Connecting Residents to Their Culture on the Pine Ridge Reservation

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Shaun Little Horn. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Life isn’t easy on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. But with the help of residents like Shaun Little Horn, things are improving.

The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, which is an Oglala Lakota Indian reservation, is tucked in South Dakota. Residents there face a variety of struggles, ranging from water containing uranium levels that are 10 times the legal limit to brutal winters with no heat in their older mobile homes. With an average household income for tribal members on the reservation sitting at less than $8,000 a year, times are significantly tough.

“If you take out the ranchers who are not tribal citizens, it’s the poorest county in the United States by good measure,” notes Shaun, who volunteers as the executive director of the Indigenous Peoples Movement, which works to safeguard and uplift indigenous rights and traditions.

Motivated by the belief that wealth is defined by how much you give away, not how much you store up, Shaun is committed to helping residents connect with their culture while living happy lives. Over the last year, he helped raise the funds to purchase and distribute $120,000 worth of blankets and heaters to help residents survive the brutal South Dakota winter. He commits a minimum of 40 hours per month to the organization on top of his full-time job, as well as his role coaching a tribal college basketball team.

“I never look at it like ‘look at all that I’m doing for my people,’” Shaun explains, noting that he sees his work as what the Lakota refer to as “Wopila,” which means “thank you” or “gratitude.” It’s all done with a mission to connect people to their culture and values, which ultimately will change their perspective on what they’re going through in life.

“It makes you look at it differently,” continues Shaun, who notes that some of the most rewarding moments include being able to give someone a blanket and a heater to get through the winter, or when he sees someone reconnect with the culture’s values and our way of life. “The opportunity to give is true wealth.”

Shaun’s ability to reach different people within the nine districts of the Pine Ridge Reservation is particularly admirable considering the physical makeup of the area.

“Pine Ridge Reservation is a huge land mass,” says DeCora Hawk, a former colleague of Shaun’s. “We have a lot of acreage, but it’s very spread out, and transportation can be an issue. Shaun actually taking the time to gain access to resources and set up in these different communities is very impactful. There’s a lot of ground to cover.”

Moving forward, Shaun has a variety of goals in place for the organization. He hopes to implement clean energy initiatives that can help areas of the reservation that are normally unable to access things like solar power. Not only does this help some of the most impoverished areas economically, but it repairs the community’s relationship with Unci Maka, the Lakota term for Grandmother Earth.

While raising funds and gaining access to resources is important, Shaun demonstrates that dedicating one’s time to volunteering is the ultimate gift. He hopes to inspire others to get involved in their communities in any capacity.

“Our time is even more valuable than our money. As you know, it’s the one thing you can’t buy back,” Shaun explains. “You have a chance to be a part of the solution.”

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Shaun? Find local volunteer opportunities.