Many people who were non-Indian came to support the Indian peoples
In case you were not aware, the American Indian peoples need your support to just survive. It is not the case that they all have casino wealth on their reservations.
Many Lakota people have to live in trailers that are ill equipped for the cold of the winter
The Lakota Sioux nation people who live at Pine Ridge Reservation endure a life that is difficult. They have low incomes, few have jobs, economically they are poor and problems of drugs, alcohol, depression and suicide are high incidence possibilities that impact on their lives.
Homeless people are also an issue that must be resolved
along with drugs, alcohol, suicide and depression problems
Work is being done but financial aid is required along with outside expertise. The situation is that the Lakota people are wishing to preserve their heritage and culture but they also have a modern world outside of the reservation to contend with.
Donations of basics are always welcome
It is a question of how to reconcile these differing situations, it is essential that the Sioux people do not lose their rich heritage but on the other side of the coin, they should also not lose the opportunity to learn of modernity and to use that as part of their future too.
A new house being built by hand from ecologically sound materials
in line with the beliefs of the Lakota to use resources wisely
So how did the Lakota people end up like this? The situation is largely due to the loss of their lands when America was colonised. The Lakota like the other tribes before that moved around pieces of the country and there were defined areas for each tribe to inhabit.
A modern day Lakota man surveys the Buffalo - The Lakota people have a strong
heritage with the Buffalo and are known as 'Tatanka Oyate' - The Buffalo people.
With the colonisation of their nation from other countries, the Indian peoples were pushed into accepting areas of lands to live on called reservations. These pockets of land were far smaller than the territories that they previously enjoyed.
Whilst outside the reservations people prospered, inside the people largely did not. The Indian people lived a different lifestyle than the incomers, they did not need consumerism and new technology, their way of life and aims were different.
The Lakota people must not lose their cultural heritage or access to their history
The Lakota and the other tribal peoples were likely the first ecologists, they regarded the planet as something to be protected and to only take what resources were required. They did not share the same outlook as the incomers who were fired up by the new industrial revolution for progress and advancement.
Peter Catches offering Prayers and Sacred tobacco at the Oceti Wakan site
But there is hope amongst the bad news stories, one of the Medicine Men of the Lakota people at Pine Ridge, Peter V Catches is part of a project to help his fellow Lakota people by building a communal centre called 'Oceti Wakan' or Secret Fireplace in Lakota language.
Visit the site at:-
Peter Catches the Lakota Medicine Man of the Spotted Eagle -
Peter is a direct descendant of the famous Lakota Chief Crazy Horse
The centre looks to provide teaching of the Lakota culture and language, it also looks to provide places where Lakota people can engage and learn about their culture and to participate in events. Currently the centre is seeking donations to help this become a reality.
A large Ray Jack made Navajo Silver ring,
Ray is one of the great silversmiths of the Navajo people
It is not all bad news, the American Indians are resourceful people and some have managed to develop craft skills into jobs that help them to prosper. Notable are the Navajo jewellers, other tribes such as the Zuni and Hopi also have silversmiths too and people from other tribes have also made some amazing pieces learning and being inspired by the original tribal designs, drawn from their heritage.
However, much still needs to be done to help these people and there are many non-Indian people who are coming to aid the Indians, I donate free economic and business advice to help create economic growth and jobs.
I think this is long overdue!
I came across the Lakota culture in depth a couple of years ago during research for a book project on humans and robotics and I am glad that I found out more about the Lakota heritage subject.
I have learned a lot in the last two years and it has changed my life and helped to make a lot of sense of some things. The wisdom of these people which is often many hundreds of years old is as relevant as it ever was.
We must not lose this important cultural part of America's heritage.
View of Pine Ridge from the air
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