© hector emanuel

Republic of Lakotah
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota

Pine Ridge is home to Wounded Knee, where in 1890 three hundred men, women and children were massacred by the US 7th Calvary as they were being transported to the reservation.

Life in Pine Ridge is hard.

It is the poorest Indian reservation in the United States, with an unemployment of about 80% and almost half of its residents live below the poverty line.

Both the infant mortality and alcoholism rates are the highest in the country, while the life expectancy is the lowest (52 for women and 48 for men). v Many lack basic services such as running water, sewer, transportation, telephone, and the lack of health care is among the worst in the country.

Enjoy the series Republic of Lakotah by Hector Emanuel.