A scene of Wakpamni Lake Annual Powwow on the 4th of July. In the late 19 century to the 1970s, the practice of native American religious ceremonies had been banned, even the use of their language in public. Now they can freely practice any faith or tradition, but the cost of losing their identity is big: most practitioners nowadays are the elder or children, not the youths. In addition, some Lakotas feel no sense about that they have the traditional ceremony on the 4th of July because of the historical relations between native Americans, surely including Lakotas, and the US government. But others would like to purposely use the day to appeal their culture and tradition, especially as many of Lakotas have served the US military. © Q. Sakamaki
Young Lakota native Americans join Lakota War Pony Races at Kiza Park, Pine Ridge, that environmentalists say faces the high risk of pollution in the ground water due to the nearby abandoned uranium mines and wells, often creating the risks of cancer, diabetes and other illness. © Q. Sakamaki
Established in 1899, Prisoner of War Camp #334 (aka Pine Ridge Reservation) is home to the people of the Oglala Lakota tribe, and has been ever since they were forced to abandon their native lands by the U.S. government. It was also the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre, the largest slaughter of innocent men, women, and children on American soil – a fact the often gets ignored when the U.S. media reports on mass shootings.
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On 29 December, 1890, troops from the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment went into the South Dakota camp on a mission to disarm Black Coyote, a deaf man, while he was performing a ritual called the Ghost Dance. The rifle in question went off, and the U.S. soldiers charged the Lakota people, who had been disarmed. By the time they were done, some 300 innocent Lakota men, women, and children had been killed.
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The U.S. government awarded Medals of Honor to 20 soldiers in the massacre at the time – only to express “deep regret” for the slaughter a century later, as reported by The New York Times in 1990.
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That regret did not extend beyond mere words. For the past century, the Oglala Lakota, one of the seven tribes of the Great Sioux Nation, have been forced to live at Pine Ridge, the nation’s eighth largest reservation in conditions of extreme poverty, enforced by government policy and the breaking of treaties, which has resulted in the loss of vast natural holdings for the Lakota peoples.
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Lakota native American veterans and their family members tribute to the dead family members and comrades during the service, at Wakpamni Lake Annual Powwow on the U.S independent day. The Lakota in the Pine Ridge reservation, like other Native Americans, have served the US military generations to generations. It is very disproportional in terms of their population ratio, and somehow it creates an ethical dilemma to serve the U.S. military because of the historical relations between native Americans and the U.S. government. However, many of them have no choice since there are not so many job opportunities in the reservations. © Q. Sakamaki
An alcoholic native American man is arrested with the charge of domestic violence in the Pine Ridge reservation. Alcoholism affects 8 out of 10 families in the Pine Ridge reservation, as many cannot have a hope in their future. © Q. Sakamaki