Economic Empowerment
Promoting lasting change through economic opportunities
Why it's important
Throughout history, regional wealth and development have been dictated by proximity to waterways—not just for drinking water, but as vital arteries for trade and travel. It is no coincidence that the U.S. government confined the Lakota people to the Pine Ridge Reservation. Pine Ridge is home to the North American Pole of Inaccessibility: the exact spot on the continent furthest from any ocean.
Confined to an isolated food desert where agriculture is incredibly difficult, the Reservation's economy has been structurally disadvantaged from its inception. Over the last century and a half, cities like Rapid City have developed and thrived on the periphery, but Pine Ridge has been left behind.
The Impossible Choice
Because essential stores, services, and jobs are often several hours away, there is a seemingly endless outflow of money and resources leaving the reservation. This geographic and economic isolation has created a precarious reality:
Near 90% Unemployment: Finding stable, local work is exceptionally rare.
Systemic Underfunding: A lack of local economic circulation leaves schools and community infrastructure severely underfunded.
The Brain Drain: With so few local opportunities, Lakota youth are forced into an agonizing choice: stay close to home and struggle to survive, or leave the Reservation in search of better fortune.
For the Lakota—a people whose culture is deeply rooted in proximity to family, elders, and community—leaving their roots behind is often an excruciating decision.
Stopping the Hemorrhage
One Spirit’s goal is to stop this economic drain by bringing jobs, trades, and opportunities directly to the Reservation. We are dedicated to building a sovereign, localized economy. To ensure resources stay within the community, every single one of our programs is led by and employs Lakota people. We aren't just providing aid; we are stoking the sparks of entrepreneurship and building long-term, self-sustaining industries.
Our Economic Empowerment Programs
Explore how we are generating revenue, teaching valuable trades, and keeping Lakota families together through employment.
The Charging Buffalo Meat Processing Facility
More than just a source of crucial nutrition, the Meat Processing Facility is a beacon of Lakota entrepreneurship. By managing a herd of over 50 buffalo and operating our own processing center, we are creating steady, local jobs. As we work toward securing USDA approval, this facility will soon be able to sell meat outside of South Dakota—transforming a local resource into a powerful economic engine that brings revenue into the Reservation.
The Lakota Empowerment Group
This Lakota-led construction and trades initiative directly tackles the reservation's housing crisis while building a skilled local workforce. The Lakota Empowerment Group employs community members to winterize, renovate, and build homes. By training residents in carpentry, construction, and home repair, the program equips individuals with lifelong, marketable skills while keeping infrastructure investments inside the local economy.
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Learn about each of our 3 pillars of support
Youth Programs
With high school dropout rates over 70% and teen suicide rates 150% higher than the national average, Lakota youth face immense daily challenges.
We support the next generation through our youth center and summer camps, providing safe spaces rooted entirely in Lakota culture and identity.