"Hay:yung my name is Rodney Donahue. I am 54 years old and a disabled Hoopa Tribal member living on State SSI. I receive $854 from California State disability insurance every month.

I find it very difficult to live on what I receive from the state. I can’t survive on SSI alone. That’s it.

We all know our tribal elders, age 65 and older, receive a pension every month from the Hoopa tribe to see them through, plus most are eligible to receive food commodities.

But, disabled tribal members under 65, are not eligible to even get commodities because we’re on SSI. Hold on. I believe food distribution was designed specifically for all tribes in the U.S. with low income families living on a Reservation or Rancheria who are eligible to receive food commodities. There are two main reasons why it’s unfair that tribal members who are under 65 and disabled can’t receive additional assistance from our tribe."

Get the Story:
Rodney Donahue: Disadvantages of Being a Disabled Native American (The Two Rivers Tribune 12/13)