Where to Live if you want to volunteer at Pine Ridge Reservation? (Sioux Falls: rentals)

[cheryl rose]

Hi

I'm thinking about relocating to South Dakota. I would like to volunteer during some of my free time at the Pine Ridge Reservation. Now this wouldn't be for quite a while yet, but I like to research in advance.

I met an Oglala Sioux man at an Indian Arts Festival this weekend in NJ. He lives in Martin, SD and that was his recommendation. Does anyone have any ideas..... what about Hot Springs? What is job availability and rental prices? I don't have a degree, so not counting on making much money. But I want to live close enough to the Reservation to volunteer during some of my free time.

What about Martin? Any job/rentals? Anywhere else close proximity to the Reservation?

How about Oelrich's?

Any other suggestions? How long of a ridge is it from Rapid City to Pine Ridge?

Thank you

[blackhillsdreams]

Martin is a very small town with a little grocery store, gas station, maybe a couple small hotels and other things. It's been maybe 6 years since I've been through there. As for work, it would be slim to none unless you have any skills in agricultural work unless you find something at the little grocery store or gas station.

It's pretty much in the middle of nowhere but that is true of most towns on or near the reservations.

I think from Rapid to Pine Ridge is at least an hour and a half if not more like 2 hours... If you lived in Rapid, you'd have to work enough just to survive there, it wouldn't leave much time to travel to Pine Ridge to volunteer.

[DannyBanany]

Like BH said, Martin is just a dive out in the middle of nowhere. Hot Springs or Rapid City would be your best bet. The thing is though, you may feel differently abot volunteering once you get there.

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by DannyBanany

Like BH said, Martin is just a dive out in the middle of nowhere. Hot Springs or Rapid City would be your best bet. The thing is though, you may feel differently abot volunteering once you get there.

Agreed.

Cheryl, before you move your entire life out here, I have a suggestion. There have been others who have posted who were interested in doing the same thing. One gal was from Mississippi and there have been others. You may want to go through the archives or use the "Search" button at the top of the page.

No one has ever come back to let us know if they did it, what they found, or how soon they left or if they're still in the area. You could possibly send them a DM or an email if they have allowed that option. You could get some info from them.

[rjl78]

If you do go down there. Remember you are not going to change the world. You are going to face vast amounts of discouragement. If fact you will likely not be welcomed there. I am not trying to talk you out this. But you should should at least be prepared for an uphill battle.

you will be just to the south of Middle of now where. Its isolated to say the least.

Like I said hope you venture into this with realistic expectations, and a sober outlook.

[cheryl rose]

thanks for replying. i would want to go out for a visit to the area before i moved there. this is not going to happen real soon, but is a possibility. are there any other indian reservations in sd or anywhere else, that anyone may know of that might be another option to volunteer?

[rjl78]

United Sioux Tribes would be a point of contact.

THE UNITED SIOUX TRIBES OF SOUTH DAKOTA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

[Camden Northsider]

Originally Posted by cheryl rose

thanks for replying. i would want to go out for a visit to the area before i moved there. this is not going to happen real soon, but is a possibility. are there any other indian reservations in sd or anywhere else, that anyone may know of that might be another option to volunteer?

This site has a map and some info: SOUTH DAKOTA Indian Tribes

You could make a decent living working on a number of reservations in Minnesota - there are several tribes here that are the biggest employers/ community developers/ philanthropists in their local economies/ regions (see this website as an example, or better yet, this brochure), but they aren't really needing much "help" (quite the contrary, a number of them have helped to save declining neighboring communities). South Dakota is a totally different story. Although casinos have minimally helped some, most of the reservations are so isolated and so poor that it's impossible for them to get any traffic or become a destination - and in places like Deadwood where this would have been possible, the state legalized gambling and huge corporate interests came in and took over.

I think efforts to get people engaged and volunteering in SD around poverty issues should be welcomed and encouraged, and as a point of reference, there have been some successful partnerships formed around volunteerism with the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations' schools (see Teach For America - Our regions - South Dakota). There's not going to be a huge job market anywhere outside of Sioux Falls or Rapid City, but just like anywhere there's always possibilities to be found. Good luck with your decision-

[Running Fast]

Also remember, if you move close to a reservation anywhere, you are going to be in direct competition for jobs with those on the reservations who continue hard pressed to land a job. Any job. That is, unless you have a skill that others in the area do not have, a skill that is in demand.

After spending a week on the Pine Ridge Rez two summers ago (I was completing research on a book I have co-written with Darrell New Plenty Stars), in my opinion, what is needed most there is HOPE. If you can bring those people a measure of hope, go for it.

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