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Practical Environmentalism on the Pine Ridge Reservation: Confronting Structural Constraints to Indigenous Stewardship

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Abstract

Parallels exist between the academic theory of a dwelling approach to resilience and the Indigenous Stewardship Model developed on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. In both approaches, sustainable resource management depends on a practical environmentalism that creates linkages between local community members and their surrounding ecosystem. Research on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation reveals that Lakota people possess a conservation ethic that stems from their physical connection to place. However, tribal, state, and federal land policies create structural barriers that reduce access of Lakota households to the land, which in turn reduces adaptability and resilience in their ecological practice. To overcome these barriers, Lakota households envision local stewardship of reservation lands and resources. Particular emphasis is placed on the intergenerational transfer of knowledge to Lakota youth, to transcend local and political conflict, and to reestablish social and cultural relationships with the reservation’s ecology.

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Notes

  1. Most Native Americans refer to the Plains Bison (Bison bison bison) as buffalo. The names remain interchangeable, yet since we wish to provide an emic perspective, we use the term buffalo. Only one of the Lakota knowledge holders interviewed used the term “bison.”

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a National Science Foundation Career Award Grant No. 0092527, a USDA-Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service NRICGP Rural Development Grant No. 0190121, an award from the Oglala Oyate Woitancan Empowerment Zone, and the Monfort Family Foundation’s Colorado State University Monfort Professorship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    Kathleen Pickering Sherman

  2. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1300 College Road, Fairbanks, AK, USA

    James Van Lanen

  3. Oglala Lakota Tribe, 2821 Meadowlark Avenue, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    Richard T. Sherman

Authors
  1. Kathleen Pickering Sherman
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  2. James Van Lanen
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  3. Richard T. Sherman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kathleen Pickering Sherman.

Appendix 1: Sample Survey Questions

Appendix 1: Sample Survey Questions

  1. 1.

    If everything was working right, what would the reservation lands look like?

  2. 2.

    What would they contain?

  3. 3.

    How would decisions be made about land use?

  4. 4.

    What do the lands look like today, in contrast?

  5. 5.

    What wild animals are most important to you and why? (List at least 5)

  6. 6.

    What wild plants are most important to you and why? (List at least 5)

On as scale of 1 to 5, do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

[Explain Answers if possible] Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

  1. 7.

    I would be willing to have a large portion of reservation lands dedicated to wildlife restoration, including buffalo.

  2. 8.

    I would be willing to have use of my family’s lands restricted for a few years to help restore wildlife and native plants.

  3. 9.

    I would be willing to have use of tribal lands restricted for a few years to help restore wildlife and native plants.

  4. 10.

    I would be willing to have some of my family’s lands used to make a migration route for common buffalo and other wildlife (temporary).

  5. 11.

    I would be willing to donate some of my lands to make a migration route for common buffalo and other wildlife (permanent).

  6. 12.

    I would need to be paid in order for my lands to be used to make a migration route for buffalo and other wildlife.

If SA or A, How much would you need to be paid? (same as lease check? Same as revenue from current land use? Less than that? More than that?)

  1. 13.

    I want to actively participate in monitoring reservation lands to care for wild plants and animals (be a land steward).

  2. 14.

    I trust other Lakota people to monitor the health of the land on the reservation for wild plants and animals.

  3. 15.

    It is important to include Lakota youth in monitoring and caring for land, wild animals and wild plants.

  4. 16.

    I would be willing to mentor Lakota youth in Lakota methods of caring for wild animals and plants.

  5. 17.

    I would be willing to have some reservation lands restricted for long periods of time as protected areas for wild plants and animals, where access by even tribal members is limited.

Who would need to be involved in making the rules?

  1. 18.

    Buffalo grazing contributes to the well being of reservation lands.

Why do you feel that way?

  1. 19.

    Buffalo living in the wild are important to the environment in this area.

  2. 20.

    Special interests will try to prevent restoration of buffalo on reservation lands.

  3. 21.

    Do you think there is a difference between cattle and buffalo grazing on the land?

[Y] [N] Why?

  1. 22.

    Would you be interested in becoming a member of a common buffalo grazing association designed to benefit the well being of wild buffalo and reservation lands?

How would it be structured? (individually identified animals, shared lands, hunting agreements, OR common land, common herd with monitoring and permitting).

  1. 23.

    What incentives would make you want to support a common grazing association for buffalo?

  2. 24.

    What are the major obstacles to buffalo restoration and community-based land monitoring on Pine Ridge?

  3. 25.

    What ideas do you have for ways that Lakota people could use the Badlands National Park?

  4. 26.

    Would you be willing to actively participate in ongoing land management workshops between Tribal government, the National Park Service, and the Lakota people?

Why or why not?

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Pickering Sherman, K., Van Lanen, J. & Sherman, R.T. Practical Environmentalism on the Pine Ridge Reservation: Confronting Structural Constraints to Indigenous Stewardship. Hum Ecol 38, 507–520 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-010-9336-0

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