I am trying to raise funds to get home to Swansea, UK.

I arrived to Standing Rock Sioux Reservation to teach and support the children in #nodapl Camp School. After the camp's eviction in Feb 2017 I provided help with getting the children and their parents safely back to their respective homes.

Shortly afterwards, I fell attracted to a local Dakhota (Sioux) man and eventually we got married. I started to immerse myself in the Lakhota/Dakhota language- hoping that I could get proficient and help preserve the endangered language for the next generations. I was offered a job at the (Lakhota) Language Nest at the Sitting Bull College.

[pic: the Lakhota Summer Institute, 2017]

However, some serious issues have arisen in my marriage. My husband started to get abusive, especially after I found out about his drug addiction. In a fit of rage, he threw me out of the house and-still threatening me- demanded a divorce. We got a divorce easily but due to this I lost my immigration status and therefore lost my job offer at the Sitting Bull College (it was explained to me as "there would be too much paperwork involved in employing me on Working Visa). I have repeatedly tried to apply for another job but with the current federal/state rules and 85% unemployment rates on the Reservation, this has proved to be extremely difficult.

Since my (now ex-)husband and his family stole from me all my savings ($1800) I was unable to pay for a roof over my head but was given a shelter/food in exchange for help around the house (cleaning, cooking, gardening etc). This has been my position since Aug 2017 to this day.

Meanwhile, I tried very hard to raise some funds to get back to the UK- processing and spinning fiber, turning hand-spun yarn into unique wearables- however the results were meager.

Having no family to speak of (estranged from the only living family member) and no net of friends to help me out, financially-wise, I am now appealing to you to help me get back home, to my beloved Swansea, where I lived and worked since 2009.

The amount raised will be used towards travel costs (plane ticket, estimated about $600) and first month's rent with deposit (so I have a safe place to stay and can get back on my feet again).

Thank you. Diolch o'r galon