Native communities in South Dakota face profound challenges shaped by historical trauma, generational poverty, and chronic underfunding of healthcare and educational systems. The Pine Ridge Reservation, home to the Oglala Lakota Nation, is among the most underserved areas in the United States. It covers over 2.1 million acres with a population estimated between 16,000 to 40,000 tribal members¹. The reservation experiences some of the highest poverty rates in the nation—with over 50% officially below the poverty line, and estimates exceeding 80% in some areas. Unemployment has been documented as high as 89%, and per capita income is around $7,700, starkly below national averages¹. Health disparities are severe, including infant mortality rates 300% higher than the national average, tuberculosis rates 800% higher, and teenage suicide rates 150% higher¹. The median age on Pine Ridge is notably young at about 25 years, reflecting a community with many youth facing compounded risk factors¹.
At the community level, the need for culturally informed, trauma-aware mental health support systems for Native youth is urgent. The suicide rate among Native youth on Pine Ridge is estimated to be four to five times higher than the national average², with ongoing community trauma from domestic violence, substance abuse, and economic instability further exacerbating the crisis. As Julian Bear Runner, Oglala President, declared recently, the tribe faces a mental health emergency intensified by historical trauma and the COVID-19 pandemic³. The Bear Project, founded by local leader “Tiny,” has been a critical grassroots initiative for over 20 years, evolving from a literacy program into a suicide prevention sanctuary offering safe, healing spaces for youth⁴. The project is currently developing a permanent campus with licensed psychologists, trained staff, and residential facilities to provide trauma-informed care. However, progress depends heavily on community support, building materials, and volunteer labor to bring the initiative to fruition.
This summer, HXP Builders will collaborate with the Bear Project to further the development of this vital sanctuary on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Volunteers will assist in critical construction tasks such as drywall installation, flooring, and structural work that will support counseling and residential spaces for youth. This partnership recognizes and supports local leadership and community resilience, contributing to the creation of safe, healing environments poised to address one of the most urgent youth mental health crises in the country.
Sources:
¹ Facts About Pine Ridge
² Indian Health Service
³ Native Hope
⁴ ICT News