WELCOME LETTER! Blessings, Next Step Ministries. If you have further questions regarding South Dakota, please contact Melanie Robertson.

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1 SOUTH DAKOTA COMMUNITY FACTS PACK

2 WELCOME LETTER! Here is your South Dakota Community Facts Pack! We have gathered what we feel is important information together for you so that you can be prepared for your service this summer. In this packet you will find a by the numbers page that is loaded with statistics from the community as well as some background information to those numbers. You will find a page with helpful things you should know before arriving in your community and you ll find a page full of resources that we encourage you to explore. We believe that we cannot simply look at statistics and think we understand what s going on. It is important for us to look into the reasons why these statistics exist. There is a story behind each number. A reason. An explanation. Just as it is easier to understand a person when you know their story, it is easier to understand a community when you know its history. We know that it is vital to our vision and our mission to educate ourselves on the issues at hand and to do our best to understand the reasons why these statistics exist. Only then will we be able to grasp the situation and equip ourselves so that we can love like Christ calls us to. We are not experts on the communities we serve but we have dedicated ourselves to staying well informed and educated so that we can serve and love to the best of our abilities and we encourage you to do the same. We are grateful for your commitment to serve with us this summer. And we know that God will work in huge ways through you in the communities we serve. It is our goal to support you in any way we can so as questions come up concerning your community, don t hesitate to contact us! Blessings, Next Step Ministries If you have further questions regarding South Dakota, please contact Melanie Robertson. Melanie Robertson melanie.robertson@nextstepminsitries.com

3 BY THE NUMBERS 40,000 People live on the Pine Ridge Reservation 5,720 People live in the town of Pine Ridge 97% Percentage of the population below the poverty line 80% Percentage of people unemployed 80% Percentage of people suffering from alcoholism 90% Percentage of arrests are alcohol related 1 in 4 Infants born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 70% School drop out rate 33% Percentage of homes that lack basic water and sewage systems 4.9 Million Cans of beer sold annually in Whiteclay Nebraska 300% Infant mortality rate is 300% higher than the national average 58% Percentage of grandparents raising their grandchildren 2X The suicide rate is 2 times as high as the national average 4X The suicide rate among teens is 4 times the national average 17 Average number of people living in a single family home $7, Average yearly income for a household 3 rd Third Poorest county in the US Pine Ridge is a dry Reservation meaning that it is illegal to drink, possess, or sell alcohol on the reservation. Christian denominations represented on the Reservation: Baptist, Catholic, and Seven Day Adventist. The most common types of homes are single family, trailers, and log cabins. Pine Ridge is one of the larger towns on the Pine Ridge Reservation. It is unusual in that it has many businesses on it such as Shell Gas stations and several restaurants. Pine Ridge is the second largest Reservation.

4 BACKGROUND TO THE STATISTICS As stated before, Pine Ridge is a Dry reservation. Alcohol is illegal. Still, 80% percent of the community suffers from alcoholism. Not only do people suffer from the addiction, but it also affects the children of the reservation in ways that are sometimes irreversible. Just 250 feet from the boarder of Pine Ridge is Whiteclay Nebraska. Despite the size, only one mile long, and population of just 12 permanent residents, the town sells more than 4.9 million cans of beer annually. There are several lawsuits in work that concern the issue of alcohol being sold so close to a dry reservation. Another startling statistic is the suicide rate on the reservation. Especially when it concerns the teenage population. Though there is programing on the reservation to try and raise awareness of suicide and support those feeling depressed and suicidal, the numbers of suicide attempts and completions have not changed. We have experienced a great deal of animosity between white mission teams and some Native Americans. Although we praise God for much reconciliation and many great relationships, it is still important to educate ourselves with the deep history of what is described as neglect, mistreatment and even hatred.

5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW There are roughly 300 reservations in the US. A Reservation is a piece of land that had been given to Native Americans. They do not have full power over the land, but they do have limited governmental rule. Reservations were created under Grants presidency to help settle the conflicts between Native Americans and white settlers. Native American s continue to live on Reservations because they are their home. The Lakota-Sioux live on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The Sioux migrated from MN and are known as great warriors. There are three tribes within the Sioux: Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota. There are 7 tribes within the Lakota and Oglala is one of those. Most of the community members you will meet will be Oglala Sioux. Native American s give a light handshake and don t often make eye contact. Lack of eye contact is a sign of respect. In the Lakota Culture, giving gifts is a sign of great affection and respect. The open receiving of gifts is very important. Lakota may give jewelry, food, blankets, and handmade objects. Receive them well, and if food is offered, even if you aren t hungry, accept the gift as a sign of respect. Wounded Knee is often referred to and spoken about on the reservation. It is a physical location the Reservation about 16 miles outside the town of Pine Ridge. But it is also a very important event in Native American History. In 1890 the US Government, worried about some of the native traditions, surrounded the natives at Wounded Knee and demanded surrender. A battle broke out and 150 Native Americans lost their lives (though some historians report that number twice as high). Over half of those deaths were women and children. The conflict at Wounded Knee was originally referred to as a battle, but in reality, it was a tragic and avoidable massacre. The events at Wounded Knee did not end in 1890 but continue into modern day through protests, sit-ins, and a never-ending animosity between the natives and the white government. Don t wear bandanas in Pine Ridge. Though it may be tempting to take before and after pictures of your work projects keep in mind that this can be very insensitive. Pictures are not forbidden, but please be sensitive and if the homeowner is present, please ask permission. There are 4 cardinal virtues among the Lakota: Honesty, Courage, Humility, and Generosity. Knowing these and acting on them can really show a common ground between youth and the Lakota people. In our time in Pine Ridge we have witnessed continued animosity between Native Americans and white people.

6 RESOURCES Books: Fuller, A. (2012, August). In the Shadow of Wounded Knee. National Geographic, 222, Glover, V. (2004). Keeping Heart on Pine Ridge: Family ties, Warrior Culture, Commodity Foods, Rez Dogs, and the Sacred. Tennessee: Native Voices. Smith, C.S. (1997). Whiteman s Gospel. Canada: Indian Life Books Online Sources: National Geographic Article of Pine Ridge Reservation Online Text: National Geographic Photo Journalism of stories from Pine Ridge. Gives a fantastic well-rounded and personal feel to what you will experience this summer: Great interview with a native on the effects of alcohol on the Reservation and his life: confessions-an-oglala-exposes-violent-seamy-effects-of-whiteclay s-liquor-stores /20 Special: A Hidden America: Children of the Plains Website with Helpful history of Lakota-Sioux: