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Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

Coordinates: 43°21′12″N 102°05′21″W / 43.35333°N 102.08917°W / 43.35333; -102.08917
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Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Reservation
Flag of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Flag
Location of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota
Location of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Dakota
CountiesShannon, Jackson, Bennett, also Sheridan County, Nebraska
Established1889
Government
 • Governing BodyTribal Council of the Oglala Sioux Tribe
Area
 • Total3,468.86 sq mi (8,984.306 km2)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total28,700
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)

The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (Wazí Aháŋhaŋ Oyáŋke in Lakota, also called Pine Ridge Agency) is an Oglala Sioux Native American reservation located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Pine Ridge was established in the southwest corner of South Dakota on the Nebraska border and consists of 3,468.86 sq mi (8,984.306 km²) of land area, the eighth-largest reservation in the United States, larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined.

The predominant land comprising the reservation lies within Shannon County and Jackson County, two of the poorest counties in the U.S. There are extensive off-reservation trust lands, mostly in adjacent Bennett County, and also extending into adjacent Pine Ridge, Nebraska in Sheridan County, just south of the community of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, the administrative center and largest community within the reservation. The 2000 census population of the reservation was 15,521, however in a study conducted by Colorado State University and accepted by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated the resident population to reach 28,787.[1]

Tribal Information

  • Reservation: Jackson and Shannon Counties
  • Tribal Headquarters: Pine Ridge, South Dakota
  • Time Zone: Mountain
  • Traditional Language: Lakota
  • Enrolled members living on reservation: approximately 28,700
  • Official print and online newspaper: The Lakota Country Times at www.lakotacountrytimes.com (Phone: 605-685-1868)

Tribal Government

  • Charter: None
  • Constitution and Bylaws: Yes - IRA
  • Date Approved: January 15, 1936
  • Name of Governing Body: Oglala Sioux Tribal Council
  • Number of Council members: Eighteen council members
  • Dates of Constitutional amendments: December 24, 1969; December 3, 1985; July 11, 1997
  • Number of Executive Officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer

Tribal Elections

  • Primary election is held in October and the General in November.
  • President and Vice-President are elected at large by voters, term of office 2 years; Secretary and Treasurer are appointed by Tribal Council. Council members serve a term of two years.
  • Number of Election districts or communities: 9
  • Proportion of representatives: one representative for each 1,000 members

Famous leaders

  • Chief Red Cloud (1822–1909), an Oglala Sioux chief, was a respected warrior and statesman. From 1866 to 1868, he successfully led the fight to close the Bozeman Trail, which passed through prime buffalo hunting grounds. Once settled at Pine Ridge, Red Cloud worked to establish a Jesuit school for Native American children. He is buried on a hill overlooking the Red Cloud Indian School, named in his honor.
  • William Mervin Mills (born June 30, 1938) achieved victory in the 10,000 meter run at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, a victory that alarmed the world as one of the greatest upsets in sports history. It was possible only after overcoming numerous personal hardships in his life. A 7/16 Oglala Sioux Native American, he was raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Shannon County, South Dakota. He was an orphan when he was twelve years old, and was raised by his grandmother. Living on the reservation was difficult, as he was often rejected at school for not being a full-blooded Native American. He attended the Haskell Institute, a boarding school for Native Americans in Lawrence, Kansas, and developed a talent for distance running that eventually earned him an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Kansas in Lawrence. He distinguished himself as an All-American in cross country at KU, and was involved with a track team that won national titles. Life at KU was not all good; Mills was socially rejected due to his Native American ethnicity, and fellow students asked him not to be in the team photograph for the track team. At one point he contemplated suicide, however the dream of winning the gold medal in the 10,000 meter run inspired him. Mills was a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, and had not run for several years by the time he decided to resume training for the 1964 Olympic Trials. As a result, he made the U.S. Olympic team in both the 10,000 meters and marathon. When the competitors lined up for the 10,000 meter finals at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Mills was not considered a contender. In fact he was never interviewed until after the race. One of the race favorites, Ron Clarke from Australia, had a personal best nearly one minute faster than that of Mills. Mohammed Gamoudi of Tunisia was also expected to contend. Clarke was in front for much of the race, and Mills stayed close as other runners faded. When the bell signaled the final lap, Mills and Clarke were in the lead with Gammoudi closing in. A few seconds later, Clarke pushed Mills two lanes to the outside as Gammoudi cut in. Mills was able to regain his footing, however had lost some distance to Clarke and Gammoudi. Less than 100 yards to go, Mills made a final surge and passed both Clarke and Gammoudi to win the gold medal. Mills remains the only American to win gold in the 10,000 meter run. Mills is now a spokesperson for Running Strong for American Youth, and shares his experiences as a motivational speaker.
  • Richard A. "Dick" Wilson (April 29, 1934 - January 31, 1990) was an Oglala Sioux tribal chairman on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota from 1972–1976 and was involved in various controversies.

Economy

Although Pine Ridge is the eighth-largest reservation in the United States, it is also the poorest. Unemployment on the reservation hovers between 80% and 85%, and 49% live below the federal poverty level.[2] Adolescent suicide is four times the national average. Many of the families have no electricity, telephone, running water, or sewage systems. Many families use wood stoves to heat their homes. The population on Pine Ridge has among the shortest life expectancies of any group in the Western Hemisphere: approximately 47 years for males and 52 years for females. The infant mortality rate is five times the United States national average. Reservation population was estimated at 15,000 in the 2000 census, however the number was raised to 28,787 by HUD, following a Colorado State University door-to-door study.[3] The reservation has a lot of alcoholism and poverty.[4]

As of 2011 the reservation has little economic development or industry, and no banks or discount stores exist on the reservation.[4] Despite the lack of formal employment opportunities on Pine Ridge, a considerable agricultural production is taking place on the reservation, yet only a small percentage of the tribe directly benefit from this. According to the USDA, in 2002 there was nearly $33 million in receipts from agricultural production on Pine Ridge. Less than one-third of that income went to members of the tribe.[5]

The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation has some commercial businesses with private operators, however most employment is provided by institutions such as the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Oglala Lakota College, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the Indian Health Service (IHS). The tribe operates the Prairie Wind Casino, a Parks and Recreation Department, guided hunting, cattle ranching and farming.[6] The Oglala Sioux Tribe also operates the White River Visitor Center near the Badlands National Park.[7] There is one radio station, KILI-FM in Porcupine, and the largest independent Lakota-owned and operated weekly print and online color newspaper, The Lakota Country Times.

Throughout the existence of the reservation, the tribe attempted a moccasin factory, a meat-processing plant, and a fishhook-snelling operation, with the business ventures failing.[8] The Prairie Wind Casino is an exception to the rule for businesses on the reservation. The casino began operation in 1994 in three doublewide trailers. Its revenues have contributed to tribal economic development. The tribe completed construction of a new $20 million casino, hotel and restaurant in early 2007. The casino provides 250 jobs and most are held by tribal residents. In addition, its revenues help support education and welfare efforts.[9]

Geography

The reservation, located in southwest South Dakota, takes 3,400 square miles (8,800 km2) of space. The nearest urban center, Rapid City, South Dakota, is 120 miles (190 km) from the center of the reservation.[4]

Demographics

As of 2011 population estimates of the reservation range from 28,000 to 40,000.[4]

Transportation

On January 30th, 2009, the Oglala Sioux Tribe of Pine Ridge held the grand opening of their public transportation system. [10]

History

Late 1800s: Creation and massacre

U.S. School for Indians at Pine Ridge, S.D. 1891

Pine Ridge Reservation was originally part of the Great Sioux Reservation established by the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 and originally encompassed approximately 60 million acres (240,000 km²) of parts of South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming. In 1876, the U.S. government violated the treaty of 1868 by opening up 7.7 million acres (31,000 km²) of the Black Hills to homesteaders and private interests. In 1889 the government divided the remaining area of Great Sioux Reservation into seven separate reservations for varied tribes:

On December 29, 1890 near Wounded Knee Creek, the United States 7th Cavalry killed more than 300 men, women and children. Chief Bigfoot and his followers were trying to get to Pine Ridge when intercepted by the cavalry. (see: Wounded Knee Massacre).

The 1970s: Protest and violence

Starting on February 27, 1973, the reservation was the site of the Wounded Knee Incident. It was a 71-day stand-off between entrenched American Indian Movement (AIM) activists and FBI agents and the National Guard. The AIM activists were led by Dennis Banks and Russell Means. During the firefight, two FBI agents were killed and a U.S. Marshal was paralyzed from wounds; two Oglala Lakotas were killed.

During the stand-off, Marlon Brando asked a Native American woman, Sacheen Littlefeather to speak at the Academy Awards on his behalf. He refused to accept an Oscar for his performance in The Godfather. Appearing in full Apache clothing, Sacheen Littlefeather said that, owing to the "poor treatment of Native Americans in the film industry", Mr. Brando would not accept the award. The event grabbed the attention of the US and the world media. Brando's support gave the movement a forum for its complaints, and it was considered a victory by its supporters and participants.

Following the peaceful conclusion of the 1973 stand-off, the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation had an outbreak of violence among its residents, especially between AIM activists and the Guardians of the Oglala Nation militia. The murder rate between March 1, 1973 and March 1, 1976 was 170 per 100,000. Detroit had a rate of 20.2 per 100,000 in 1974 and at the time was considered "the murder capital of the US." The national average was 9.7 per 100,000.[11] AIM representatives noted there were many unsolved murders of a number of opponents of the tribal government installed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.[12]

In 2000, the FBI released a report accounting for most of the deaths, which circumstances refuted the allegation.[13][14] AIM, in turn, offered a rebuttal to the FBI report.[15] One of the alleged murders during that period was that of a civil rights activist, Ray Robinson, who had disappeared. He had worked with Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson and Andrew Young in the 1960s. His body has not been found.[16][17]

On June 26, 1975, the reservation was the site of an armed confrontation between AIM activists and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation in an event which became known as the Pine Ridge Shootout.[18] This resulted in the death of two FBI agents Jack R. Coler and Ronald A. Williams and one AIM activist. The hunt for the killer(s) of the two FBI agents led to the controversial acquittals of AIM members Robert Robideau and Dino Butler as well as the extradition, trial, and conviction of Leonard Peltier.[19] The perceived lack of substantive evidence in Peltier's trial is the subject of much controversy.

On February 24, 1976, Anna Mae Aquash, a Mi'kmaq activist and member of AIM was found shot to death by the side of State Road 73 in the far northeast corner of the Pine Ridge Reservation. The alleged motives for the murder was the mistaken belief that Ms. Aquash was a government informant. In 2004, one of Anna's captors was found guilty of murder. Another suspect was recently extradited to the U.S. to also stand trial for the murder.

2000s: Industrial hemp issues

In July 1998, the Tribal Council passed Oglala Sioux Tribal (OST) Ordinance 98-27, which stated, inter alia that it did 'expressly reserve and retain jurisdiction to enact legislation relating to industrial hemp agriculture'.

In April 2000 the Slim Butte Land-Use Association announced that it would plant industrial hemp seeds on April 29, 2000, on the 132nd anniversary of the signing of the 1868 treaty.This was intended to advance the authority of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in the matter of jurisdiction over tribal lands. According to the Association, industrial hemp-based concrete was the key component to solving the severe shortage of dwellings with sustainable housing and to providing work for the unemployed.[1]

Subsequently, on several occasions in August 2000 and July 2001, Federal Agents destroyed industrial hemp crops on the reservation.[2] After the raid destroyed his crop, one farmer, Alex White Plume, ran out of money and was unable to pursue the case.[20][21]

2006: Conflict with the state over abortion

On March 21, 2006, Oglala Sioux tribal president Cecilia Fire Thunder announced her intention to bring an abortion clinic to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. It could provide abortions in the event that the South Dakota abortion ban signed into law by South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds were to take effect.[22]

On May 31, 2006, the Oglala Sioux tribal council unanimously voted to ban all abortions on the reservation, regardless of the circumstances (i.e. no provision in case of rape, incest, or need of health of the mother). According to Indian Country Today, the ban also includes "the use of any drug that would prevent a pregnancy or abort a fetus the day after any sexual activity." The council also voted to suspend tribal president Cecilia Fire Thunder for 20 days pending an impeachment hearing.[23]

A month after her suspension, on June 29, 2006, Fire Thunder was impeached from her duties as Tribal President. Six charges were made against Fire Thunder, the most topical being that she organized the aforementioned clinic outside of her authority as president. She was criticized for not consulting with the council about the project and to get their permission. Other charges were that Fire Thunder used the media, the U.S. Post Office, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe to solicit funds for the clinic.

Notable residents

Communities

References

  1. ^ http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/ih/codetalk/onap/ihbgformula.cfm#2
  2. ^ "Pine Ridge CDP, South Dakota - DP-3. Profile of Selected Economic Characteristics: 2000" U.S. Census Bureau.
  3. ^ Pine Ridge Project Blog: 07/01/2005 - 08/01/2005.
  4. ^ a b c d Williams, Matthew. "Reservation Road." TIME. Retrieved on February 26, 2011.
  5. ^ USDA 2002 Census of Agriculture for Native American Reservations.
  6. ^ staff (1997). "Oglala Sioux Tribe Community Environmental Profile". Mni Sose Intertribal Water Rights Coalition, Inc. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
  7. ^ staff (current). "Badlands National Park Operating Hours & Seasons". U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2007-10-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ John J. Miller (2002-12-31). "Off the Rez: It's time to close the Indian reservations". National Review. Archived from the original on 2007-12-23. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
  9. ^ Dan Daly (2007-05-10). "New complex ups ante for Prairie Wind Casino". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
  10. ^ http://www.lakotacountrytimes.com/news/2009-01-15/front_page/003.html
  11. ^ Barbara Perry (2002). "FROM ETHNOCIDE TO ETHNOVIOLENCE: LAYERS OF NATIVE AMERICAN VICTIMIZATION". Contemporary Justice Review. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  12. ^ Peter Matthiessen, In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, Penguin, 1992. ISBN 9780140144567.
  13. ^ David Melmer (2000-07-19). "Unsolved deaths debunked by FBI Case by case examination puts some rumors to rest". Indian Country Today. Retrieved 2007-10-29. [dead link]
  14. ^ staff (2000-05). "Accounting For Native American Deaths, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota". Federal Bureau of Investigation Minneapolis Division. Archived from the original on 2007-06-25. Retrieved 2007-10-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ staff (2000-07-11). "INDIAN DEATHS". Native News Online. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  16. ^ Carson Walker (2004-01-16). "Widow Says Civil Rights Activist Killed During Wounded Knee Takeover". Justice for Anna Mae and Ray. Retrieved 2007-10-27.
  17. ^ Carson Walker (2004-01-16). "AIM case may help find man". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved 2007-10-27.
  18. ^ "The Pine Ridge Shootout". Time Magazine. 1975-07-07. Retrieved 2007-10-27.
  19. ^ "The Leonard Peltier Trial". University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law. Retrieved 2007-10-27.
  20. ^ http://www.pbs.org/pov/standing/
  21. ^ http://indiancountrynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=885&Itemid=33
  22. ^ "Giago: Oglala Sioux President on State Abortion Law". Indianz.Com. 2006-03-21. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  23. ^ Melmer, David (2006-06-05). "Fire Thunder suspended and abortions banned on Pine Ridge". Indian Country Today. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  24. ^ staff (unknown). "SuAnne's Story". Su Anne Big Crow Boys and Girls Club. Retrieved 2007-10-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

Further reading

  • The Death of Raymond Yellow Thunder: And Other True Stories from the Nebraska–Pine Ridge Border Towns. ISBN 978-0-89672-634-5.
  • Ruling Pine Ridge: Oglala Lakota Politics from the IRA to Wounded Knee. ISBN 978-0-89672-601-7.
  • Matthew Power with photographs by Aaron Huey, "Ghosts of Wounded Knee," Harper's (December 2009). http://matthewpower.net/Matthew_Power/Harpers.html
  • On the Rez by Ian Frazier

43°21′12″N 102°05′21″W / 43.35333°N 102.08917°W / 43.35333; -102.08917

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