sioux Tribe one fully equipped ambulance. 

Today, with the help of donors nationwide, NAHA operates two handicapped-accessible vans as well as the NAHA Medical Residence, both based in Rapid City.  These vehicles enable the seriously ill and injured within the Sioux Nation to reach the medical care they need.  Equipped to deliver patients to chemotherapy and dialysis treatment centers in Rapid City, these special vans serve many Native Americans and travel several miles every month.  Please select the Wheelchair Van Chart for more exact numbers.

For Native Americans who must remain in Rapid City overnight for two or more days of required treatment at a time, NAHA offers the home-away-from-home option of the NAHA Tiospaye Motel.  Overnight stays are permitted for actual patients when Sioux San, Rapid City Regional Hospital or some other medical facility contacts the manager of the NAHA Tiospaye Motel.

To date, Native American patients from the following reservations have received a warm welcome at the NAHA Tiospaye:  Ft. Totten, Ft. Berthold, Mandan, Turtle Mountain, Standing Rock, Cheyenne River, Sisseton, Flandreau, Yankton, Santee, Winnebago, Crow Creek, Crow Agency in Montana, Wind River in Wyoming, Lower Brulé, Rosebud, and Pine Ridge.

If you’d like to join in this program and other projects of the Native American Heritage Association, please go to our Personal & Secure Donation Page.