Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
source
Name	Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Settlement type	Indian reservation
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	South Dakota
Subdivision type2	Counties
Subdivision name2	Bennett, Jackson, Shannon (Oglala Lakota County), Sheridan
Seat type	Headquarters
Seat	Pine Ridge
Government type	Tribal Council
Leader title	President
Leader name	Frank Star Comes Out
Area total sq mi	3472.00
Population as of	2020
Population total	19,389
Population density sq mi	auto
Website	oglalalakotanation.net

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is a Native American reservation located within the Great Plains of the United States, primarily in South Dakota. It is the homeland of the Oglala band of the Lakota and is one of the largest reservations in the country. Established following the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 and subsequent conflicts, the reservation is a place of profound historical significance and contemporary challenges. It is administered by the Oglala Sioux Tribe from its headquarters in the community of Pine Ridge.

History

The creation of the reservation is rooted in the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, which guaranteed the Lakota sovereignty over the Black Hills and surrounding territory, including the area that would later become the reservation. This agreement was violently ruptured following the discovery of gold, leading to the Great Sioux War of 1876 and the decisive Battle of the Little Bighorn where warriors led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull defeated the 7th Cavalry Regiment under George Armstrong Custer. In retaliation, the United States Congress passed the Act of February 28, 1877, which seized the Black Hills and confined the Oglala to the newly defined reservation. The late 19th century was marked by the tragic Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, where U.S. troops killed hundreds of Lakota men, women, and children. The 20th century saw continued struggle, including the American Indian Movement's occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973 to protest tribal governance and U.S. treaty violations.

Geography and climate

Encompassing approximately 3,400 square miles, the reservation spans parts of Bennett, Jackson, Shannon (now Oglala Lakota County), and Sheridan counties. Its terrain consists of rolling prairie grasslands, badlands, and buttes, situated within the Missouri River basin. The region experiences a semi-arid continental climate characterized by hot summers, cold winters, and low annual precipitation, which historically supported the bison-based culture of the Lakota. Key geographical features include the White River and its tributaries, and the reservation borders the Badlands National Park to the north.

Demographics and economy

With a population of just under 20,000, it is one of the most populous reservations in the United States, though it consistently reports some of the nation's highest poverty rates. The unemployment rate is chronically high, and economic activity is limited. Primary sectors include ranching, agriculture, and some light tourism centered on historical sites like the Wounded Knee Massacre memorial. The Oglala Sioux Tribe operates several enterprises, including the Prairie Wind Casino and various governmental services, but the economy remains heavily dependent on federal funding through agencies like the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service.

Culture and society

The reservation is a central place for the preservation and practice of Lakota culture, language, and spirituality. Traditional ceremonies such as the Sun Dance, sweat lodge rituals, and pow wows are actively maintained. The Lakota language is taught in schools and used in community life, though it is considered endangered. Notable cultural figures from the reservation include the medicine man and leader Black Elk, whose teachings were recorded in Black Elk Speaks, and contemporary artists and activists. Social challenges are significant, including high rates of diabetes, alcoholism, and suicide, which community-led programs and organizations continually work to address.

Government and politics

The reservation is governed by the Oglala Sioux Tribe through an elected Tribal Council, with a President as the head of the executive branch. The current President is Frank Star Comes Out. The tribal government operates under a constitution approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and provides law enforcement through the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, though jurisdictional complexities with federal and state authorities exist under laws like the Major Crimes Act. The tribe is a sovereign nation that maintains a government-to-government relationship with the United States Department of the Interior and engages in ongoing legal and political advocacy, notably the continued pursuit of the return of the Black Hills as stipulated by the United States Supreme Court case United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians.

Category:Indian reservations in South Dakota Category:Oglala Lakota Category:Lakota