BRITS React to The Poorest Place in America: Pine Ridge Reservation

[@blakett88]

You can drink in dry counties you just can't buy it

[@Zyrextk]

im native and this is where i live right now

[@controlZchannel]

You can buy it, they just can't sell it.

[@janetsanford6923]

Aiden said that the guy had a deep voice, but it really was altered (both guys voices were altered) and wearing a mask and sunglasses was to conceal their identities to avoid possible retaliation or identification. Surprised he or Gaynor didn't figure it out.

[@limeygaynor]

We knew that, he said it as I was about to say the same. If you look we both laughed.

[@brianbowen2512]

native Americans get free tuition, up to 1/4 native by blood i believe (must be proven). i don't know the limitations, but i think they only have to be accepted into the institution. those children are casualties of the system. they've been robbed of every means by the Gov't. the tale of the Lakota is very sad. my step dad's people hid away in Appalachia. the Lakota come from the Sioux, from the area of Cincinnati and were pushed far west. some are "okay", but like many reservations, there are troubles. they don't know how to exit the cycle.

[@larryfisher2633]

Feelings of hopelessness is the root of the problem.

[@Sunset553]

I don’t know if it’s gotten any better, but you can also check out the teen lives of Alaskan kids. Last I saw, they saved a bullet. Well you can check that out.

[@Neeneros]

The guy asking questions looks SO much like a young Ethan Hawke it's eerie 😮😅

[@cyntmacz]

Montana has free tuition for native people who attend state colleges and universities. There are some excellent ones there. I would think it would be the same in other states.

[@VirginiaPeden-Harrington-qd5zu]

In South Dakota on the western edge of the beautiful Black Hills

[@anada303]

Also part of the Nebraska panhandle!

[@VirginiaPeden-Harrington-qd5zu]

@@anada303 Yes, Ogalala Souix people definitely live in Nebraska as well as in Pine Ridge. But I have not seen the same extreme poverty in the city of Ogalala as in Pine Ridge. I have not been in Ogalala for many years so I could be wrong.

[@frankisfunny2007]

Going off to a different topic, Huggbees posted a new "How It's Actually Made" video. It looks like it's kind of a full (spoofed) episode of "How It's Made"

[@UnbiasedRemarks]

Wow, crazy stuff. Good video

[@UnbiasedRemarks]

Every single person who sees this video should watch the movie “Bury my heart at wounded knee”.. the story about how badly the government treated the Lakota people and THIS VERY RESERVATION. Sad cycle that was forced upon these people.

[@LukaDonesnitch]

In NYC at least, you aren't allowed to drop out but once you turn 19, they don't bother calling CPS forcing the kids to go to school. Pretty sure it's like that in most places.

[@Savage.Doomer]

Really should watch Peter Santenello over this guy

[@petemcfeet28]

Genocide in America is still very real and palpable on most reservations. The government has just chosen a path of isolation and lost identity that invokes substance abuse, hopelessness and gang culture to make it seem as though it is the fault of the people themselves and not the conditions being set upon them through manipulation of law. The best thing that has ever happened to my people, in Canada, were the first Indigenous law school graduates. THOSE are the folks that can actuate real change. THOSE are the folks that can hold governments accountable for systematic destruction of culture. THOSE are the people that can hold governments responsible for promises made on treaties that have been ignored for centuries unless it had the interest of the federal government that governments could pursue and exploit. Hold the governments responsible for the very promises they made, in lawful contracts (treaties) by having Native lawyers, in the highest positions in American government instead of them being non Native lawmakers and everything can change. Every positive change through education should be front and center. Including sobering up the parents so they can actually parent and provide support of any kind. Cheers.

[@dner75-xh9le]

I've driven through Pine Ridge a few times. Granted, it is a rough part of the country, but there's a ton of melodrama here. There are grocery stores. There are health clinics. Some of these people just like laying it on thick for the sake of sympathy. At the end of the day, it's your job not to get effed up all day and everyday.

[@Sky2-n4g]

Ayeee I grew up here pine ridge is just ghetto

[@cbicnone2228]

The "Reservation" and the " city " are two totally diffrent entities. Ie ; in the city you will not find to much information on native american culture.

[@TheWhatman21]

The english and the way they look at knives or blades is hilarious to me

[@controlZchannel]

Wish I was as cool as these people.

[@JohnWick-qr4yc]

Please more Tommy G you should do the one on St.Louis

[@momentary_]

All native reservations are eternally dependent on the United States. They aren't allowed to own any of the recourses on their land, as the federal government reserves the right to claim any resources at any time. None of their land is near waterways, so setting up industry is expensive. The fact that they're even still around as a people and culture is remarkable. No doubt, the U.S. government was hoping that they'd give up being their own people and just assimilate into American society.

[@chrisvibz4753]

good bc its the usa’s land we lost fair and square.

[@pdsrunner]

this is not completely true. Fort Berthold Reservaton in ND has a lot of control of their resources. Which is why they are successful. Their leadership on Fort Berthold takes care of their tribal people.

[@momentary_]

@@pdsrunner True. Reservations can use the resources on their land, but it's risky since the federal government has the legal right to take it at any time. It can be daunting to raise funds for a venture when the resource can be taken legally at any time. Hats off to Fort Berthold for getting it to work.

[@LukaDonesnitch]

Wait, I've seen Natives who own their own casinos, so not sure what you're talking about. I've been to places in Georgia, Louisiana and I don't know about Connecticut but I though Mohegan Sun was Native owned.Unless I'm confused and don't know what you mean by resources. I'm thinking businesses and stores.

[@momentary_]

@@LukaDonesnitch Oil, gas, minerals, arable land and so forth. If oil is found on Pine Ridge, you better believe they're losing that land. Like the video said, their current reservation is 1/30th its original size as new resources were found. It's quite the charade to mask what the government really wants to do to these people.

[@JIMBEARRI]

Not all Native American tribes are living in such poverty. There are two tribes in a very small area in Connecticut that are now doing quite well for themselves. Check out the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation [Foxwoods, which was once the largest casino in the World.] About 4 miles away, across the river [12 miles by road] is the Reservation of the Mohegan Tribe [Mohegan Sun Casino]. Each one is like a little Las Vegas in rural New England. In nearby Massachusetts, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is currently in the planning stages for a $ 1 Billion casino on Tribal Land in the City of Taunton.

[@JayEvans1911A1]

It's the same for the tribes here in Oklahoma. Each of the "Five Civilized Tribes" are doing well financially. I expect that the other tribes are also all doing well with various casinos and other entrepreneurial ventures.

[@dner75-xh9le]

Yep. I went to high school with a guy from the Mdewakanton Sioux tribe. They operate a few casinos in our area. Wouldn't you know it, he drove to school everyday in a brand new BMW. He was actually a really nice guy, but he told me he got something like $6,000 a month just for being in the tribe. Where do I apply?

[@JayEvans1911A1]

@@dner75-xh9le They must be a small tribe. I'm Yuchi (Euchee) but I'm enrolled in the Muscogee Creek Nation and don't get a monthly paycheck just for being a tribal citizen. Of course Creek Nation is one of the "Five Civilized Tribes" here in Oklahoma, so it's a big tribe. They'd spend a fortune if they sent out monthly paychecks just for being a tribal citizen.

[@Sunset553]

It seems like none of the family homes are ok at Pine Pine Ridge. It’s not at all how I pictured it. It turns out Gofundme pages require some proof and it turns out millions of people don’t try to scam it. Some do, and we’re encouraged to report those. As adults, we get better and better at detecting cons from honest people. They didn’t make a big section on this but there are some things that are the jurisdiction of the reservation and other things are for the US government. Tax on alcohol is paid to the US government

[@pdsrunner]

Unfortunately, Some of our reservations around the United States are an example of what happens when the Tribal leaders work hand in hand with the US Federal Government. Many times, the Federal Government gets blamed for what has happened on the reservations, but the Tribes themselves are their own nation within the nation of the US. They get Federal funding, but what they do with the money depends on what reservation you live on. Pine Ridge is an example of a poorly run reservation. There is corruption that takes place in many reservations where tribal leaders mismanage or defraud not only the Federal Govt., but their own people. There are reservations where things are managed and run well for their people. The Fort Berthold Reservation in New Town, North Dakota is a good example. The reservation in ND of course benefits greatly from the oil and mineral resources that flood their reservation with revenue. They put the resources back in to the tribe and have built up some beautiful medical facilities, casinos and hotels to promote toursim. They are currently building a huge greenhouse that will eventually cover nearly 14 acres, to raise vegetables and fruits. They also have purchased vacant land on the Las Vegas strip as property investment that likely will only increase in value as Vegas recovers from the years of Covid...some developer will end up buying that land for more that it was purchased for down the road. Minnesota has some well run reservations as well. But we can't blame just the Federal Government for what is happening. Tribal leaders together with the Federal Government, needs to figure this out. But in the end, the tribal leaders can take a lot of the blame for what is happening on their own nation. By the way, the governor of South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has been trying to get more involvement to work with the tribes via Federal Govt. , SD National Guard and Tribal to try stop the drugs and Cartel from taking over some of the reservations in her state. She has been BANNED by most of the tribal leaders in South Dakota, which she has no jurisdiction to help ( because they are their own nation within a nation ) . So it is up to the Tribal Leaders and the Federal Govt. to resolve that mess.

[@kikibigbangfan3540]

They shouldn't have had to rely on government handouts to begin with. All of this land belong to the various Natives, that were here long before the colonizers. Who made sure to push them into the worst areas as possible. To make sure the government got the riches and most fertile land masses.

[@user-wr9ej6xe4j]

@@kikibigbangfan3540 Yeah lots of things happen, but when communities of people dont attempt to do anything to fix their communities for 175 years, personal responsibility has to be blamed at some point. People cant live as victims forever. If you want to move all you need is a $20 bus ticket and the determination

[@michaelrutledge3750]

The reason there are no jobs on Pine Ridge and most reservations across the U.S. is not because of the tribal government, but because SCOTUS decided that non-Native businesses on reservations were taxable by local, state, and federal governments. This means that tribal governments can tax businesses, but the business then has to pay tribal as well as local, state and federal taxes, making it an impossibility for tribal governments to compete with non-Native states and cities for businesses that could employ its citizens. This is by design to keep reservations poor and try to drive Natives from what little land that remains unallotted. Tribal governments existed prior to 1492. None of us signed our governmental rights away by signing the U.S. Constitution like the states did, but federal tax policy chipped away at our sovereignty, including taxation rights, for over a century. It was intentional to deprive Natives of every form of self-sufficiency and to place us in a low caste social position within non-Native society. That, coupled with placement of reservations as far away from non-Native commercial centers on purpose, makes it impossible to attract businesses and jobs. That means that tribes have to try to become business owners themselves to create jobs. That’s hard to do as it’s very difficult to obtain capital to start and run businesses because of racism, as well as other legal obstacles. I thought the video did a decent job of leaking the substance abuse problem to generational trauma inflicted by the Indian Boarding Schools. Those existed from the early 1800s through 1985. Two of my uncles attended Chiloco Indian School in Oklahoma. One was severely damaged by his experiences there. The other was less visibly damaged, but it definitely had a severe effect on his ability to accept his Indigeneity and have pride in his people. I don’t know if you get FX Channel in the U.K., but Reservation Dogs had an excellent episode about Deer Lady in Season 3 that touched on the emotional, physical, sexual abuses, neglect and trafficking that were endemic in the Indian Boarding Schools. It’s definitely a series worth watching and reacting to, if you can get it. There’s a lot you won’t understand, like the owls issue or the deep symbolism used in Season 3 episodes, but it is very accessible for non-Natives all the same.

[@michaelrutledge3750]

“Indian Horse” is a good movie out of Canada about Canada’s Residential Schools for First Nations children, similar to Indian Boarding Schools in the U.S.. It’s another one worthy of watching. It helps explain why substance abuse was and is a problem for Indigenous Americans across the two continents. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXeQeHiIj8uiaNUsi=n9AQG6txSB3aAsHW

[@creed5157]

At 16 at least it used to be in Oklahoma you can drop out.

[@ahmedsalim571]

It’s unfortunate but think about who wanted to distribute the drugs?

[@fluffylittlebear]

I don't know why everybody mispronounces fentanyl. It's not fentan-all. The nyl rhymes with ill. fentan-ill. This pisses me off way more than it should.

[@charityfdamron]

Unfortunately, suicide in young kids on reservations are also very common. I’m from the Osage Nation Reservation in Oklahoma. People just feel hopeless. The Federal Government Indian boarding schools were active until the 1960’s which were full of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. It’s generational trauma that has terrorized Indian people on the entire continent of North America for years.

[@sanfrancisco89]

Ya'll know you can look up the location before you film your video. Just sayin'.

[@MrLcarter24]

Where's the poorest place in England? Also why is the burden on the young kid for the environment their raised in? Shouldn't burden be on the parents to not raise their children in this environment?

[@RRaymer]

Poorest place in England is Jaywick. Many houses even in Jaywick are worth $1 million+ yet people still suffer there from social deprivation and reliance on welfare that be removed if they work more than 16 hours per week.

[@LukaDonesnitch]

@@RRaymer I saw a KZbin special on that, Jaywalk is the seaside town in the east with the beach that was used for middle class Londoners, right?

[@RRaymer]

@@LukaDonesnitch Yes exactly.

[@scarrab76]

Everyone has a choice in life. Choose better.

[@JayEvans1911A1]

Pine Ridge is in South Dakota. It's pretty bad there because the United States federal government doesn't provide enough funding to tribal law enforcement. There isn't enough tribal police officers to patrol such a large area. And poverty is a big issue on the rez, so with that poverty comes a lot of other related problems. It's a shame. I'm not an expert, I'm from Oklahoma and from a different tribe, so I only have a passing knowledge of Pine Ridge.

[@chrisvibz4753]

oh well they wanna be independant, so why do they need funding from the feds?

[@chrisvibz4753]

im mohawk indian (26 percent and being 25 percent means i could live on a rez or get fed funding n shi.) n im a proud american i may be native but im an american first and foremost. they shouldnt need federal money if they so good homie

[@chrisvibz4753]

sorry if i sounded rude btw. i didnt mean to be.

[@JayEvans1911A1]

@@chrisvibz4753 You're good bro, you didn't sound rude. I'm Yuchi (Euchee) and enrolled in the Muscogee Creek Nation. I live within the territorial boundaries of the Creek Nation Reservation here in Northeastern Oklahoma. But tribal reservations for the tribes here in Oklahoma are different from places like Pine Ridge, because here its basically only a rez on paper, based on historical boundaries from back when Oklahoma was still "Indian Territory". Meaning that tribal citizens live in towns and cities alongside people that aren't American Indians/Native Americans. I live in the Tulsa suburbs, and while there are lots of natives here, we only make up a small percentage of the population. That being said, we have a lot more opportunities available to us than the people living in Pine Ridge. I'm also a proud American and citizen of the United States, but at the same time I'm Tsoyaha yudjeha Yuchi (Euchee), bear clan, and enrolled within the Muscogee Creek Nation of Oklahoma. Neither takes precedence over the other as they both equally contribute to who I am. As for why the people of Pine Ridge should get federal funding? Because that is one of the conditions of the treaty that their tribe signed with the United States federal government. That treaty is a binding agreement between a sovereign nation and the United States of America. That being said, the United States of America would hold the Oglala Lakota to the terms of the treaty, so the United States of America should also uphold their own agreement. The United States of America is obligated to fund and support law enforcement on the Pine Ridge reservation according to their own treaty that they signed. I'm not an expert on Lakota treaties with the United States government, but there's enough information around if you're curious enough to look into it for yourself.

[@Sunset553]

@@chrisvibz4753 look what treaties have been broken and how large the Great Sioux Nation once was

[@OliviaVarghese-bn4tb]

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