The Free Native Eye clinic 2019 was the second eye clinic sponsored by Artists for World Peace for the Rosebud Indian Reservation. The Free eye clinic was held the week of June 2-7, 2019 and hosted at Sinte Gleska University’s Wakinyan Wanbli Multi-Purpose building on the universities Lakeside Campus Mission, South Dakota.
Over two-thousand Rosebud Sioux tribal members have received free eye exams and free eye glasses at the 2018 and 2019 eye clinics. This year Artists for World Peace team consisted of forty-two Optometrists, six eye surgeons, a pediatric ophthalmologist and volunteers. The surgeons would’ve been able to do cataract surgeries if we had the use of a sterile facility.
Wendy Black-Nasta, Founder-Executive Director of Artists for World Peace invited a small group of doctors specializing in the areas of; critical care, nephrology and behavioral health. The group met with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Health Board Committee to discuss obstacles impeding the health care needs of Rosebud Sioux tribal members. From this initial meeting the doctors may suggest ways to help address and improve health issues of our tribal members.
Artists for World Peace purchased a mobile van equipped to give eye exams for our tribal elders residing at the tribes White River Health Care facility located in White River, SD.
This year Wendy selected two students who will receive training to become Opticians and work here on the Rosebud Reservation. The students will begin their training in January 2020 at the Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute SIPI in Albuquerque, NM.
Local volunteers from Sinte Gleska University’s Staff, Headstart Staff and the Tree of Life program assisted during the week long free eye clinic.
Sinte Gleska University’s partnership with Artists for World Peace helps us in our endeavor for student success, improves our quality of life and our work toward a healthy tribal nation.
We are grateful to Wendy and the entire team from Arts for World Peace for providing the Free Native Eye Clinic for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.