PINE RIDGE STATISTICS VS. WORLDWIDE STATISTICS
“Poverty: the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor.”- Dictionary.com
Living in a state of poverty leaves many feeling broken, hopeless, unimportant and forgotten. Yet today, much of mainstream society is unaware of the chilling poverty that lies within our own backyard. Pine Ridge Reservation serves as the home to more than 29,000 Lakota Sioux tribe members and is the poorest place in the nation. With 97 percent of the population living far below the U.S. federal poverty line, the living conditions on Pine Ridge Reservation are equivalent to those found among the poorest third world countries.
Unemployment Rate Pine Ridge Reservation: 90 percent | Worldwide: 6 percent
Pine Ridge Reservation has no commercial infrastructure, industry or technology to provide employment for the Lakota Sioux people.
High School Dropout Rate Pine Ridge Reservation: 70 percent | National: 7 percent
Nearly 50 percent of the Pine Ridge Reservation population is comprised of young individuals, ages 15-24. Most young adults of this age pursue a high school diploma and continue on to college, yet Pine Ridge has insufficient resources for adequate education.
People Per Household Pine Ridge Reservation: 17 people | Worldwide: 3.6 people
The average annual income on Pine Ridge Reservation is $3,000, which amounts to a mere $60 a week. Compared to the $10,000 average annual income for those living in poverty in third world countries, the need to cohabitate in Pine Ridge is almost a necessity.
True Sioux Hope plans to inspire unprecedented, permanent, positive change for the Sioux Tribe in South Dakota and will do so by first and foremost, raising awareness. Bringing awareness to the harsh conditions in which the Lakota Sioux tribe lives cannot be attained without your support. Join the conversation and raise awareness by participating in True Sioux Hope Foundation’s #Sioux60 campaign on Facebook and Twitter. How would YOU live on $60 a week?
