Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
source
Name	Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Location	South Dakota
Tribes	Oglala Lakota
Language	Lakota language

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is the second-largest Indian reservation in the United States, covering an area of approximately 2.2 million acres, and is home to the Oglala Lakota people, who are part of the larger Lakota Nation. The reservation is located in South Dakota, near the Nebraska border, and is situated close to the Black Hills, a sacred site for the Lakota people. The reservation is also near the Badlands National Park, a unique geological formation, and the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, a famous monument featuring the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The Oglala Sioux Tribe is the governing body of the reservation, and its headquarters are located in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, which is also the largest community on the reservation, with nearby towns including Rapid City, South Dakota, Chadron, Nebraska, and Alliance, Nebraska.

Geography

The geography of the reservation is characterized by rolling hills, prairies, and badlands, with the White River flowing through it, and is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including bison, deer, and antelope. The reservation is also close to the Black Hills National Forest, which offers opportunities for hiking, camping, and fishing, and is near the Crazy Horse Memorial, a monument dedicated to the famous Lakota leader Crazy Horse. The unique geography of the reservation has been shaped by the Missouri River, which forms the eastern boundary of the reservation, and the Cheyenne River, which forms the northern boundary, with the South Dakota towns of Wall, South Dakota, and Interior, South Dakota located nearby. The reservation is also home to several lakes, including Lake Sharpe, and Lake Francis Case, which are popular for boating, and fishing, and are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

History

The history of the reservation dates back to the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, which established the Great Sioux Reservation, a large area of land that included the present-day reservation, and was negotiated between the United States government, and the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota tribes, with the help of Red Cloud, a famous Lakota leader. The reservation was later reduced in size through a series of land cessions, including the Dawes Act, which allowed for the allotment of land to individual Native Americans, and the Indian Reorganization Act, which encouraged the formation of tribal governments, and was supported by John Collier, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The reservation has a rich cultural heritage, with many significant events and figures, including the Battle of Little Bighorn, the Wounded Knee Massacre, and the American Indian Movement, which was founded by Dennis Banks, and Russell Means, and was supported by Marlon Brando, and Jane Fonda.

Demographics

The demographics of the reservation are characterized by a high percentage of Native Americans, with the Oglala Lakota people making up the majority of the population, and a significant number of residents living below the poverty line, with limited access to healthcare, and education, and a high rate of unemployment, and substance abuse. The reservation has a total population of around 20,000 people, with the largest community being Pine Ridge, South Dakota, which has a population of around 5,000 people, and is home to the Oglala Sioux Tribe headquarters, and the Pine Ridge Hospital, which is managed by the Indian Health Service, and provides healthcare services to the community. The reservation is also home to several smaller communities, including Kyle, South Dakota, and Wanblee, South Dakota, which are located near the Nebraska border, and the South Dakota towns of Martin, South Dakota, and Batesland, South Dakota.

Economy

The economy of the reservation is primarily based on agriculture, with many residents engaged in ranching, and farming, and a growing tourism industry, with visitors attracted to the reservation's natural beauty, and cultural heritage, and the nearby Badlands National Park, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The reservation is also home to several small businesses, including art galleries, and craft shops, which showcase the work of local artists, and craftsmen, and are supported by the Oglala Sioux Tribe, and the South Dakota Arts Council. The reservation has significant natural resources, including coal, and uranium, which are managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, and are used to generate electricity, and support the local economy.

Government

The government of the reservation is based on a tribal council system, with the Oglala Sioux Tribe being the governing body, and is responsible for providing a range of services, including law enforcement, healthcare, and education, and is supported by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Indian Health Service. The reservation has a complex system of government, with both federal, and tribal authorities playing a role, and is influenced by the Indian Reorganization Act, and the Tribal Self-Governance Act, which were supported by Wilma Mankiller, and Vine Deloria Jr.. The reservation is also home to several community organizations, including the Pine Ridge Girls' School, and the Red Cloud Indian School, which provide education, and social services to the community, and are supported by the Catholic Church, and the Lakota Fund.

Education

The education system on the reservation is managed by the Oglala Sioux Tribe, and includes several schools, including the Pine Ridge High School, and the Red Cloud Indian School, which provide education to students from kindergarten to high school, and are supported by the Bureau of Indian Education, and the South Dakota Department of Education. The reservation is also home to several higher education institutions, including the Oglala Lakota College, which offers associate's, and bachelor's degrees, and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. The education system on the reservation faces several challenges, including limited funding, and resources, and a high rate of dropout, and poverty, and is supported by the National Congress of American Indians, and the Native American Rights Fund.

Category:Indian reservations in the United States