Where will we visit?  

Located in the southwestern corner of South Dakota, the Pine Ridge Reservation is approximately 100 miles from Rapid City. Surrounded by rolling prairie, Badlands, and the Black Hills, the Pine Ridge Reservation is home to the Oglala Lakota Nation.

The Pine Ridge Reservation occupies the entirety of Oglala Lakota (formerly Shannon) County, the southern half of Jackson County and Bennett County. The total land area of the reservation is 2.1 million acres. The reservation is among the largest in the United States. 18,834 individuals were recorded as living on the Pine Ridge Reservation during the 2010 U.S. Census. The vast majority (16,906) identified as American Indian. The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs reports the tribe has an enrollment of 46,855 members.

Pine Ridge, faces severe economic challenges due to multiple factors:

• Historical injustices: The reservation’s poverty stems from a history of massacres, land theft, broken treaties, and the forced removal of Native American children from their homes.

• Limited economic opportunities: With few job prospects and high unemployment, residents face significant barriers to financial stability.

• Poor infrastructure: The reservation lacks adequate economic and physical infrastructure, and many homes are substandard.

• Limited access to essential services: There is a shortage of medical facilities, clean water, and other critical services on the reservation.

• Slow economic development: Government-controlled economic development on reservations is often slow and complex.

• Complex legal restrictions: Legal limitations and federal policies hinder economic growth on reservations.

Pine Ridge has some of the highest poverty rates in the U.S., with the officially reported poverty rate for American Indians on the reservation at 53.75%, though many estimates suggest it may be over 80%.

Statistics only present a quantitative view, not capturing the richness of the community, the spirit of the people, and the struggles they face on a daily basis. While statistics may highlight negative aspects like high unemployment, they don't showcase the community's efforts to improve conditions, the strength of their culture, and individuals working to make a positive impact. We will spend time with change agents within the community that are empowering and upholding its members. 

Our home base will be 100 Mission Drive, Pine Ridge, SD, 57770 on the property of Maȟpíya Lúta (formerly Red Cloud Indian School).

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