At Wounded Knee

Though the Pine Ridge reservation may have the name of a tract-home development, it has nothing in common with one. We had a few free hours and decided check out Wounded Knee, the site of where the last major "engagement" between the US Army and the Sioux. You can find a good description of it here.

Though the incident looms large in Native American history, you'll find little there to commemorate it. This picture shows the site where the massacre occurred. You'll notice there is no visitor's center, no museum, and no informational kiosk. Up close, you can only find a few swap-meet style tables selling trinkets and a blue plaque explaining the event.

Why so little commemoration? Well, today Pine Ridge is one of the poorest places in the world. Not in the US, in the world. Average income is $3,800 per year. 85% of the people are unemployed, 97% live below the poverty line. Life expectancy for men is 47 years. By comparison, the life expectancy for men in Bangladesh is 63.

Oddly enough, it has plenty of rich farmland and many beautiful horses.