ONE SPIRIT

Watch the Highlights! Learn why a tournament like this means so much to the Lakota community. The energy on the court was amazing. We had an incredible turnout with over 40 kids lacing up to play, and a fantastic cheering section of parents and relatives that brought our total attendance to around 60 people! The day kicked off early at 11 a.m., with a dedicated group of kids showing up to help us set everything up—fueled by some well-deserved pizza, of course. To keep the mom

For years, a basic household chore that many take for granted, washing a basket of clothes, has been an exhausting day-long trial for families across the Pine Ridge Reservation. With vast distances, limited in-home plumbing, and few working facilities, doing laundry has routinely meant packing up the car at dawn, driving up to 100 miles roundtrip, and spending scarce gas money just to reach an off-reservation wash station. This spring, that reality began to shift in a big way

A loud bang rings through the grandstands, and a thousand watching heads turn to the Saloon. A locomotive has crashed into the back of the building, setting off fireballs. The battle has boiled over between the Mescalero Apache, their allies, and the Pacific Railroad Company’s henchmen. As the fighting concludes, the heroes prevail. Winnetou, the Apache leader, and Old Shatterhand, his newfound German ally, have just halted the bloody expansion of the railway straight through

To dismantle the reservation food desert, we must secure the community today. Our network of three active food pantries in Pine Ridge—strategically located in Allen, Manderson, and alongside the Buffalo Meathouse—serves as the immediate stabilizing force for the Lakota people. These locations are not merely charity distribution centers; they are community-operated lifelines that provide the strength and breathing room required to build permanent, self-sustaining infrastructur

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

If you are a skateboarder, you may be familiar with the Impossible. This is a trick where the skater rotates the board along the intermediate axis, and, unless you are a physicist, you may have no clue what that means. Essentially, it is a trick that was long thought to be impossible, hence the name, due to the unpredictability of the board when spun at the midpoint. This unpredictability was overcome by Rodney Mullen, making use of his foot to guide the board as it spun at t

The following article is an op-ed written by RF Buche. RF Buche is the President & CEO of GF Buche Companies buchefoods.com and Founder of Team Buche Cares teambuchecares.org. He is a fourth-generation grocer serving rural and tribal communities across South Dakota, where his family’s business has operated for 120 years. The opinions shared here are Mr. Buche's and are not necessarily those of One Spirit's. I’ve spent my entire life in grocery stores. I am a fourth-generation

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?

Picture a vast, hilly landscape with flowing rivers of red and beautiful, sweet clouds. You are probably thinking about Gunflint Trail, Minnesota, which is half right. If you were thinking about the strawberry shortcake frybread at Big Back Eats located in Gunflint Trail, Minnesota, then you are a gouda guesser. A charming food stand operated by the Lakota Workforce Development/Employment Program is now open and serving customers. You can visit the stand on Tuesdays and Wedne

It is 1964, and the world is tuned in to watch the Tokyo Olympics. Tamakhóche Thehíla (Billy Mills) is rounding the corner of the track during the 10,000-meter race in the middle of the pack. As he reaches the straightaway, the fatigued, young Lakota from the Pine Ridge Reservation, pushes his legs to their limits and gains the lead on the other runners, crossing the finish line and winning Olympic gold. After his shocking victory in the 10,000-meter run at the 1964 Tokyo O

Iyahnna High Hawk (seated on the left, in black) enjoyed her summer camp experience. After a busy and impactful season, summer is over at Camp Marrowbone, and most of this year’s campers are already back in school. Thanks to your donations, these children will be talking about their experiences until this school year ends and the next summer begins. We talked to camper Iyahnna High Hawk who was excited to tell us about her experience at Camp Marrowbone this summer. While she

In any culture, women have always been an integral part of the community, and the women of the Lakota are no exception. For generations, the Lakota have practiced a traditional women's society Isnati ceremony (coming of age). For young girls transitioning into their teenage years, this ceremony aims to teach them about their responsibilities, how to cook traditional food, self-care, making healthy choices, education, and planning for their future careers. Taught by mothers, g

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 start

In our 20 years of working with the Lakota, we have never been this worried about meeting basic food needs on the reservation. Our food pantries are running low and are incapable of meeting the people's needs this summer. Additionally, our diabetic-friendly food pantry just needs food that meets the health needs of people with diabetes and on dialysis. Federal budget cuts threaten the nutrition and health needs of the Lakota people, who are already short on both. The programs

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 planes, often operated by the US military. For most of us, we watch these films with a feeling of safety, from the vantage point of having food in the fridge and money to shop at the supermarket. But on Pine Ridge Reservation, access to food is not so readily available: The women’s shelter on the Reservation currently has 9 children and 7 women l