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Lakota Mission
Every summer since 1994, the church has sponsored an annual mission trip to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in order to:
1. Build, repair, and refurbish homes and community buildings;
2. Engage local reservation children with a stimulating program of activities;
3. Conduct other community development and assistance activities
4. Provide scholarships for students at the Oglala Lakota College; and
5. Increase team members' understanding and appreciation of Native American culture, particularly the Oglala Lakota.
5. Increase team members' understanding and appreciation of Native American culture, particularly the Oglala Lakota.
The Pine Ridge Reservation is consistently among the poorest counties in the United States with unemployment near 85 percent and high incidences of alcoholism, diabetes, high infant mortality, and poor housing conditions. Our long-distance, long-term commitment has been a catalyst for generating many other resources and groups to this deprived area.
Maybe you have read about life on the Reservation or perhaps you have listened to a team member recount their experiences and want to do something. Join us. You can make a real difference to the people of the Pine Ridge Reservation.
The Lakota Mission Team is sponsored by the Church of the Good Shepherd but welcomes team members from any church. Currently, there are team members from several churches, denominations, and faiths.
The Council meets monthly at the Church and welcomes team members from the congregation as well as from many other churches to join them. A successful trip requires careful planning. There are a variety of jobs to be done in this preparation: For instance, securing airline tickets for everyone on the team, maintaining the tents that we use on the reservation, planning activities for the children.
While on the reservation, a variety of cultural events enrich our understanding of the Native Americans. These include lectures and presentations by local elders, tribal council and other government officials, demonstrations of local crafts, side trips to pow wows, the hospital, courthouse, public schools, Wounded Knee, Oglala Lakota College, Red Cloud Indian School, etc. All these activities, as well as planning for the trip, are the responsibility of the Council.
Members of the 2012 Lakota Mission Team
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