The Bush administration on Thursday announced it will provide up to $1.3 million to help the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of South Dakota recover from a fire that destroyed the student dormitory.

Interior Secretary Gale Norton said the administration is working with the tribe and the state of South Dakota to help build a temporary replacement dorm, kitchen and dining facility. But the tribe needs at least $1 million more to fully fund the replacement dorm.

"It's a gesture of hope," Crow Creek Superintendent Scott Raue told The Sioux Falls Argus Leader of the new money. Other tribal officials said the Bureau of Indian Affairs finally realized the tribe was in a crisis situation.

The BIA also plans to release $2.5 million long overdue to the tribe for a new gym that has been condemned. Tribal officials said the BIA had told them to use the money for the temporary dorm instead.

Get the Story:
Crow Creek school promised $1.3M (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 5/13)

Relevant Links:
Crow Creek Tribal School - http://www.crowcreek.k12.sd.us

Related Stories:
Crow Creek Tribe, state sign school agreement (5/10)
Johnson: BIA 'jerking around' Crow Creek Tribe (5/6)
State steps in to help Crow Creek Tribe with dorm (5/5)
Senator Tim Johnson: BIA school funding fight (5/4)
Thune calls Crow Creek Tribe school dorm a 'disaster' (5/4)
Crow Creek Tribe needs up to $40M for new schools (5/2)
Editorial: Where were feds when tribe needed help? (5/2)
Crow Creek Tribe needs $2.2M to replace dormitory (4/29)
Wind stirs up another fire at Crow Creek school (4/28)
Crow Creek Tribe to replace dorm destroyed by fire (4/27)
School employees describe rescue of girls from fire (4/26)
Girls saved from fire at Crow Creek school dorm (4/25)