Indigenous Revelations

This Friday, October 14, Diane Sawyer visit the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation for an episode of 20/20 titled “A Hidden America: Children of the Plains.” According to an article on ABC’s website, the program will show that “in the midst of such economic despair, there are youth across the reservation who are breaking through the hopelessness with huge dreams and powerful stories.”

A Few Facts about the Pine Ridge Rez:

• According to 2006 resources, about 97% of the population lives below Federal poverty levels.
• Teenage suicide rate on the Pine Ridge Reservation is 150% higher than the U.S. national average for this age group.
•   In most of the treaties between the U.S. Government and Indian Nations, the U.S. government agreed to provide adequate medical care for Indians in return for vast quantities of land.  The Indian Health Services (IHS) was set up to administer the health care for Indians under these treaties and receives an appropriation each year to fund Indian health care. Unfortunately, the appropriation is very small compared to the need and there is little hope for increased funding from Congress.  The IHS is understaffed and ill-equipped and can’t possibly address the needs of Indian communities.  Nowhere is this more apparent than on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
• Over 33% of the Reservation homes lack basic water and sewage systems as well as electricity.
• There are few improved (paved) roads on the Reservation and most of the rural homes are inaccessible during times of rain or snow.
• Only a minority of Reservation residents own an operable automobile.
• According to the most recent Federal Census, 58.7% of the grandparents on the Reservation are responsible for raising their own grandchildren.