Pine Ridge is a reservation in South Dakota, it one of the largest reservations in the USA and home to the Oglala Lakota Sioux. This reservation is home to approx 35000 people, 35% of which are under 16 years old. It is 11000 square miles and sits in Shannon County, deemed one of the poorest counties in the USA. Today on Pine Ridge there is no real industry, technology or commercial infrastructure to provide employment. Annual income on Pine Ridge is approximately $3000 per year; the unemployment rate is 85%. Life expectancy is 48 years old for men and 52 for women. The teenage suicide rate 150% higher than the US national average for this group. More than half of the reservations adults battle disease and addiction, Alcoholism, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Each winter, elders are found dead from Hypothermia. If they need to go to hospital, they are understaffed and outdated in equipment, the patients having to ask friends and family for rides to get to the clinics. At least 60% of homes are infested with Black Mould causing lung and pulmonary conditions. Many families live in dilapidated trailers and shacks, some others sleep in their cars, as housing can be scarce. Families never turn away relatives, some homes lack basic water and sewage systems. leaving some to use contaminated water from rivers. The use of drugs such as Crystal Meth has soared with young people joining gangsand adults succumbing to Alcoholism and domestic violence. The warrior culture of the Lakota is renowed and as such many have fought and died for the United States and continue to do so, for some it is a matter of patriotism , for others it is an economic necessity. There is also hope with some local leaders trying to build the foundations of the culture again involving the young in ceremonies such as Sweat Lodges, Pow Wows, A renaissance of the Lakota language, whilst other teach boxing to help the children achieve self discipline. Whether the Lakota will ever recover their past glory is open to debate but the simple fact remains that in 21st century America lie a forgotten people lost in the wilderness.
Pine Ridge is a reservation in South Dakota, it one of the largest reservations in the USA and home to the Oglala Lakota Sioux. This reservation is home to approx 35000 people, 35% of which are under 16 years old. It is 11000 square miles and sits in Shannon County, deemed one of the poorest counties in the USA.
Today on Pine Ridge there is no real industry, technology or commercial infrastructure to provide employment. Annual income on Pine Ridge is approximately $3000 per year; the unemployment rate is 85%. Life expectancy is 48 years old for men and 52 for women. The teenage suicide rate 150% higher than the US national average for this group.
More than half of the reservations adults battle disease and addiction, Alcoholism, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Each winter, elders are found dead from Hypothermia. If they need to go to hospital, they are understaffed and outdated in equipment, the patients having to ask friends and family for rides to get to the clinics.
At least 60% of homes are infested with Black Mould causing lung and pulmonary conditions. Many families live in dilapidated trailers and shacks, some others sleep in their cars, as housing can be scarce. Families never turn away relatives, some homes lack basic water and sewage systems. leaving some to use contaminated water from rivers.
The use of drugs such as Crystal Meth has soared with young people joining gangsand adults succumbing to Alcoholism and domestic violence.
The warrior culture of the Lakota is renowed and as such many have fought and died for the United States and continue to do so, for some it is a matter of patriotism , for others it is an economic necessity.
There is also hope with some local leaders trying to build the foundations of the culture again involving the young in ceremonies such as Sweat Lodges, Pow Wows,
A renaissance of the Lakota language, whilst other teach boxing to help the children achieve self discipline. Whether the Lakota will ever recover their past glory is open to debate but the simple fact remains that in 21st century America lie a forgotten people lost in the wilderness.