Tears and Hope: A Personal Journey to Pine Ridge
EmailBy SAMANTHA WENDER
A year ago this month, I made my first journey to Pine Ridge Reservation. There’s always a sense of excitement touching down on the tarmac, knowing a new world, one which you would never otherwise have the opportunity to explore so intimately, is almost in reach.
Like the rest of the team, I had read the statistics: 65 to 80 percent unemployment rates, rampant alcoholism, obesity and an education system struggling to provide the basic tools for learning.
Get Involved: How to Help the Children of the Plains
Two flights and a two-hour drive later, I was driving through the Badlands with a duffle bag, a camera and a whole lot of curiosity. En route to Manderson, S.D., a town with just fewer than 650 residents, where more than 60 percent of them live below the poverty line, I drive through miles of plains. The land speaks, telling a story of oppression and resilience, one that I begin to understand better after spending days and weeks with parents and children, elders and spiritual leaders.
On the outside, the public housing units were worn, anywhere from 30 to 40 years old. A young father, no more than 23, told me he was covering the windows with sheets of plastic to keep the propane-fueled heat inside the home. He said the windows were installed upside down and often the family runs out of money and can’t afford to pay for warmth. He went on to tell me that heat was a luxury and some months he must choose between feeding his family of five or having heat.
Samantha Wender with Tashina Iron Horse (Courtesy Samantha Wender)
Inside the roughly 300 square miles of the reservation are a handful of Oglala Lakota Sioux, who with their spirit, courage and delicate pride, will change the way I see many things. Trip after trip, I am welcomed into homes. I am told I am family. I meet with educators. A spiritual leader sends me back to New York City with braided sweet grass to bring positive energy into my home. I’m smudged, purified by the burning of sage, invited to attend meals and pow wows. I learn of the history and strength of a people, the realities and courage, but what touches me the most are the children.
Through the smiles and tears, hope and innocence, there is power in these young people – all desperate, in their own ways, to be heard. Thirteen-year-old Robert wants to be the first Native American president and buy his grandmother, who raises him and his seven cousins, a beautiful house. Tashina, 6, wants clean water for her family and bubble gum. Louise, 12, struggles to cope with addiction in her home and prays for the strength to go on and 17-year-old Alaina sings with courage through the chapter of her life she is leaving and the next she is entering.
It’s easy to speculate why the despair often outshines the valor when talking about Pine Ridge Reservation, but anyone who is given the opportunity to be immersed in Lakota culture, to see first-hand the humor and love, cannot leave unchanged.
Watch a “20/20″ special, “A Hidden America: Children of the Plains” with Diane Sawyer tonight at 10 p.m. ET.
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I am curious why I end up reading about many of your stories from 20\20 before they air. It’s disappointing. I’ve been a fan for many years. It just makes me wonder why you might think anyone would watch if they can read it on yahoonews 2 hours before. Thanks for your time
Posted by: marsha thomas | October 14, 2011, 11:10 pm 11:10 pm
Tonight’s program about the American Indians of the Lakota tribes were just EXCELLENT! It not only spread the message of the plight of this particularly proud people, but your reporting was such a truly remarkable piece. Hopefully, we Americans will find ways to help facilitate positive changes to give these people the chances they need to survive in our modern world without giving up on their heritage. KUDOS on your excellent work.
Juanita Fisher
Posted by: Juanita Fisher | October 14, 2011, 11:19 pm 11:19 pm
would about them as exchange students help them get college degree s something like that Ive raised 3 children all 3 college degree s my youngest shes in philm edits they are on their own Im willing to help there what do i do
Posted by: merlyn | October 14, 2011, 11:49 pm 11:49 pm
I loved the segment tonight on the Pine Ridge Reservation and the kids there. I spend a week there just two years ago with a mission team from KY. So i saw first hand the kids and what they face. and Everything I saw tonight brought back those memories and the kids i meet while there. They are face with so much not only the drinking but gangs that come into the reservation that was not mentioned. I was also able to attend one of the Pow Wows while there and it was so amazing the costumes and outfits that each one wore were so beautiful and each made by hand. I plan on going back to Pine Ridge this summer and anything you can do would be greatly appreciated these kids are so appreciative over the smallest thing , things we often take for granted. Way to go Diane you were wonderful!
Posted by: Amy | October 15, 2011, 1:12 am 1:12 am
Thank you for taking the time to go out to South Dakota to report on this topic. Many of the People are sad and desperate. Their plight is largely ignored, living, as they do, on the margins of our society. They need help, and the first step to getting that help is recognition of the conditions under which they live.
R. B. McGrath
Posted by: R. B. McGrath | October 15, 2011, 2:10 am 2:10 am
I’m glad to see Pine Ridge on the news. However, I am not please to see that the Gov’t is basically ignoring them. The Gov’t can give billiions of dollars of aid around the world,but they cannot even help those at pine ridge or other Native American Rez. Yeah I know the president has spoken about Native Americans, but words are just words without action. There is no reason on this planet why this Gov’t cannot help. Personally I believe it’s still part of the grand plan to wipe them all out. I still believe that this Gov’t only cares about their interest and everyone else, meaning all people, are being kept in the dark. I believe they are afraid to really let the land be ran by the people and for the people. I can only hope and pray and do my little part for Native American people. If the elected politicians read this how about getting off your butts and really start making a difference instead of just holding a seat and speaking words. DO SOMETHING for a change,not for your bank accounts. have a great day!
Posted by: Greg | October 15, 2011, 9:39 am 9:39 am
I am glad to see that ABC is helping to get the story of the Reservations out to the public. Many people just don’t know how it is out here. I am proud to say that I have worked at Red Cloud for the last 5 years. Its though hard life that these kids grow up with. Its all about making a difference some how.
Posted by: Leah | October 15, 2011, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
The timing of this story is excellent. Everyone around the country is getting together in groups and making their voices heard about how terrible this economy is and how terrible the current system of operating has become. It is time for us to stop putting all of our money and resources into other countries and to bring that focus and attention back where it belongs, to our own people right here in America. What happened in the past is horrible and the Lakota people as well as many tribes are still paying the price for those events, but healing has begun and this documentary was a great way to show how badly we need to help our own people. We need to work together as one people with one heart that loves this land and each other. By helping our neighbor we also help ourselves. I love seeing how much people care and want to help and I hope this leads to a new beginning for the Lakota people as well as our entire country. Great documentary, would love to see this continue as a series of documentaries so people find out what’s really going on in our own land with ideas on how we can all help each other.
Posted by: Kelly | October 15, 2011, 6:00 pm 6:00 pm
The last sentences of your blog about the culture,humor and love,Thankyou, I have tried to explain to people why we live in Pine Ridge and don’t want to leave and you put into words our feelings perfectly! I’m a nurse and work in Rapid City in the ED and the psych unit, and while most of my co-workers I truly care for, there is so much ignorance and misconceptions about the oyate (people). Many people are very receptive to ideas and thoughts about the Rez,but so many more are completely closed to anything different then their own little closed existence. Thats fine till you are the caregiver to the many suicidal kids that come from the Rez(60 to 70% of adolesant patients and thats just Pine Ridge!) I have such strong feelings about this but often can’t translate into words to help people understand. Your sentences were it. I also get so angry as I listen to staff (at the psych unit) try and convince these beautiful but sad kids that who they are and where they come from is wrong, because it is different. If a show could be done on the on going “stand-off” between Rapid City and the Native population that would be awesome, but would probably not go over very well! It is like the “pink elephant ” in the room that nobody wants to discuss! Thankyou for your thoughts.
Posted by: Felicia Blindman | October 16, 2011, 5:28 am 5:28 am
Diane Sawyer mentioned that this site would have “IINFO ON HOW TO HELP THESE PEOPLE.” Where is ithe information. It was inspiring to see these children’s attitudes. It is a DISGRACE that the government does not help these people. Why sent help to Hati etc. when those Native people who gave up their land live in such poverty.
BTW what ever happened to Leonard Peletier????
Posted by: geneva enright | October 16, 2011, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
for a good charity go to one spirit. it is an organization that gives fresh food to lakota and does other things too. go to google and type in “one spirit lakota” and it will bring you to the link to the web site.
Posted by: Christopher Heimarck | November 10, 2011, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm