THE SIOUX NATION STILL UNDER FIRE

​

 

The Sioux Native Americans, one of the oldest and continuous Native American tribes in North America, dating back three thousand years originally formed in the central Great Lakes region and migrated to the west after the Iroquois nation invaded Sioux territory.

 

When the Sioux arrived to the Great Plains of North America there were three subsets. The Dakota and Nakota settled in modern day Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and northern Iowa. The Lakota, however, migrated further west, toward modern day North and South Dakota.

 

The Lakota were also hunters and gatherers, expert buffalo hunters, and even developed an intricate buffalo hunting process to ensure food for all of their people. The Lakota called the buffalo the (tȟatȟaŋka), in which the buffalo provided a primary source of food and excess hides that would be traded to European fur traders and other Native American tribes around the region.

 

However, after the American Revolution in the late 18th century, and the subsequent westward expansion of White American settlers, the Sioux, specifically the Dakota and Nakota, were forced to merge with the Lakota, resulting in civil wars and massive migrations by the Dakota and Nakota westward, toward modern day Oregon and California, which sparked even more wars as the Dakota and Nakota came into conflict with other Native American tribes.

With the end of the American Civil War in the late 19th century, the Lakota faced problems of their own. With the increase of white settlers being pumped into Lakota territory, more scuffles between Lakota and the settlers began, and thus the United States Army sent a detachment of military soldiers, under the command of veteran Civil War generals Philip Sheridan and George Custer, to force the Lakota westward.

The Lakota, however, wished for a peaceful solution to the conflict, and sent several emissaries to the US Army forts around what is modern day Iowa, pleading with the US military to stay off of Lakota territory and leave the region once and for all.

However, the US proceeded with military force against the Lakota, ending up in one of the most famous battles in human history: The Battle of Little Bighorn. The Lakota, led by the renowned Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, got a high vantage point in the canyons and hills above the Bighorn River in Southern Montana, decisively defeated the US forces who attempted to launch a full-scale attack into the Little Bighorn River valley, effectively killing Custer and most of his military force.

Embarrassed by such a disastrous defeat, the US military put more troops into Lakota lands, resulting in the tragic Wounded Knee Massacre, where over three hundred Lakota people, mainly women and children, were slaughtered by US soldiers. Consequently, the Lakota were forced west, and in 1890, the final Lakota tribe surrendered to US jurisdiction and were forced onto Native American reservations set up by the US government.

However, almost ninety years later, the US Supreme Court ruled the US takeover of Lakota lands illegal, and presented reparations of over 100 million USD (the lands are now worth over one billion dollars), but the Lakota people refused, stating that their lands are their sovereign right, and that they will continue to deny its sale.

 

 

FINAL RESULTS

 

The Pine Ridge Reservation reports that those under the poverty rate is around 53.75%, though many community assessments and local estimates place actual poverty rates above 80%.

 

Per Capita income ranges from approximately $8,768 to under $13,250 per year depending on the specific census tract and data source, with some individual communities reporting far lower averages.

 

The unemployment rate is historically estimated between 89% and 90% due to a severe lack of commercial industry and job opportunities on the land.

 

The high school drop-out rate is estimated at over 70%.

 

Life expectancy is around 66.8 years, representing one of the lowest average life expectancies in the Western Hemisphere.

 

Disease and Health:

• Diabetes death rates and amputation rates are 3 to 4 times higher than the U.S. national average, with roughly half of adults over 40 affected.

• Infant mortality: 300% higher than America as a whole

• Teen suicide: 150% higher than America as a whole

• Approximately 85% of Lakota families are affected by alcoholism.

• Approximately 58% of grandparents of Lakota families are raising their grandchildren.

• Tuberculosis: 800% higher than America as a whole

 

The Sioux hold the premise that everything is interconnected, from the Earth to the sky, and that a Great Spirit created the universe, and that prayers and dreams were a way to connect to the spiritual world. They valued family above all and were required to protect that family. Sounds a little like Christianity.

Unfortunately, they won the battle, but lost the war.  They are now prisoners of war and prisoners of poverty.  I am encouraging you to look into the tragedies of Native Americans and ask yourself if there is not something you can do.  We have homeless veterans living on the streets, we have illegal immigrants that require homes and support for their children and we have trafficked children that need rescue.  Is there not something we can do for the original settlers of this land? We are all immigrants to this land once occupied by Native Americans.

 

Kathleen Nunn

 

 

Immersion Ministries will be sponsoring a Winter Clothing drive in October to be sent to Pine Ridge Reservation.  Please gather any blankets, coats, jackets, gloves, socks, boots and other winter wear that can enable the Lakota to endure the harsh winter conditions in homes that often do not have running water or indoor plumbing.  We will have collection boxes available the week of October 11th thru 17th at 1666 Barres Street.  Boxes will be available from 7 am to 7 pm.  Please make sure that everything is new or slightly used.  Send your best.

 

“Give and it shall be given to you.” Luke 6:38