DOCUMENT RESUME VD 035 471 RC 003 928 A7TFOr Maynard, Pileen; tmwiss, rzayla m7mTp Thal- mhnsP Deonln. May TiivP, Conditions Among the Oglala sioux of the Dine 'idge Reservation. Lena Ovate Kin rlin i Kte.1 S'DorqTV1PrCv Puhlic wealth Service (D"PW)r Washington,D.C. Div. of Tndian "ealth. DUE nAr" MOmr 10nn. prNT)q D-PTCv FDPs Price mt7-4'n.7 Pr-s9.0 D7SCPTT3TOIDS American 7istorv, *American Tndians, *Cultural Background, *Demography, *Economic Factors, Educational Problems, Geographic Concepts, Health Facilities, Social Problems, Social Psychology, social s+ructurP, *Socioeconomic Tnfluences "r1)FITTT7PS *oalala Sioux AT1TDACm A Picture of the nresent conditions of the Oglala Sioux Tndian tribe is offered inan effort to provide insight into how to imnrove the lifr, and spirit of this tribeof the northern plains. Socioeconomic characteristicsand socionsychological problems are u4-i1izP1 in describing "IP conditions, Informationon their Ilistory and traditional culture isalso included, Data for this report wore gat,,PrP1 from the naselinalrata Study and other research conduct Pd by Community Mental TTPalthProgram staff. Demographic information, history, economic factors, education,health and medical facilities, social organization, and mental and socialdisorders are included in the discussion. Remediesare suggested for the deficiencies found by the research. (SW) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE rNI OFFICE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRODUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE 111 PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGINATING IT.POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS re% STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY. HECHEL LENA OVATE KINNIPIKTE THAT THESE PEOPLE VAY LIVE CONDITIONS AMONG THE OGLALA SIOUX OF THE PINE RIDGE RESERVATION EILEENMAYNARD, Anthropologist and GAYLA TWISS, Research Assistant COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM PINE RIDGE SERVICE UNIT 00 , ABERDEEN AREA G/ INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE U S PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE PINERIDGE, SOUTH DAKOTA 1969 Wakan Tanka, be merciful tous always To the heavens of the universe, Iam sending a voice I hold my pipe and offer it to You That my people may live! TO THE READER: It should be.recognized that many of the opinionsexpressed throughout this report are personal ones of the authors. TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE Purpose of Report 2 Sources of Information 3 The Baseline Data Study 3 Acknowledgements 4 CHAPTER I- THE SETTING Location.... ... 7 Political Divisions 7 Climate and Topography 9 Transportation 12 Communications 14 CHAPTER II - THE PEOPLE Ethnic Composition 17 Language Patterns 19 Distribution of the Population 21 Relations between Indians and Whites 22 Sex and Age Groups 24 Experience off the Reservation 29 Indian Personality Traits and Values 31 CHAPTER III - HISTORY OF THE OGLALAS Introduction 38 Across the Missouri 38 The End of Freedom 42 The Messiah Who Failed 46 CHAPTER IV - THE ECONOMIC SITUATION Introduction 54 Outward Manifestationsof the Economic Situation 56 Income Levels 60 Employment Rates 60 Sources of Employment 64 Occupational Structure 66 Sources of Income 67 The Land- Leasing and Ownership 68 Use of the Land 74 Conclusions and Comments 75 CHAPTER V - FORMAL EDUCATION Introduction 81 Present Day Schools 84 Educational Levels ...90 Underachievement and Dropouts 92 Factors Contributing to Lack of Motivation in Scholastic Achievement ...................................0094 CHAPTER VI - HEALTH AND MEDICAL FACILITIES Traditional Medicine and Practitioners. OOOOOO OOOOOO100 Medicine Men and Native Cures Today 101 The Public Health Service and Other Sources of Medical Aid 103 Degree of Sickness and Disability 106 Use of Medical Facilities and Attitude Toward PHS 107 Summary and Conclusions.......... OOOOOOOO . OOOOO OOOOOO109 CHAPTER VII - SOCIAL ORGANIZATION THE FAMILY Introduction... e OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOO111 Composition of the FamilyOOOOO OOOOO 112 Composition of the HouseholdsOOOOO OOOOO114 Kinship System....................................... OOOOOO.115 Male and Female Roles within the FamilyOOOOO 121 CHILD REARING Early Childhood OOOOO ......... OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ..........123 The Child from Six through Twelve Years .....................125 AdolescenceOOOOO e. OOOOOOO OOOOO126 THE COMMUNITY The Community OOOOO ......... OOOOO G OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO129 THE TRIBE Traditional Structure 131 Tribal Structure Today 133 Law and Order................ OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO139 CHAPTER VIII - MENTAL AND SOCIAL DISORDERS Introduction. 3.41 Extent of Psychiatric Disorder 141 SUICIDE ATTEMPTS Suicide AttemptsO 1 y OO ........... OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.....147 DELINQUENCY Rates of Delinquency 149 Juvenile Delinquency ,....153 Adult Delinquency 158 DRINKING Drinking and Ethnic Group, Sex and Age 161 Drinking and Acculturation and Educational Level 162 Drinking and Employment 162 Drinking and Economic Security 164 Drinking and HOS 164 Drinking as Related to Delinquency, FTSDP and Auto Accidents 164 Conclusions 165 ACCIDENTS Accidents 167 CHAPTER IX - CAUSES AND CURES Summary of Conditions 169 Acculturation Situation 170 Over-Dependency and Powerlessness 173 Remedying the Situation 175 Two former periods in life of the Sioux as depicted by Oglalaartist, Jake Herman PREFACE pose of Report Available information on North American Indians deals mainly with the traditional culture, that is the lifeways of Indians prior to or during the initial contact period. It is not that there is a lack of interest in the contemporary Indian. A great deal research has been carried out among reservation and urban Indians, but the results (when published) are scattered throughout a variety of periodicals, institution reports, collec- tions, etc. The point is that comprehensive studies of Indian groups today, with some outstanding exceptions, are not readily accessible or plentiful enough for the purpose of better under- standing these often forgotten people. It is hoped that this report will offer a picture of the present conditions of an Indian group and provide some insight into how to improve the life and spirit of the Oglala Sioux, one of the great tribes of the northern plains. In describing the conditions, we have concentrated on the socio-economic charac- teristics and the socio- psychological problems plaguing the Oglalas. We feel that the problems stem from the conditions which in turn result from the acculturation situation. Because of this, it has been necessary to include, but very superficially something of the history and traditional culture. One of the purposes of this report is the keeping of a promise. A just complaint of the Indians here is that they have been over-researched with no apparent benefit and have rarely even been informed of the results. In talking with Oglala lead- ers during the planning phase of our research, we assured them that the results would be made available to their people. In consequence, we began publication on a bimonthly basis of the Pine Ridge Research Bulletin in January of 1968. Included in the Bulletin are not only the results of research carried out by members of the Community Mental Health Program (CMHP) but also the contributions of others primarily concerned with the Sioux. This report is also meant to provide feedback to the people of the Pine Ridge Reservation, but in a more concise and integrated form than in the Bulletin and intended for a wider audience. The ultimate, but most important objective is to generate impetus for remedying the situation on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Now is the time to utilize the results of research for the pur- poses of development and we have made some suggestion to that purpose. 8ouag91...Inf'suratigja, The main sources of information for this report are the Baseline Data Study and other research, of a formal and in- formal nature, undertaken by the Community Mental Health Pro- gram (CMHP) staff. Also utilized, especially in regard to the cultural and historical background material, are the reports of other investigators. Let us say that their work has helped to put more flesh on the skeleton of the statistical data we have accumulated. We would like to emphasize, however, that we are reporting in descriptive form on mainly the results of CMHP research. It is 'hoped that in the future we will be able to expand some of the major sections of this report into separate monographs which will incorporate the significant findings of other researchers. The Base ne Data Study. A reservationwide census-survey called the Baseline Data Study was initiated in the autumn of 1967 and completed in late winter of 1968. This study was made possible by the Indian Health Service, a branch of the U.S. Public Health Service, which included in its plans for the Community Mental Health Pro- gram (CMHP) at Pine Ridge the carrying out of a baseline study. It was felt that such a study was necessary due to the lack of: 1. Basic demographic and socio-economic data on the Pine Ridge Reservation population and 2. Knowledge as to the extent and etiology of socio-psychological problems on the Reservation. The results would be invaluable in program planning and provide a basis for measuring change. The execution of the Baseline Data Study was, however, an example of inter-agency cooperation. The local Office of Economic Opportunity lent us very competent personnel to help with the interviewing and Mrs. Hilda Horn Cloud of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) at Pine Ridge provided us with census material. The aid of these agencies greatly facilitated the carrying out of the study. The interview