My Passion is Pine Ridge

This is my first effort at creating a slide show to help me in my crusade to bring a greater awareness of the living conditions on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota to the American people. Please forgive any flubs or blurry photos.
I have traveled to Pine Ridge 4 times since 2005. I am in almost daily contact with people on the rez. Life is definitely hard on Pine Ridge. If these conditions existed in a more populated state, we might hear of them. But they are in the middle of "nowhere," a part of the country that does not exist for the national media. You never hear about the disasters that happen here - be it a winter storm or a tornado. Yet those things happen. This is the poorest county in the nation - but there are no major efforts to change that.
My purpose here is not to stimulate discussion about the historical or political events that have led to these conditions. Therefore, any comments taking us down that road will be removed.
My purpose IS to show conditions as they are and tell you the stories that I hear from residents of Pine Ridge. There will be more statistics and stories in the future. This is just the beginning.
Your job is to "Pass It On" to enlighten the next person. I can't enlighten America on my own. I need the help of every person who views this slide show and feels compassion for those who live in poverty second only to Haiti in the world - except that they live in the USA under those conditions. It is wrong and it needs to change.

[@Yahaatee1]

Thanks a lot for this video. I live in France but I'm the sponsor of a family who lives in Wounded Knee and I'm very proud to be now his friend ! Best from France !

[@MissGardenGG1]

Thank you for that awesome video . I will " pass it on " to inform my friends and relatives. Althought I am a Wasicu,I think it's a shame people are treated that way in a great country like the United States .The Lakotas deserve a better life. I had watched the documentary : "The hidden children of America", showing -among others- Robert Looks Twice who wants to be the first Native President. I would like to help those children!

[@eveningstar1982]

Thank you very much for this video. I'm really happy you made it. I'm glad more and more people become aware of how bad the living conditions in the reservations are. These people deserve help!

[@NewJura]

I am headed to the Pine Ridge Oglala-Sioux Reservation in July to run a natural building workshop teaching how to build homes from natural and waste materials, the house will be made from pallets and in filled with light straw clay an earthen plaster will be applied on the interior and exterior of the home, I am looking for volunteers, and I am taking 8 apprentices to learn this method of home building, for more info click my name and go to my website, see you there!!

[@JRN1955]

The path to understanding begins with the first step... Thank you Betty for sharing your steps with us. The Creator has opened your eyes and is guiding your path. Blessings to you for you kind heart. Blessings to the people of Pine Ridge. No one should have to live this way. .

[@nokiannie]

Ty so much for making this video I have many freinds from the ndn nations and i am so sad and hurt that basically they are still trying to wipe them out .What we see on the video prooves it

[@jhamptonjr]

Thanks for sharing this Betty - it feels good when you help people like these, our brothers and sisters who have been abandoned and swindled for all their time. This is a stark awakening to some, and I hope the message gets more widespread. Peace.

[@bettyb22111896]

Thank you all for your support and compassion for the Lakota people of Pine Ridge Reservation. I agree with you, @Lochee1000 , that the word needs to be spread not only to our friends, but to our elected officials ... and the media as well. Those who create our images and those who carry out our policies must be accountable. I personally care very little "how" things got this way. I just know that they are WRONG and must be changed!

[@txdurk]

Good job. Keep talking. Americans need to hear what has been done on our behalf.

[@WhiteStarWoman]

Thank you Betty for giving a very intimate view of a proud and beautiful people. There are more problems than any one of us can solve but together we can help change things for the better. Please join Whispernthunder in an effort to give to them a voice! While you're there please sign our guestbook and tell us what you think? May the Great Spirit bless you and keep you in such a place of wisdom!

[@mjjrjjd]

Thank you for sharing. Sadness for our Pine Ridge neighbors.

[@mrsjabob]

Thank you Lakota people for enduring. I am so sorry for all of this pain at the hands of my culture. Thank you for holding on to tradition. Your time is coming again soon, I feel it in my soul. Now is the time to stand up, be strong again. Turn to more old ways! Reject the B.I.A.! Reject the false monetary system! You are one of the true people, and this earth needs you! You can inspire other First Nations with your strength to stand up as well! Live with peace and love, we are one!

[@maorimars]

Kia ora ra! Maori from Aotearoa (New Zealand). To ataahua hoki.

[@bettyb22111896]

@Varangian1915 All cruelty and greed is wrong. One cannot be compared to another. BTW, when the land was stolen, the women and children were abused and murdered. Not really so different after all.

[@mattbull40]

what they dont show is our good parts of our reservation! SMH :/

[@blondeveggieful]

@bettyb22111896 I agree with you. It's a disgrace how our goverment has turned a blind's eye to how these beautiful people are living. The BIA needs to answer for this. I've never been to Pine Ridge as I live in Florida, but I want to help. I'd love to go there. Why does your friend have no running water and why is the farm land being leased out? Who made that decision? Everyone has got to put this on the forefront of the media.

[@TheMclees]

i love you

[@YagoOrwell]

From a foreigner to this lands I just can assume there looks like the Lakota ppl where hold into an innuendo between modernism and they old ways. The US Government made laws leaving the as an "autonomous nation" but with not ways to evolve or grow and be respected as equal neighbors. Look like the whole idea is to let them disappear to finally wipe them out and end this 150 year old "problem". The excuse is their Autonomy so the Government don't get involved. Sneaky, really sneaky.