Pine Ridge Facts and Statistics

  The U.S. government has determined that the 

  Pine Ridge Reservation is the poorest community 

  in the country.    Due to the lack of industry and

  the Sioux's inability to obtain loans to start small

  businesses, an estimated 90 percent of Pine

  Ridge residents are unemployed.

  Although Lakota people represent a small

  proportion of the U.S. population they are  

  burdened with a disproportionate amount of

  social and economic problems.

  On the Pine Ridge Reservation, things are not 

  getting any better, in fact,  the number living

  under the poverty level continues to rise.

  Most of the land is of poor quality: not

  conducive to farming, ranching, or industry.

  Thirty-nine percent of the homes have no

  electricity and 60 percent of families have no 

  telephone.

  Families live in overcrowded, substandard 

  conditions—no insulation, no central

  heat. Some sleep on dirt floors.   Many homes

  don't have running water and occupants must

  carry water from the local rivers for their daily

  needs. 

  Like so many other indigenous cultures facing the   very reality of their loss of heritage and potential

  cultural extinction, the Lakota Nation is fighting

  to preserve their way of life.

  More Facts:

  Average per capita income of $4,000

  52 % of the households single parented

  Temperatures from 40 below to 120 above

  Schools in the bottom 10% of funding

 

  8 times the United States rate of diabetes

  5 times the rate of cervical cancer

  Twice the rate of heart disease

  High rate of teen pregnancy

  8 times the rate of TB

  Suicide rate more than twice the national rate

  Teen suicide 4 times the national rate

  Three times the infant mortality rate

  The lowest life expectancy in the U.S. and the

  2nd lowest in the western hemisphere

  68 % school dropout rate

  High rate of Drug and alcohol abuse

  Recent reports indicate that almost 50% of the 

  adults on the Reservation over the age of 40 have

  diabetes.

  As a result of the high rate of diabetes on the 

  reservation, diabetic-related blindness,

  amputations, and kidney failure are common

  A Federal Commodity Food Program is active but

  supplies mostly inappropriate foods (high in

  carbohydrate and/or sugar) for the largely 

  diabetic population of the Reservation.

  The poorest of USA's 3,143 counties

  Majority of residents live below the poverty level

 

  The only public library is the one at Oglala 

  College in Kyle

  No public transportation, no banks, no movie

  theaters, no bowling alleys, no recreation centers,

  no furniture stores, no clothing stores, no nursing

  homes, etc.

  ORAL HEALTH STATISTICS

  Less than 50% of population has access to water

  fluoridation

  Lowest oral hygiene scores with lowest frequency

  of daily tooth brushing & flossing

  56% of adult population have total tooth loss

  Children: 60% have active, untreated tooth decay 

  & less than 50% have seen a dentist

  Ages 35 – 44: 50% have moderate to severe  

  periodontal disease

  World's highest incidence of ECC (Early Childhood

  Caries) ~ 80%

Yes, people do actually live in this "dwelling."

There is a growing misconception in American society that most Indian tribes have struck it rich with the establishment of Indian casinos.  Another rather persistent belief is that many Indians receive a monthly stipend.  Neither of these is true.

In actuality, according to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, the rate of poverty for American Indians living on reservations is three times the national average.  Additionally, Over 90,000 American Indian families are homeless or under-housed.

According to "A Survey of Grant Giving by American Indian Foundations and Organizations" by Native Americans in Philanthropy, the needs of reservation Indians are so great that even if the total annual American Indian gaming revenue in the country could be divided equally among all reservations, the amount distributed per person would still not be enough to raise American Indian per capita income (currently $11,259) to anywhere near the national average of $21,587. Of the more than 560 Indian nations, only 224 are involved in gaming. Many tribes may never participate in gaming because of their geographic location in rural, unpopulated areas.

Here are some additional statistics on Native Americans at the national level.   According to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and the Indian Health Service, Native Americans have the highest prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in the world. Treating diabetes for only those Native Americans who are currently diagnosed with diabetes would amount to $1.46 billion per year, or 40% of the total budget for Native American health care.

Per capita funding for Native American healthcare is 60% less than all other Americans and 50% less than federal prisoners.  In total, there is a $900 million backlog in unmet needs for American Indian health facilities.

According to a report issued by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, one in five homes on reservations lack complete plumbing facilities and less than 50% are connected to the public sewer system. This has lead to the creation of numerous health and environmental hazards.  Additionally, Over 30% of American Indian families live in overcrowded housing and 18 percent are severely overcrowded with 25-30 individuals sharing a single home. These rates are over six times the national average.

Approximately 40% of housing on reservations is inadequate according to the federal definition, compared to only 6% nationwide. American Indians have the highest rate of home loan denial of any race in the United States; nearly 25%.

With specific regard the Lakota residents of Pine Ridge, the average income is about $4,000 per year supplemented by commodity foods and government nutrition programs such as food stamps and WIC, if they are lucky enough to qualify.   Some people rent their lands to ranchers and miners, but rents collected by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) are rarely sent.  A lawsuit against the BIA uncovered devastating mismanagement of these funds.

Below are some additional statisics about Pine Ridge. We very much appreciate your taking a few moments of your time to read the information on this page.   Pilamaya (Thank you).

The statistics on this page were gathered from a variety of sources, including the following:

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights which studies and collects information relating to discrimination or a denial of equal protection of the laws under the Constitution because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice.

Indian Health Service: The Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Native Americans in Philanthropy advances philanthropic practices that are grounded in Native values and traditions.

The writings of  Stephanie M. Schwartz, a Freelance Writer and Member of the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) also provide a lot of insight into life on the Pine Ridge Reservation.  Ms. Schwartz's writings have been published and posted on numerous websites and online newspapers.