Comments on: Pine Ridge Reservation America’s Own Third World Country

By: candi

candi — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:40:15 +0000

I am a mid-thirties urban Apache Indian. I am off the rez, work hard for my dough, don’t drink heavily (occasionally, hehe) rent my own place and own my own ride. It’s easy to do my native brothers and sisters, I left the Rez and never looked back. I go back to visit sometimes, and when I get old I will return to die there. You all need to figure out what’s important for you and your family, get those bills paid, stop the drinking or drink responsibly, and stay away from the heavy sh*t… I know who I am and love it as everyone should whether they be white, black or whatever. Get that education, get a good job and stop depending on the government for everything!

By: Sandra

Sandra — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 18:40:47 +0000

I also get frustrated with these comments and the fact that everyone goes to other countries to volunteer.
I am “Native American/First Nation” from Canada but have visited many reserves across North America. I have also lived on the Navajo reservation. I have lived my whole life on a reserve and am currently working in a northern remote reserve.
Sometimes our people are forgotten or discriminated against. However, it’s not ok to generalize that all reservations are the same (or every Nation). I am not going to say that every Native person has good intentions but there are many that do want to do better but are incapable of doing so.
In order for my grandfather to get a university education he actually had to leave our reserve and move to a location in a remote area outside of a city and pretend he came from a different ethnicity. Then when he finally received his degree no organization would hire him (or would immediately fire him) when they met him in person.
I have taken and completed various college diplomas and am currently studying Psychology at a prestigious university – but I still have to deal with the same stereotypes and discrimination that my ancestors have dealt with. My parents have Master’s degrees (both are “full-blooded” native americans) and have great jobs on reserves- I am a 4.0 GPA student but yet I still struggle with the way that people treat me. I either get reverse racism or direct racism – it’s very rare that I find people willing to help me, work with me on group projects, hire me, be friends with me, talk to me, etc. I don’t drink or use drugs – and never have – but when I go out with friends everyone assumes I’m drunk and the police harass me. The police don’t take any of my reports seriously and when I work with non-native agencies I also have to deal with the same thing.

If I am this well off but still struggling can any of you even possibly imagine what it’s like for people whose family has never been given the oppurtunity to grow or change. People who have lived with generations of family memberswho were dependent to alcohol or other drugs. People who haven’t completed high school, etc. It’s not easy at all – my family was poor and it took us years to get where we are at now even though we had a good foundation. It’s good for people to take responsibility for their lives but it’s one of the most difficult things a person can do. Intergenerational trauma has effected all of us and it is not something that can be fixed over night.

Before you make comments that are full of misinformation and discrimination please go out there and actually meet some First Nation/Native American people. Visit our reserves to see what it’s really like. Meet not only the people struggling with alcohol abuse/dependence but meet with their families or friends that are being affected by it. Meet the people who are doing well and the ones who are dealing with extreme poverty. Read about our history and how many of our languages and culture were taken from us. Read about residential schools, AIM, stand-offs/crisis, the Nations that have gone extinct, etc. Knowledge truly is power…

By: DNOE

DNOE — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 04:31:40 +0000

Also i challenge and pray that each and every indian nation strives to not let their culture die. they are the most beautful people on earth,although im not shure if i have any indian blood in me ( i wished my veins ran full. ) I want my grandchildren to see what these people have lived through and just how wonderful a people they were and still are. I have made a vow to do what i can to help in some way and am currently researching how to do something … im a hands on kind of guy and dont wont to send anything i want to take ot or build it or something . if anyone could help me with finding out how to personally help Feel free to contact me at 865-382-2017

By: DNOE

DNOE — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 04:13:34 +0000

just checked this site out… a little late on a response to sigh from back in 2008 but i cant hold it in . the native americans are not asking for land … how about the fact that what they dont have was taken from them . i personally think we owe them quite a bit. it saddens me every day to think of the way these wonderful people were treated and have to live in any condition less than the average,i know some of it may be from their own choices but not the majority.

By: Cyndia

Cyndia — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 21:56:07 +0000

You people who say ‘if you don’t like your situation, move’ really get my blood boiling. Put yourself in the situation…just for a moment. You and your family (mother, father, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, neices and nephews) all live in a 2 )and I may be stretching it a little–but not much) bedroom tiny cabin with no electricity, no running water and most times no heat or air conditioning. at all. Now, nobody in the house has a car or a job. HOW THE HELL YOU GONNA MOVE?? Everybody pick something up and walk? Rapid City is 150 miles one way Denver CO is 350 miles another way. You wanna try it? Learn about the plight of the Lakota before you show your own stupidity! Otherwise keep you stupidity to yourself.

By: Charlene Ramsey

Charlene Ramsey — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:35:06 +0000

We are all related and equal in the Great Spirit’s eye.

Luther Standing Bear, an Oglala Sioux Chief said, I quote, “That hand is not the color of your hand, but if I pierce it I shall feel pain. The blood that will follow from mine will be the same color as yours. The Great Spirit made us both.”

We are to help our brothers and sisters in need!

By: Neville Surrell

Neville Surrell — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:01:54 +0000

How very sad that an idigenous population should become so displaced . I have a project in the pipeline concerning the battle of the little big horn but am finding it difficult not to devote my entire bias in the favour of Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull.

By: Veronica Bright

Veronica Bright — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:09:50 +0000

FROM THE AUTHOR: Just a few updates here for those who are too ignorant to get the facts:

IF the proceeds from the casino were evenly distributed among listed Tribal members, each would get approximately $0.15. WOW… maybe they can buy that newspaper they have been saving up for!

The land share for those on Pine Ridge Reservation in 2005 was about $0.11.

Where does everyone get this notion that the government sends them vast amounts of money?

Ignorance IS bliss, and some of you who do not know comassion or charity will have to explain yourself to your maker one day.

I DO NOT acknowledge any of the links given in the comments with the exception of One Spirit They can, do and WILL help.

The nearest large town for these people to get employment would be Rapid City, which is an hour away. Smaller towns closer to them offer no year-round, long term employment.

To those of you who have responded with kindness and understanding…I thank you.

By: Melissa Espinoza

Melissa Espinoza — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 05:17:12 +0000

I have read every log here. I have found disgust, hatred, sympathy and somewhat empathy for the native American Indian. Although we are talking about the Sioux Pine Ridge Reservation, it really doesn’t matter what tribe or reservation. The negative comments really irritate me; those are the ones that should walk a mile in moccasins and see how they feel or how they would live. I came across this site by doing some research with my son for a school project on Sioux Indians. I had already read about how hard it is on reservations in other articles, but really had no idea of the exact impact. A quote that I found from another article is this whenever the railroad hired hunters to kill all of the buffalo which were the mainstay in Sioux life–”The Sioux would rather starve than give up their land.” I think that still holds true today–it is all they have left. Approximately five generations ago, there was full-blood Cherokee Indian on my Dad’s side of the family. On my Mother’s side my great-great grandmother was full-blood Blackfoot Indian. In all the racism that there is today, people need to remember who was here first and whom have been the most persecuted (and still are). This has really opened up my eyes and I plan on doing whatever that I can to help. I am not rich by any means; I am single mom supporting three boys with very little child-support. I work and am thankful in today’s times that I have a job. The self-righteous hypocrites that read this and choose to critcize need to find another site to be on…by the way, why are you here anyway?

By: a gratefull veteran

a gratefull veteran — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 01:44:26 +0000

Many years ago when I was stationed at Ellsworth AFB I dated a Lakota woman and was treated better by her family and friends than by most of my own squadron mates. My heart goes out to them and also wonder why celebraties help others overseas but ignore those that need it the most here at home. To the Lakota, the treatment that I received by a member of your nation has not been forgotten and my next trip that way will carry the rewards from a heart that has not forgotten your people and their plight on Pine Ridge.