Diane Sawyer Reporting: “A Hidden America: Children of the Plains” on Friday, October 14

It’s about time someone focused on this.

Thank you very much ABC and Diane Sawyer and team for investigating and reporting such a very important topic. It is greatly appreciated. It is so very important to educate the general public about what life is like on a Reservation. I am particularly glad that you chose Pine Ridge Reservation which is where the massacre at Wounded Knee occurred where many innocent women and children were killed. I have had the honor and privilege of interacting with Lakota elders and Lakota people and children. They are the most profoundly Spiritual human beings that I have ever known in my life. They love their children, their Elders, and their families. They have been very accepting of me and many others, and they are very receptive to teaching us their ways and sharing their strong sense of Spirituality and Sacred Ceremonies with us. We were welcomed in to their Sacred Ceremonies as if we were their own family. They are a loving and giving People. They honor and respect each other, us, the Earth, the animals. Although they may have very little in a material sense (no running water, etc.), they still willingly share their food or whatever they have with us and each other. I have often heard the phrase that “those who have the very least…..are willing to share the very most”. Now whenever I hear these words….the Lakota people immediately come to mind. They have a very strong sense that each and every one of us is connected to each other in the Circle of Life.
One more thing that I hope that you can at least briefly mention is the Difference in how Native Americans METABOLIZE ALCOHOL compared with basically everyone else in the world. In my college Counseling classes about Alcohol and Drug Abuse, we learned about how Native Americans and some Asians metabolize alcohol in an unusual way that resembles an ALLERGIC reaction to it. This allergic type of reaction according to the research sets up a Craving pattern of wanting more and more once alcohol is introduced into the system. I am sure that your resources can confirm this valuable information in relation to the very high rate of Alcoholism amongst Native Americans. I also firmly believe that poverty, food stamps, and lack of education about healthy nutrition play a major role in Obesity in all populations. Thank you for your time and efforts on behalf of the Lakota people. Diane Sawyer does an excellent job.
Respectfully, Debra Beauchamp

Check with Joe Starita at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln journalism school. He has written a book about the Pine Ridge and has done lots of research there. Also, the Lincoln, Nebraska newspaper, Lincoln Journal-Star has done lots of stories about Pine Ridge.

I hope this story opens the eyes of the people of America, I have spent time with the people of Pine Ridge and I can’t believe how our Government has basically abandoned them. Children can’t get to school in the winter because the school buses can’t get down the roads. If you spent the last year there Diane, then you know the road conditions in which one encounters upon leaving the Rosebud Reservation and entering Pine Ridge. Imagine that with rain, snow and ice, I think most of us have no comprehension of these conditions.
While there helping to facilitate a children’s cultural youth camp (put together on a wing a prayer) we had to leave our van along side a “road” if you can call it that and we had to be packed in in the bed of a four wheel drive truck, thankfully our hosts the Two Bulls Family, Doreen and Rob, were there to greet us at the top of the hill with traditional music playing on the truck radio from the local radio station KILI. We were greeted with hugs and a joyful kindness I can not describe to you. It is something I will never forget.
While there we met and worked along side many people hoping to make a positive change for their community. The Two Bulls family put all that they had into this camp, it certainly wasn’t what you would think of when one thinks of “summer camp”, we had no amenities but that didn’t bother anyone because seeing the joy in the eyes of these children was worth having nothing and giving everything.
My very good friend Mary Weasel Bear works tirelessly working with the suicide prevention group Wiconi-Wakan (Sacred Life) for which she earns no salary. She had presentations and events for the children at the camp trying to give them hope about their lives and culture. She also hopes to provide camps for the children, as there is very little for them to do.
Jerome Kills Small, a Professor of Lakota Studies, spent time at our camp telling stories and speaking of the history of his people. He is an amazing man and we are privileged to have heard his stories and history of the Lakota. He is someone I hope you have the honor of meeting one day as well.
I will return to Pine Ridge to help the children of this proud and beautiful people for as long as I am able, I just hope this opens the eyes of the citizens of the United States of America to the terrible plight that the children of this Reservation and Nation live with daily. Poverty, abuse, alcoholism and for many, no way out.
The children of this and many reservations deserves our help, to preserve their culture, their health, pride and future.
I hope your report is respectful and shows the real side of reservation life and doesn’t sugar coat the realities of 10-15 people living in less than reasonable conditions and I must say I agree with Ms. Sullen in that the intricately beaded dresses and leggings worn by the dancers are not “cute costumes” they represent a great felt spirituality and centuries of a culture that was nearly stamped out by the white man and his government.

Glad to hear that ABC is covering such an important issue and not another celebrity story on Friday night, I hope this is only the beginning.

When the national news decides to write or have a documentary on Indian Country, it always shows the negativity of our race. (Note: This don’t just happen in South Dakota, this happens in the 500 nations all over the United States.) There is so much more about our people then poverty. I think it’s simply a slap in the face, as we look more like beggers then anything else. We know we have poverty in this country, this isn’t news to me or any other person out there in the United States. I would just once love to see a documentary showing our American Indians as a success story instead of a poverty strickened people. We are much more then that! We are..doctors, lawyers, law-enoforcement officers, journalists, teachers, leaders, elders, professionals, parents, students who are helping to build a better future for the American Indian communities. Very disappointed!

I was wondering if people have a way to give gifts to the children and adults on this Indian Reservation? Do they celebrate Christmas? Maybe a drive could be done?

Thank you Diane for the truth. ,I’m from a tribe in, Lake County California, we also had a massacre of over two women and children ,my great grand mother and her mother lived through that terrorist time of murder and theft ,by hiding under the water breathing through a reamed out tulle reed .May 15 1850 when it happen she was six years old My great grand mother lived to march 30 1954 she was 110 years old . I was almost 4 years old 4/6/50 and my mother took care of her so my dad mom and me stayed with her till her changing worlds , My formative years was with a 106 to 110 year old

Do any of these kids need new homes??? There are a lot of people out there, myself being one, who would adopt the kids and provide them with a better life.

@ Tired of Freeloaders, you need to open your eyes to a large issue and not look down life in a tunnel. I grew up on a reservation in Northern Montana….I would not change the life lessons learned growing up. What I would ask for is compassion, understanding that one size does not fit all! I never recieved help as you call hand outs, free loaders. My tribe is poor and the handouts are far and between, there are few jobs,less ranching and farming. I had to pull myself up by the boot straps and sacrific alot to get out of a feeling of hopelessness, depression and childhood trauma. My home is the reservation and one day upon return I hope to be able to give what I can to help those that have supported me mentally and spritually on my journey. The reservations are one of community one thing that most do not understand unless you have lived in a community where your neighbors help you out when they can and you know your neighbors. It is a sense of being conected to the land the tribe to the spirits. Anything we do in life comes at a GOD almighty dollar but what is not understood is that most reservations are place in a area that even if they built it no one would come….Remote if you get the point.

WHat can we do? That is first thing I thought of when I saw the preview. May God Bless You.

I am watching, and I am touched. I am asking myself, how can I help? Is there an organization to donate specifically to the children of Pine Ridge? I would really love to make a donation to Robert Looks Twice and his family…

Thank you, Diane. I think this was well done. It struck a difficult balance–the incredible poverty juxtaposed with their incredible spirit. We used to pay more attention to Native Americans. This show clearly demonstrates why we should care and take action. This is an urgent situation that deserves to be a national priority.

Thank you for the focus on these our first Americans and brothers and sisters – before we shower them with “stuff” please let’s listen to them – what they want is opportunity – let’s remember that – they are brave, strong, capable – let’s let them use that – let’s change the rules to get business to the reservations – let’s stop sending commodities and give them scholorships to colleges – please folks – let’s remember this if nothing else – give them opportunities – give them back hope.

Let me remind Ron that Indian people are NOT a CONQUERED PEOPLE. The early settlers in the United States recognized the tribes as SOVEREIGN NATIONS through the act of treaty-making. You do not treaty with a conquered people! The United States did not WIN a war against Indians. Instead they treatied with Indian Nations for particular areas of land and then BROKE THEIR OWN TREATIES by allowing white settlement beyond that land, into Indian territory. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT. Take a Native American history class for god sakes. I am non-native, but I live on a reservation and LOVE MY COMMUNITY and the people in it with all my heart. I am raising my family here. Yes, there are many problems that arise from over-dependence on government handouts, but the United States government is RESPONSIBLE for this state of affairs as it designed the reservation system and created a system of dependence by ILLEGALLY appropriating land, berefting tribes of their independence. Plus, you totally missed the point of the show, which was to illustrate examples of people really making change through their own determination!

I can’t believe the people screaming that the federal government needs to step in and help. Did they not understand that the problem was caused by just that? Even Mr Braveheart explained that they receive free housing, free food, etc and that is ruining them. Wake up America. Our government needs to stop trying to prop up everyone. We are becoming a weak and dependent nation. Our free money is robbing these people from the freedom to succeed and fail on their own. Right now we have probably millions of people who call themselves the “99%” (which is not true) that are demanding the government guarantee them a job and take from those who have succeeded to do so.

I am Kyrila Scully. My family descended from French settlers and Cherokee people. I was deeply affected by Ms. Sawyer’s report. She is a fellow Kentuckian, and I know her heart is sincere. Do not chide her for using incorrect terminology. That is trivial compared to the bigger picture. While our celebrities champion Haitians, Africans and the hurricane victims of the Gulf coast, rarely has anyone championed our Native Americans. I lived on the Yakima reservation in Washington state for a short time and was impressed with their industry and cleanliness. I loved the Yakima people! But yes, extreme and heartbreaking poverty exists among The People in over 500 Native American Nations and we must attend to them as well. We owe it to them for what we have done to them (and this is historically documented.) I have toured many Native American lands and seen what has been done to systematically destroy their cultures, pride and even their lives. All they did was defend themselves against brutality.

HOW TO HELP: TO THE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE ASKED HOW TO HELP–CLICK ON THE 20/20 UNDER THE MAIN ABC BANNER ABOVE. IT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE MAIN STORY. ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE STORY (RIGHT HAND SIDE) IS A BOX “HOW TO HELP”. CLICK ON IT AND THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS FOR HELPING. GOD BLESS EVERYONE WHO IS WILLING TO HELP!!

Thank You for bringing attention to my relatives. I cried all the way through. I hope these children stay strong.Please report again ,and bring awareness,so lives may be changed.Thank You again for doing this piece.

Dear Ms. Sawyer/ABC,
Thank you for taking your time to visit part of Pine Ridge Reservation. However, there is much more to see and investigate. Government agencies have been abusing the Elders of Pine Ridge for years now with outdated/rotten food and abuse as well. There is MUCH more to report about on Reservations as a whole. They do NOT look for handouts! Alcohol is devil water to the Native FIRST People! There is nothing actually “free” anywhere on the face of this Earth!!!! Everyone knows this, but no one more than the Native FIRST People! They have been used, abused, experimented on, etc. since the first invasion of this land of our grandchildren! As for Joe, he really needs to re-educated himself, if he thinks that there is all these amenities “given” to the Native FIRST People!!!! Ignorance is not learning! As for Native FIRST People ‘going away’, that is what the government has been trying to do since they came here! Genocide/holocaust has not stopped for the Native FIRST People. It continues to this very day!
For the people who ‘wanted to adopt’ Native FIRST People….(and I say this with respect to them), the culture of the Native FIRST People has been robbed from enough. They have been denied a great deal for many centuries! Since the invasion of many immigrants, the land has been greatly destroyed, pillaged, raped, and SOLD! There was NO bill of sale to the invaders! They TOOK it! Their ‘word’ on paper meant nothing, as they have blatantly shown over and over again! To a great degree, the government OWES each and every person a great deal of money back to them, of ALL colors!!! They send money to England to continue to support/fund the Royal family! Taxes are rediculous, to the point it’s a theft to support the GREED that has consumed this country since the invasion! The Native FIRST People received very little to nothing, compared to all that other people receive today! They’ve been programmed to become lazy and not to pay attention to what goes on around them. This is NOT the Native FIRST Peoples way!!! Family, Pride, culture, spirituality, RESPECT of Mother Nature and Father Sky (which ‘Americans’ fail to do or to realize). Therefore, water, land, air, etc., has become excessively polluted and unstable. The “free” housing that many refer to are usually abandoned, old, deteriorating trailers that they dump off on the Native people to live in. NO repairs or hope of repairs are made to them. I do agree with ‘getting the facts straight’ first. There are a host of many things that many don’t know about or realize that goes on without ANYONES realization, unless you actually check them out for yourself. There’s far more to all of this than what was aired for us to see, that’s a FACT! But, it’s a START in the right direction. Perhaps they should talk to Dwayne Martin of the Strong Heart Warriors Society. He could/would give them a wealth of information as well. There has been so much more land stolen, from Pine Ridge, in the past years, that NO ONE is willing to do a darned thing about that either! Government, high dollar companies and ranchers are for the all mighty dollar, regardless how it affects others and their lives!! GREED is what affects many of us on a daily basis. It affects Native FIRST People also, but in much different ways. Mt. Rushmore is just another slap in the face to what has been TAKEN from the Native FIRST People!!!!!! Live in peace, but respect others when doing so. Stop the GREEDOM and remember what freedom was meant to be! It’s never too late!

When will this show air again? or how can I obtain a copy

Would it be possible for Primetime to partner with ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover to build new houses or a new school on the reservation. I’m sure there would be alot of sponsors. The United States owes a very big debt to Our Native Americans. We are so eager to help the poor in other countries. How about taking care of our true Americans first..

I want to do something. This story called to me. We need leaders and professionals to organize an intervention for these people. We need americans to come together and support each other. We need Drs and rehabs and contractors to help with providing proper houseing and people could even donate manufactured homes. Then we need business men to volunteer time to help the people create businesses and generate employment. They need regular people like us to be good neighbors and lend a hand. The govt is lousy at caring for us. We must come together and care for each other. We need to start a way for people to donate. It could be money, building materials, skills, transportation. We can’t leave these people to live like this. Those children belong to all off us. What can we do????

You mentioned the 80% alcoholism rate and the poverty. This is so true but there is also the high rate of (FASD) Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder! There are children who are born and left at the Hospital there because they are affected and their parents do not want them and the grandmothers are dying or already raising too many children and can not feed what they have. Then there are those who take these children because they can get money for them and this helps support their habit of alcoholism or drug addiction. The rate of abuse and neglect is high there as well. I pray for the Lakota children on the Pine Ridge reservation and hope your documentary does make a difference.

Eye opening program, but unfortunately just wiping a coating of dust. Please consider doing a full scale documentary of the issues facing these beautiful people. I hope those kids you focused on make it. Why I’d even vote for Robert Looks Twice now! What an engaging young man he is. There is actually a non profit foundation not mentioned on the show called The Buffalo Boy Foundation that features Robert as the Buffalo Boy (www.thebuffaloboyfoundation.org). We are still providing alcohol for them; the owners of that liquor store should be ashamed of themselves setting up shop just steps off the reservation. If I could provide the cultural background for these kids, I would take some into my own home. It’s so important that they learn about their ancestors and their history although a lot of it is very sad, I also wish they could battle their way out of the situation they face now. Some make it but they need many more to. They need business opportunities on the reservation…no more red tape. And why are there reservations now any ways? They seem more like prison camps…perhaps even worse. It was their country to begin with……..

this episode was sooooo needed! It had me in tears, I pray that out government will do something!! They need to do something about the schools… someone needs to step in. God knows I wish I could do something, this is heartbreaking.

Dear Diane,
Please tell me what I can do to help I have not stop thinking about how sad it is for anybody to live that way . We the people took every thing from them they are American just like the rest of us it is time for us to step up to the plate and give back to them. We need help them have a fighting chance. Thank you so much for enlighten us.

My name is Diane Davis I am a certified advanced substance abuse counselor. I also direct an anger control class for males. i have been in the field about 20 years. I am certified with the state of Missoori and have reciprocitywith another credentiial iin most states. I saw the program and heard the plea for help and my heart responded . I would be willing to work there,set up programs,whatever I could do to help.I see that there is a feeling of hoplessness . I would like to promote hope for the Lakota. I am willing and would appreciate a respone. Diane Davis CRAADC

Diane, I enjoyed your reporting on the Children of the Plains. My heart broke as I listened to the story. Why will America not help the people of the United States before giving away to the other nations of the world. Nations that have been proved to bite the hand that feeds thems. Native Americans deserve so much more from our gov. I realize there are gambling jobs for the native americans on the reservations, but there needs to be manufacturing jobs, and others. Again,, thanks Diane.

good stuff. I grew up on these reservations (ridge and eagga butte). this stuff has been the same for awhile. I believe kids today are more aware of their responsibility to change. Its only been a hundred years since we treatied our freedom away for another kind of freedom. It will take time. Out of disaster comes positivity and the people will adapt. So desolate though, and not enough law enforcement. all in all, good show. I have tried so hard to get away from there now after seeing this I am feeling a sense of responsibility to return and provide some positivity any way i can…thought provoking.
thanks diane

Would very much like to know what I can do to help these people. Watching this special touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. I’ve always revered and respected the American Indian; too bad our government has forgotten them. This was their land. Thank you so much Diane Sawyer for being such a concerned and caring person.

While viewing only a part of the program wherein Diane Sawyer was on the Pine Ridge Reservation for the Lakota. I felt a power from these people-a strength. All Native Americans were trodden down by the white man and lied to repeatedly and it seems it is still going on. They are a proud strong people and our Government needs to help the ones which they hope we have forgotten. I am part Cherokee and part white. The white man came here and stole their land and raped the visage of the United States. A debt is owed to these strong, mighty people. This debt most likely will never be paid. I appreciate Diane Sawyer’s unearthing the hidden problems as well as the beautiful spirit of a people our Government wishes we all would forget. The Native American is a beautiful, strong and independant people. I know from my Grandfather how strong we all are. The blood that runs in my veins is not pure, but it is strong and I am proud that I carry my Grandfather’s spirit within me. Native Americans can and will never be defeated. No matter what has been done to the Native Americans, they are a proud, intelligent people. The land was stolen from the Natives, but they will not go down. WE are too strong.

Ron, you just don’t get it….DO YOU? There are no jobs on the reservations, they practically live in the middle of no where and if they were able to get somewhere to find work, many would not be hired because there is still that little thing called “discrimination”. Yes, Native Americans are discriminated against too! Do homework, read treaties, and when they were broken by our government. Read about how hard the Indigenous People of this country fought and died while preventing settlers and the government from taking their land. There are thousands of websites dedicated to all in the past that has led up to the present. They aren’t freeloaders. They aren’t bums. They were and are humans who were treated inhumanely.

Great story. I too was moved by the stories of these young people. One of my thoughts was to have a student exchange type program for the youth. I would be willing to sponsor and have a Pine Ridge student live in my community.

Ron, I love ya buddy. You don’t hide your prejudices like most Americans do. Lazy, drunk, conquered Indians getting rich on handouts from taxpayers? You’re hilarious, man. Oh, btw: in your orgy of epithets, you left out “dirty.”

Diane,
As afan I had to watch this compelling story unfold. My partner moved to South Dakota after high school in th 70s- he lived in Rapid City as a postal worker delivery mail to the Pine Ridge Reservation. His stories did not compare to what I witnessed watching. As a young girl, I spend a vacation in the 60′s vacationing and went to a tribal ceremony.Immediately I was in awe of these great people. They have lived in my thoughts through my life. Being with my partner and learning some indian ways ( he made many indian friends) I was so heartbroken, I wished that if I could do one thing to help anywhere, I would. How as a country can we hold our heads up high as a proud American when we pushed these people away, gave them small tokens of land and expect them to survive and prosper. We indeed have not lived up to the old wise ones prophets. My boyfriend says most of the friends he made there, live this way, he knew every place you showed – adding commentary to your report. I am saddened, heartbroken and humbled by their acceptance. We need to take a stand and bring business and enterprize, we need to create better schools. Why are their school so deplorable when “our schools get funding? Where are our priorities as a nation! One nation- under God- with liberty and justice for all.

I am a teacher and I, too, am looking for a way to donate to the school. I did not see a reply to the earlier response asking if there is an entity available to receive donations. If anyone has an avenue to this, please respond.

I agree here, Phyllis. I need copies of this episode and cannot seem to get anywhere with it. I am taking up donations for Pine Ridge and especially Wounded Knee School this year. I do this every year for different reservations. I need to know how to get copies of this episode as quickly as possible. Due to Dianne’s special, I am having better luck getting donations this year. I am taking a trip to Pine Ridge in April to help out at the school. I have information on the needs of these children and a contact at the Wounded Knee school. If anyone TRULY wants to help, you can contact me. Please understand that my efforts for 2011 and 2012 will directed mainly to helping the children at Wounded Knee school on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Dear Diane and Team, I don’t know what winning a Nobel Prize is based on…but this should be a top contender. Amazing! Such a beautiful people. Alright, now that we have been made aware…you must provide us a way to help. Not with a lot of noise and backpatting…but quietly and humbly.
I will do what I can…find a way to let us know how we can help, please? Thank You, V.

What, if any, funding is there for government housing? Why are those living on welfare in the Western region of the United States provided better housing than those on Indian Reservations?

Mrs Diane and team,I know it has been awhile since the show aired but I would really sincerely like to help the children in the show and others like them. I would like to raise money through fundraisers to help the children. Do you think that Extreme Makeover Home Edition or Disney’s Friends for Change could help out? What do you think the kids need the most and what is the best way to contact or send aid to them? Or if possible a contact in the reservation to talk to to find out what they think? PLEASEEE responddd!! Thank you soooo much for bringing this to my attention and to the attention of others!
Brianna