In 2011 because of the extreme violence taking place in Juarez, Mexico Hands Of Hope decided to look to places within the United States that we could have an impact with our ministry which is a charity ministry to help the poor people.

We connected with One Nation Walking Together that is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado and they provide support and assistance not only
to the Native Americans on the Pine Ridge Reservation but also Indian reservations in Montana, Nebraska, New mexico North and South Dakota

Pine Ridge was established in 1889 in the southwest corner of South Dakota on the Nebraska border. Today it consists of 3,468.86 square miles of land and is the largest reservation in the United States.

Some Demographics of Pine Ridge:

1) 80% of the residents are unemployed ( versus 10% of the rest of the country)

2) 49% of the residents live below the federal poverty line (61% under age 18)

3) Per capita income in Shannon County is $6, 286

4) The infant mortality in Shannon county is 5 times higher than the national average.

5) Native American amputation rates due to diabetes are 3 to 4 times higher then the national average.

6) Death rate due to diabetes is 3 times higher than the national average.

7) Life expectancy on the Pine Ridge Reservation is the lowest in the western hemisphere, other than Haiti, Men 48 years and women 52 years.

From the demographics it is easy to see that we have an opportunity to help improve the quality of life for someone less fortunate then we are. 

 A Lakota Sioux house

Pine Ridge

Watch the Video - "One Nation Walking Together"

 
Our first trip to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation was in February 0f 2011, It was on this trip that we met the two sisters, both grandmothers, one living in a trailer house and the other in a small house. These two grandmothers are working very hard to support and keep their families together. There are several grandchildren and great grandchildren that these two grandmothers are taking care of so we decided that this would be an opportunity to see what we could do to help improve their quality of life .

The Lakota Sioux tribe that lives on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is a very proud and strong  tribe that have had some great Indian chiefs like "Chief Crazy Horse", "Chief Red Cloud" and several others.

During the next six trips we made to the reservation we have accomplished the following tasks to support our native Brothers and Sisters. We bought and installed each grandmother a new Kitchen stove, we bought and installed a new refrigerator. We have brought numerous items of clothing and food for the families. We painted the house and installed new rain gutters. We built a deck on the front of the house and built a new set of steps for the trailer house.