Impoverished, destitute, hopeless. All words I have heard used to describe the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The only information that most people have about life on reservations (nevertheless Pine Ridge, who’s reputation for poverty is known globally) is extremely limited and negative, having primarily come from a tiny bit of representation in the media. And I’ll be the first to admit that before educating myself, I too was one of the many people who innocently treated Pine Ridge as a set of grim statistics. It was hard for me to see past the picture that other non-native people such as Diane Sawyer and Aaron Huey had painted for the rest of the American public. And don’t get me wrong, there is no easy way to live out here. Not only are money and resources scarce, but this part of the country is extremely remote (The closest town to where I’m staying is 65 miles northwest), making things as simple as a trip to the grocery store a luxury. However, the more time I spend out here, the more I see the strength and hope within the Oglala Lakota people. Never have I ever met people so proud of who they are, and so willing to fight to keep their culture alive.
Although much of my time is devoted to caring for the 20 horses that reside at the Singing Horse Trading Post, a great percentage of that time is also spent conversing with local people, exploring the rez, going to pow wows, and hanging out with new friends. Singing Horse is the largest supplier of raw Lakota arts & crafts materials on Pine Ridge, and it also doubles as a charming bed and breakfast. So you never know who’s going to come through the door. I’ve met everyone from local teachers to Nobel Peace Prize winner Jody Williams. That being said, I’ve also had the opportunity to talk to many Lakota people who acknowledge the problems currently facing their reservation, and are actively trying to make things better for their children. There are also many groups that are setting out to represent Pine Ridge in a more positive light.
Another part of my job is working with local kids. Many of the children out here face issues at home. It is not unusual for a parent to be addicted to either drugs or alcohol. Many infants are born with fetal alcohol syndrome. So neurological issues are very common. Luckily my boss, Rosie, has seen the therapeutic benefit in riding horses and spending time outside. So the children of her employees, customers, and friends will often times come out and spend the whole day at the farm. It’s awesome to see how happy being around the horses makes them, and how beneficial the time spent outside can be.
I have been so grateful for this opportunity to come out here and experience the Reservation for what it actually is, not just the sad story that the media portrays. A lot of people questioned my decision to stay in the states for F.V.P, but since day one, I knew that I made the right choice. I really couldn’t imagine being anywhere else, and am especially grateful to Carpe for all they have done to make this possible.
-Grace