any Native Americans living in South Dakota...?

Question

i am taking a missions trip to reservations in South Dakota and i wanted to see if there was any information i really needed to know before i go hang out there?... what do most of you think of christianity/christians? thanks so much for any help you can give me...

ok... i will not just be hanging out for all you literal people... i am going with 15 other people and out youth pastor who is going with us knows the pastors for a church there and so we are "hanging out" at their church as well as helping with community projects...

my question was directed to Native Americans living in SD... not asking if there was any because i already know that... thanks though for any help.

Answer 1

I am a Native woman. I do not live in South Dakota but my tribe is from there. I also know my history.

You should know that Natives have a long and oppressive history with Christian people. At the hands of Christians Natives were tortured, raped, killed, kidnapped and more. I'm not saying that this is your fault but it is important you know that this happened so you can understand some of the sentiments some people may have towards Christian people.

Up into the mid to late 90s Natives were still forced into boarding schools. For quite a long period in history Native children were kidnapped and stolen from their parents and Forced into White Christian boarding schools. A LOT of horrible things happened in those schools such as regular physical punishment and rape. These schools stripped Natives of their culture.

For this reason Many Natives may have negative or uneasy feelings toward Christian people, especially missionaries.

Having said that this also created many Christian Natives.

It is often a community full of Natives that follow all types of spiritualities.

Also know that some Natives who practice Christianity rightly also practice some of their Native spiritual beliefs as well.

Be sensitive, don't judge, and don't be forceful.

Hope this info. helps.

EDIT: To respond to user below. The land bridge theory is just that, A THEORY. There is actually more evidence to disprove the theory than there is to prove it. The evidence this user is citing is extremely controversial. The website he provides is also very controversial. For more information please read "Red Earth White Lies".

Answer 2

I went to the Cheyenne River Reservation last summer, and I one day I hope to go back there and work as a nurse. I would suggest researching the tribe you will be visiting, and research the history of the Indians relationship with Christianity (So called Christians did a lot of hurt Native people). Then you will have a better understanding as to why some resist your teachings. Listen to the people, show respect for their culture and traditions. Go to powwows, talk to the elders, ect. Make sure you have a humble attitude. Realize that the reservations in South Dakota are very poor areas, even poorer than the inner cities in some cases. Cheyenne River is the poorest place in the US.

I think going to the reservation will be a great experience for you. You'll find that most of the residents are nice people, and you might make a lot of new friends. Use it as a learning experience.

Answer 3

I grew up between the Rosebud and Pine Ridge reservations. Before you go, you should know that they are engulfed in poverty and that violence is prevalent. You need to be careful and not think that by going there with your church you will save the world. Also, many people may be distrustful of you or the help you offer due to many years of lies and abuse that have been directed at natives. People on the res live a HARD life. This winter the fuel subsidy ran out and many of the houses on the res were without heat is sub-zero weather. Do your best to learn from their culture (there is MUCH to be learned from them), don't try to create a new one for them. Also, make it a point to go to a pow-wow but be respectful while you are there.

Answer 4

Oops misunderstood the title of the question.

Yes, there are Native Americans in SD. The Black Hills is still considered sacred land by many.

Tribes in SD are the Arapaho, Arikara and Cheyenne. There are many sub divisions of the Cheyenne.

Answer 5

There are plenty, I count some folks there as e-friends. A large majority of them these days follow a white religion paired with some traditional views, I'm told many are Catholic, so not sure what 'mission' work you are intending on doing...

Answer 6

If you plan on going to a reservation to hang out, Right there is trouble looking to jump. You'll see. Good luck.

Answer 7

community in person-friendly words to that region, now to not North us of a. there is a few people in that blend that experience they lost their land via unlawful means. they have a tendency to no longer shop in ideas, or possibly have not discovered historic past. The lands they once had in what's now us of a were gained both via conflict, as spoils of conflict, or via purchase. For that which replaced into offered, straightforward minded people uphold criminal contracts, which those people do no longer seem straightforward minded. One aspect of rivalry is that the authorities that made the transaction isn't known, now. pondering the instability of their personal united states, and the others of Spanish descent, that should be a aspect to evaluate. the great answer then should be to toss them overseas, and seal the border. in the journey that they arrive again, they arrive as hassle makers, and could be punished accordingly. the different chance is to easily make Mexico area of us of a with a refusal of citizenship to all who oppose that annexation. If those people favor the land again, enable them both purchase it again, like the Gadsden purchase, for what that land is fairly worth now, in organic gold because it replaced into offered, or wrestle for the land as replaced into also executed. Our reaction should be one in all scorched earth from our southern border to that of Mexico with out destroying the timber and forests. Nerve gasoline ought to do fairly nicely for forested parts.

Answer 8

i went to south dakota and nebraska on a missions trip. for bible school for native americans. they were very accepting and kind. have fun!

Answer 9

Quite a few! (Sorry, dunno about your sub-questions.)