ONE Spirit -- An American Indian Service Organization

Focusing on the Lakota Sioux of Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River Reservations in South Dakota

The Lakota Sioux of Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River Reservations,
South Dakota

Who Are The Lakota Sioux?

The Native Americans of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota are Lakota Sioux. The reservation is part of a larger territory established for the Lakota in 1868 by the United States government and later parceled out to non-Native homesteaders and broken up into smaller tribal reservations. Today, Pine Ridge is home to approximately 18,000 Lakota Sioux. In the total of about 2,000,000 acres of space, there are about 40,000 people living in total.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Pine Ridge Reservation primarily lies within the two poorest counties in the United States. It has few natural resources and no industry. The nearest major city and center for seasonal employment is Rapid City, 120 miles away. Currently, unemployment on Pine Ridge is estimated to be 87% and the per capita income* is $6,067 USD.

As a result, 97% of the residents of Pine Ridge are living below the Federal poverty level**. The pervasive poverty has created a community where many families go without electricity, fuel oil and telephone services for at least part of the year. A severe housing shortage forces hundreds into homelessness while thousands of others live in overcrowded, substandard accommodations.

The population on Pine Ridge has the shortest life expectancy of any group in the Northern Hemisphere: approximately 47 years for males and 50 years for females. Access to medical care is limited and the infant mortality rate is five times the United States national average. These abysmal statistics reflect the true impact of poverty on families.

Despite the conditions that the Lakota endure, they maintain their dignity and cultural heritage. Here are some noteworthy facts:

• About 1/3 of the population still speak the Lakota language.
• Almost all maintain their traditional spiritual and cultural beliefs.
• They are leaders in knowledge of and ways to preserve the environment.
• They are a sharing society. As long as one has food, their extended family and neighbors have food.
• Their exquisite beadwork, needlework, quilting, and sewing is art at its best.
• They wish to preserve their culture and find ways to be self-sufficient.