Pine Ridge Indian ReservationThe Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (Oglala Oyanke in Lakota, also called Pine Ridge Agen
cy) is an Oglala Sioux Native American reservation located in South Dakota. Pine Ridge was established in the southwest corner of South Dakota on the Nebraska border and consists of 3,468.86 sq m of land area, the eighth-largest reservation in the United States, larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined. Most of the land comprising the reservation lies within Shannon County and Jackson County, two of the poorest counties in the U.S. In addition, there are extensive off-reservation trust lands, mostly in adjacent Bennett County, but also extending into adjacent Pine Ridge, Nebraska in Sheridan County, just south of the community of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, the reservation's administrative center and largest community.The 2000 census population of all these lands was 15,521. However, a study conducted by Colorado State University and accepted by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development estimate the resident population to be 28,787[1]. The reservation was the setting for Adrian Louis' novel "Skins" as well as the 2002 Chris Eyre adaptation of the same name; the 2000 book, On the Rez, by Ian Frazier; and the 2008 film Rez Bomb, directed by Steven Lewis Simpson. Unemployment is 80% and average family annual income is $3700. The adolescent suicide rate is 4x the national average and the infant mortality rate is 5x the national average. Through in a HIGH rate of alcoholism along with heart disease and cancer and you have a hell of a sad situation. There's a You Tube movie that shows exactly what we saw....Pine Ridge Reservation Disaster. Here it is:
INDIAN SCHOOL AND CULTURAL CENTER
Chief Red Cloud help establish the Jesuit-run school for Indian Children. He is buried next to the school on the hill. Pleep enjoyed playing at the school and the wonderful art at the Cultural Center.
We were very surpris
ed by the condition of the Memorial and Cemetery. Very unkempt for such a historic event-1890 massacre of men, women and children by the 7th Calvary. All 300 are buried in this fenced in plot. The cemetery is very run down and a sad looking Memorial. Wounded Knee has known contemporary protest and violence as well-the 1970's were a hot bed of AIM (American Indian Movement) and FBI standoffs. I had my first introduction to AIM in 1970 when I was a freshman at Colorado State Univ-the Black Panthers paled (no pun intended) in comparison to the the militancy of AIM. They hated me, made it very clear, because I was white. This was my first taste of "reverse" discrimination. Yes, I through the reverse in there...after all it was the 70's. So what did AIM accomplish? Certainly, not much at this very sad Indian Reservation.AND THE ALCOHOLISM WAS EVIDENT.....while the reservation is dry they go 2 miles to Nebraska to the 4 liquor stores which sell 12,500 cans of beer daily. We saw men laying on the street so drunk and that the reservation police came to get them. It was heartbreaking to see this situation. Without work to do daily, what do they do? Is this reservation system an extemtion of the welfare system. Is it working? The road runs through the reservation so it is open for all to see. Surely there is a solution to this pervasive problem?
BADLANDS NATIONAL PARKWe have been here before
but today was like driving through a wind tunnel. Talk about a dust bowl. It was wild to watch all the motorcycles try to keep their bikes on the road. Pleep liked the name Badlands as in he could relate! He is starting to think about becoming a real desparado. He wants to see if any of Butch Cassidy's gang is left hanging around here. Pleep is gunning to be the next Sundance.
Wall- the famous drugstore, America's Favorite Roadside Attraction! Free Admission to this 76,000 square foot wonderland of free attractions!The Wall Drug Store got its start during the Depression years by offering Free Ice Water to thirsty travelers. From their beginning in 1931 to today, the family-owned and run business continues what their reputation was and is built on — giving friendly service to the public!In the words of it's founder: It was December 1931. Dorothy and I had just bought the only drugstore in a town called Wall on the edge of the South Dakota Badlands. We'd been open a few days, and business had been bad. I stood shivering on the wooden side walk. In this little prairie town there were only 326 people, 326 poor people. Most of them were farmers who'd been wiped out either by the Depression or drought. Christmas was coming, but there was no snow, no sp arkling lights — just viciously cold air. Out on the prairie the cold wind whipped up dust devils. I could see a Tin Lizzie chugging along the two-laner. Suitcases were strapped to the running boards. Someone's going home for the holidays, I thought to myself. I wished they would stop, just for a cup of coffee , but
they didn't. Here on Main Street, no one was out. Look forward 78 y ears later... It is now year 2009 and there are people bustling all over the streets of Wall. If Ted & Dorothy can make it in the dustbowl days of the Dirty 30s then there is no suc h place as Godforsaken in this great country we live in...AMERICA. We are still here and gas prices are low. All signs lead to Wall Drug!Pleep found a lot of stuff he thought we should buy at the Wall Drug Store. He is thinking about all the things Buba will need on the new ranch. He wants to live the "natural" life like they do in Alaska - only with internet, cable tv, and a fully stocked larder.
Sturgis and Bike
r Mayhem
Baby Boomers (def. out numbering their younger comrades) rumbling through South Dakota for the 69th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. What recession? The Mother Lode of bike rally's was packed to the gills. Attendance from 450,000-750,000 (2000). We are talking a major league event. Beyond Hog Wild and Pleep loves the biker crowd. He wants Buba to buy one and ditch the big truck. He thinks a nice sidecar would
work to put Bocahontas in. Now what about the clothes?
Pleep found a nice young biker lady and tried to hook up with her. We had to chase after him. Then he took off again when he spotted the mudslide sign. He was hoping it meant both drinks and 
real mud fun. While I was chasing him down in the mudslide tent, Buba was diverted into his favorite tent. I think the two of them need to be sent back to the hotel for a timeout. Pleep suggested that Boca get a pair of chaps like the other la
dies cause Buba said "whoa baby" over and over.
It was sad to learn of a fellow Floridian and one of his stores a neighbor to Anro, Bruce Rossmeyer, was killed in a motorcycle accident on his way to Sturgis. This Harley Davidson Empire builder is quite known nationally and very much on the Florida bike scene. I passed his Pompano Beach Store on the way to work every day in awe of the all the bikes flowing through the place. Not many wear helmets around here and neither did Bruce. I just don't get it? Freedom? Defiance? Macho? Looking Good? I love the spirit of the Bikers...are they the modern day Cowboys?????
If you want to see all the pics from today, take a look at our short movie :
