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Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation

Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation

Lending a helping hand to our neighbors on Pine Ridge Reservation

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Statistics About Pine Ridge Reservation

  • Pine Ridge Reservation is the poorest county in the United States.
  • Rapid City, South Dakota, is the nearest town of size (population approximately 57,700) for those who can travel to find work. It is located 120 miles from the Reservation. The nearest large city to Pine Ridge is Denver, Colorado, located some 350 miles away.
  • 97% of the population lives far below the U.S. federal poverty line with a median household income ranging between $2,600 and $3,500 per year.
  • There is no industry, technology or commercial infrastructure to provide employment for its residents, contributing to its 90% unemployment rate.
  • There are no banks, motels, discount stores, and the one grocery store of moderate size is tasked with providing for the entire community.
  • There is a 70% high school dropout rate.
  • The average life expectancy on the Reservation is 47 years for men and 52 years for women.
  • Teenage suicide rate is 150% higher than the U.S. national average.
  • Infant mortality rate is the highest on this continent, and about 300% higher than the U.S. national average.
  • There’s an estimated average of 17 people living in each family home, a home that may only have two to three rooms. Some Reservation families are forced to sleep on dirt floors.
  • Over 33% of homes have no electricity or basic water and sewage systems, forcing many to carry (often contaminated) water from local rivers daily for their personal needs.
  • At least 60% of homes on the Reservation need to be demolished and replaced due to infestation of potentially fatal black mold; however, there are no insurance or government programs to assist families in replacing their homes.
  • Weather is extreme on the Reservation. Severe winds are always a factor. Summer temperatures reach well over 110 degrees and winters bring bitter cold and can reach -50 degrees below zero or worse.

Aaron Huey’s effort to photograph poverty in America led him to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where the struggle of the native Lakota people — appalling, and largely ignored — compelled him to refocus. Five years of work later, his haunting photos intertwine with a shocking history lesson.

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Helping One Item at a Time

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Current Donation Drives

 

  • A Baby Shower for Lakota Babies and Toddlers
  • A Baby Shower for Navajo Babies and Toddlers
  • A Donation Drive for Navajo High School Students
  • A Donation Drive to Preserve the Lakota Language and Culture
  • A Face Masks Donation Drive for Native American Reservations
  • A Food Drive for Lakota Families
  • A Shoes and Socks Drive for Lakota Children
  • Books for a Reservation Elementary School – American Horse School (K-8)
  • Books for a Reservation Elementary School – Batesland Elementary School
  • Books for a Reservation Elementary School – Crazy Horse School
  • Books for a Reservation Elementary School – Havasupai Elementary School
  • Books for a Reservation Elementary School – Lakota Waldorf School
  • Books for a Reservation Elementary School – Little Singer Community School
  • Books for a Reservation Elementary School – Little Wound School
  • Books for a Reservation Elementary School – Loneman Day School (Isnawica Owayawa)
  • Books for a Reservation Elementary School – Our Lady of Lourdes School
  • Books for a Reservation Elementary School – Piñon Elementary School (Navajo)
  • Books for a Reservation Elementary School – Porcupine School
  • Books for a Reservation Elementary School – Red Cloud School
  • Books for a Reservation Elementary School – Red Shirt School
  • Books for a Reservation Elementary School – Rockyford Elementary School
  • Books for a Reservation Elementary School – Wolf Creek Elementary School
  • Books for a Reservation Elementary School – Wounded Knee District School
  • Books for a Reservation High School – Little Wound High School
  • Books for a Reservation High School – Piñon High School (Navajo)
  • Books for a Reservation High School – Red Cloud High School
  • Books for a Reservation High School – Shannon County Virtual High School
  • Books for a Reservation K-12 School – Pine Ridge School
  • Books for a Reservation Middle School – Piñon Middle School (Navajo)
  • Books for a Reservation Middle and High School – Crazy Horse School
  • Books for First Families Now
  • Books for Head Start
  • Books for Oglala Lakota College Library
  • Books for the Oglala Lakota College Library Build Your Own Library Children’s Book Project
  • Books for Oglala Lakota Children’s Justice Center
  • Books for Partnership for Housing
  • Books for the Kiyuksa O’Tipi Reintegration Center
  • Books for Tusweca Tiospaye
  • Monetary Donations
  • OLC Library’s Head Start – Early Childhood Books Giveaway Project
  • Support the Oglala Lakota College – Nursing Department

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Aaron Huey's effort to photograph poverty in America led him to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where the struggle of the native Lakota people — appalling, and largely ignored — compelled him to refocus. Five years of work later, his haunting photos intertwine with a shocking history lesson.

Stay Connected

From the Blog

2018 Thank-Yous

OLC Library Donations Guidelines

Thank Yous from PRR Organizations

Thank You from Wounded Knee District School Principal

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Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation does NOT, has never and will never, place phone calls soliciting donations at any time and you should be wary of any and all such solicitations!

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