ONE SPIRIT

This camp is a chance for children from Pine Ridge to form new friendships and discover new passions through a myriad of activities, offering a short break from an environment that tests the resilience of many every day.

On Sunday, April 5—Easter—our executive director, Jeri Baker, was awakened around 5:30 a.m. to phone calls. Authorities needed her key to get into the Okini Market, which was on fire. Fortunately, no one was hurt. However, that fire ultimately consumed the building, everything in it, and the attached food pantry for people with diabetes and dialysis. We're talking to our insurance now, but we know it won't cover everything. We estimate it will cost $40,000 to replace what's b

The SAVE Act is a bill passed by the House which is being debated in the Senate. Proponents of the bill say it will make federal elections more secure, but opponents point out that, in doing so, certain people, including Native Americans, will face difficulties registering to vote. Specifically, for those on Pine Ridge, the first major change should the SAVE Act become law is that you would have to prove your citizenship IN PERSON. For many, this means spending more money dri

In the heart of a brutal South Dakota winter, where temperatures regularly plunge below zero, a home is more than just a building—it’s a lifeline, a shelter from the cold. Recently, that lifeline was severed for dozens of our neighbors in a series of devastating events. Over the last several weeks, three separate fires, like the one to the left, and a severe weather incident have left approximately 73 people homeless in the middle of a life-threatening freeze. Two trailers in

Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota. Are these just arbitrary words? Most people do not give it much thought, but in reality, these words have history. History that has affected every American's material reality. Why is that? How do the events of history, as far back as 1862, have anything to do with the events of today? Recently, 4 Lakota were taken into ICE custody, and reports say they are being held at Fort Snelling. On first observation, it sounds absurd: “How can Native American

Today, my grandma made her journey home. Although this is the saddest day of my life, all I can think of is how grateful I am that God has given myself and the entire world my Grandma Tiny for the time she lived on this earth. She truly changed the world with the love and compassion she led with everyday. She lived every day like it was her last. She fiercely fought for the youth and underprivileged. She loved and gave tough love. She had so much compassion for people in all

Let me know if this sounds familiar. “What an exhausting day! All I want to do is go home, eat dinner, and relax”. When I get home, I look through the fridge, move over the expired milk to reach the leftovers from a week ago, then open the lid, wince at the smell, and throw it out. I head over to look in the pantry: Cans of vegetables, rice, noodles, and pasta sauce fill every shelf. I take a step back and think to myself, “A house full of food and nothing to eat. What to do?

Opportunity, dignity, financial security, job security, and hope. Well-paying and meaningful jobs create economic opportunity and break the cycle of poverty on Pine Ridge Reservation. For years, the people of the Pine Ridge Reservation and One Spirit have been working on the Charging Buffalo Meat Processing Facility , a beacon of hope in a food desert and a community that needs employment opportunities. Charles Bamm Brewer, a.k.a. Captain Oglala Nation, and his staff are star

We have all seen the photos and videos of people in other countries waiting to get food being brought to their country by trucks or...

We’re pleased to announce a new initiative to address the lack of employment and vital services on the reservation—the Lakota Empowerment...

For 20 years, One Spirit has worked diligently with the Lakota people to improve food and economic security on Pine Ridge Reservation. We started with at-home meal delivery services but expanded over time to include employment programs, job skills trainings, community gardens, and, more. Over two decades, One Spirit has helped the Lakota people provide many meals, deliver many bundles of firewood, build homes, and learn many skills necessary to become self-sufficient. The Cha

One Spirit relies on food banks that receive support from the USDA in order to maximize the amount of relief we can provide to hungry...

Imagine waking up before dawn and walking out to your car, if you have one, on a cold morning. You’ve loaded it with your family’s...

It seems like winter is having a hard time letting go of us this year, but spring WILL eventually be here, and One Spirit hopes to be off...

One of the crowning achievements of One Spirit has been building the Charging Buffalo Meat Processing Facility. This building not only...

As the cold winds whip across the South Dakota Plains this winter, causing temperatures to drop below zero, people on Pine Ridge Indian...

We have been contacted by a family of 12 from Allen that just lost almost all of their belongings in a fire.

The vision of self-empowerment is at the core of one of our most vital programs on the reservation: workforce development.

In July, 7 kids from Pine Ridge travelled to the Greater Boston Area for 9 days of summer fun and learning!

The Karl May Festival hosts hundreds of thousands of people each year to showcase Native American culture.