By Tim Huether

After 40 years of not giving up on a dream of bringing an Indian Health Services (IHS) clinic to Martin, the day is near when the doors will open and make the dream come true for many local Oglala Sioux Tribe members.

On Feb. 5, the LaCreek District Clinic held an open house and blessing of the building, the latest big step in opening the doors to healthcare in Martin for tribal members.

According to Alan Davis, clinic CEO and CEO of the IHS Pine Ridge Service Unit, the clinic is slated to start seeing patients some time in May with hours from 12 noon to 8 p.m.

Davis said it feels good to be able to bring health services to a community. It is great to be able to deliver a clinic you can take advantage of here.

“We are creating some new positions and will have a nurse practitioner, a pharmacist, nurse, two MSA’s and housekeeping staff,” said Davis. “We have a pharmacist hired and we’re pleased to be able to attract professional service personnel.”

Davis said this is just the start and if things go well, they would like to add behavioral health, a midwife clinic, a public health nurse and a pediatric provider.

The clinic, The LaCreek District Clinic, is a $1 million project handled through the Wild Horse Butte Community Development Corporation, located in Martin. The Corporation through a P.L. 638 contract designed and built the facility with input from the local community members.

The clinic is located just south of the intersection of Hwy 18 and 73, past the Martin Fire Hall.

Executive Director of Wild Horse Butte Community Development Corporation, Kimmie Clausen, urged everyone to be patient getting the clinic going at first, suggesting it will take some time to get to where they need to be.

“I think the pharmacy is going to be a big thing to us,” said Clausen.”

Council Rep. Craig Dillon said, “Today, something really powerful has happened.

Dillon said he would also like to see a women’s shelter and dialysis center come in next.

Alvina Dubray said it is a dream come true for all of us.

Lois Gotheridge said a lot of her efforts had to do with her daughter Sammi who was diagnosed with kidney disease and one of her dreams is to get a dialysis center here too.

LaCreek District Chair Stephanie Louden added, “This is a big event for us in the community. People from other areas ask, how did you get your clinic and a casino, and I tell them, we have good people,” remarked Louden. “This is a very humbling day.”

District Rep Charlie Cummings said, “Four years ago, we started talking about it again, and we went forward with it. It was a dream that goes way back and now it is a reality that we are going to be open for business.

Wild Horse Butte Community Development board member Pearl Cottier said she has worked on the clinic project for the past 30 years. She said now she is going to work on getting a dialysis center for here.

Newton Cummings said it is really something to see LaCreek District get involved and get a clinic here. He said they have talked about and tried to get a clinic here for 40 years and said now the people need to use it.

“We’ve got it here now and you need to use it or you could lose it,” Cummings stated to the crowd. “This is a plus for all of us. Many elderly are on a fixed income and don’t have gas money to drive to Pine Ridge or further.”

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