Sad Truths
When people think of South Dakota, the Badlands, Black Hills, and Mt. Rushmore are probably the only things they can think of. Anyone not from the upper Midwest wouldn't be able to see it for anything else. Its really a beautiful place, with a lot of rich history, but it is also home to some of America's least-developed areas. About a quarter of the state is taken up by the 8 Native American Indian Reservations of the Lakota Sioux:
Cheyenne River, Crow Creek, Lower Brule, Pine Ridge (Oglala), Rosebud, Sisseton-Wahpeton, Yankton, and Flandreau Santee
For more information on South Dakota's Rez system, isk/maps/dakotas/sd.html
Sadly, these lands predominately consist of areas that can easily be mistaken for third-world countries. Larry King did a touching story recently for CNN www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/13/king.sotu.economy/index.html I've never been able to come to terms with the extreme poverty that the tribes endure, and how ignorant people can be by pointing at the few vaunted Indian Casinos and claiming that they are doing just fine financially. I wonder at the spirit of helpfulness and service that struck the nation in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and marvel at how people have been able to turn a blind eye to these Americans that have been living in similar or worse circumstances for generations, all across the country.
Check out these statistics from charityguide.org
More than 300,000 Native Americans are either homeless or living in life-threatening conditions. American Indians are faced with a suicide rate double that of all other nonwhites, and higher levels of school dropouts, alcoholism and unemployment (45% average, with 82% on the Rosebud Reservation). Because many Native American reservations are located in isolated areas, much of the housing on Indian reservations lack electricity and running water.
I have cousins that are half Lakota. My grandparents live just outside one of South Dakota's Reservations, and I have seen first-hand the horrendous conditions that abound on the Rez, and anyone who thinks that inner-city youth have it bad need to take a closer look. But anyone and everyone can make a difference.
Hundreds of people each year volunteer for Spring Break or Summer volunteer opportunities, or even just a short weekend of helping out. Next time you're looking for one, consider one on a Rez. To locate your nearest Rez and find out what opportunities there are, get contact information from the Bureau of Indian Affairs here, www.doi.gov/bia/tribal_services_map.html
For information on what you can do to help if you want a "vacation" further from home, www.charityguide.org/volunteer/vacation/native-american-indian.htm
Cheyenne River, Crow Creek, Lower Brule, Pine Ridge (Oglala), Rosebud, Sisseton-Wahpeton, Yankton, and Flandreau Santee
For more information on South Dakota's Rez system, isk/maps/dakotas/sd.html
Sadly, these lands predominately consist of areas that can easily be mistaken for third-world countries. Larry King did a touching story recently for CNN www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/13/king.sotu.economy/index.html I've never been able to come to terms with the extreme poverty that the tribes endure, and how ignorant people can be by pointing at the few vaunted Indian Casinos and claiming that they are doing just fine financially. I wonder at the spirit of helpfulness and service that struck the nation in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and marvel at how people have been able to turn a blind eye to these Americans that have been living in similar or worse circumstances for generations, all across the country.
Check out these statistics from charityguide.org
More than 300,000 Native Americans are either homeless or living in life-threatening conditions. American Indians are faced with a suicide rate double that of all other nonwhites, and higher levels of school dropouts, alcoholism and unemployment (45% average, with 82% on the Rosebud Reservation). Because many Native American reservations are located in isolated areas, much of the housing on Indian reservations lack electricity and running water.
I have cousins that are half Lakota. My grandparents live just outside one of South Dakota's Reservations, and I have seen first-hand the horrendous conditions that abound on the Rez, and anyone who thinks that inner-city youth have it bad need to take a closer look. But anyone and everyone can make a difference.
Hundreds of people each year volunteer for Spring Break or Summer volunteer opportunities, or even just a short weekend of helping out. Next time you're looking for one, consider one on a Rez. To locate your nearest Rez and find out what opportunities there are, get contact information from the Bureau of Indian Affairs here, www.doi.gov/bia/tribal_services_map.html
For information on what you can do to help if you want a "vacation" further from home, www.charityguide.org/volunteer/vacation/native-american-indian.htm