My Passion is Pine Ridge

This is my first effort at creating a slide show to help me in my crusade to bring a greater awareness of the living conditions on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota to the American people. Please forgive any flubs or blurry photos.

I have traveled to Pine Ridge 4 times since 2005. I am in almost daily contact with people on the rez. Life is definitely hard on Pine Ridge. If these conditions existed in a more populated state, we might hear of them. But they are in the middle of "nowhere," a part of the country that does not exist for the national media. You never hear about the disasters that happen here - be it a winter storm or a tornado. Yet those things happen. This is the poorest county in the nation - but there are no major efforts to change that.

My purpose here is not to stimulate discussion about the historical or political events that have led to these conditions. Therefore, any comments taking us down that road will be removed.

My purpose IS to show conditions as they are and tell you the stories that I hear from residents of Pine Ridge. There will be more statistics and stories in the future. This is just the beginning.

Your job is to "Pass It On" to enlighten the next person. I can't enlighten America on my own. I need the help of every person who views this slide show and feels compassion for those who live in poverty second only to Haiti in the world - except that they live in the USA under those conditions. It is wrong and it needs to change.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Indian
• American Indian

[Varangian1915]

This is shameful I agree, but at least the wasichu are not driving you into the desert without water and taking your women into harems, like the ottoman turks used to like to do.

[bettyb22111896]

@Varangian1915 All cruelty and greed is wrong. One cannot be compared to another. BTW, when the land was stolen, the women and children were abused and murdered. Not really so different after all.

[bettyb22111896]

Thank you all for your support and compassion for the Lakota people of Pine Ridge Reservation. I agree with you, @Lochee1000 , that the word needs to be spread not only to our friends, but to our elected officials ... and the media as well. Those who create our images and those who carry out our policies must be accountable. I personally care very little "how" things got this way. I just know that they are WRONG and must be changed!

[Lochee1000]

This is a brilliantly done video that explains the harsh realities of life for our relatives on Pine Ridge. It shows the historic/racist evils inflicted on them & why they feel so disempowered. I agree with the author of this video, there is a need to do something...to make it right...make it go away in the proper way. We can't let this keep going on like a broken record. This is so not right. This should be sent to President Obama & to the Department of Justice. This is appalling distress.

[WhiteStarWoman]

Thank you Betty for giving a very intimate view of a proud and beautiful people. There are more problems than any one of us can solve but together we can help change things for the better. Please join Whispernthunder in an effort to give to them a voice! While you're there please sign our guestbook and tell us what you think? May the Great Spirit bless you and keep you in such a place of wisdom!

[blondeveggieful]

@bettyb22111896 I agree with you. It's a disgrace how our goverment has turned a blind's eye to how these beautiful people are living. The BIA needs to answer for this. I've never been to Pine Ridge as I live in Florida, but I want to help. I'd love to go there. Why does your friend have no running water and why is the farm land being leased out? Who made that decision? Everyone has got to put this on the forefront of the media.

[TheMclees]

i love you

[Yahaatee1]

Thanks a lot for this video. I live in France but I'm the sponsor of a family who lives in Wounded Knee and I'm very proud to be now his friend ! Best from France !

[eveningstar1982]

Thank you very much for this video. I'm really happy you made it. I'm glad more and more people become aware of how bad the living conditions in the reservations are. These people deserve help!

[nokiannie]

Ty so much for making this video I have many freinds from the ndn nations and i am so sad and hurt that basically they are still trying to wipe them out .What we see on the video prooves it

[txdurk]

Good job. Keep talking. Americans need to hear what has been done on our behalf.

[mjjrjjd]

Thank you for sharing. Sadness for our Pine Ridge neighbors.

[NewJura]

I am headed to the Pine Ridge Oglala-Sioux Reservation in July to run a natural building workshop teaching how to build homes from natural and waste materials, the house will be made from pallets and in filled with light straw clay an earthen plaster will be applied on the interior and exterior of the home, I am looking for volunteers, and I am taking 8 apprentices to learn this method of home building, for more info click my name and go to my website, see you there!!