Reply #16: Have you ever visited Pine Ridge? [View All]

No, he cannot as easily grow food crops due to the lack of water. Same with raising cattle, though he does have a herd of buffalo. Where would he build houses and for whom? I do not think that he can sell his land outside the tribe, though I am sure there are people who would just looovvve to buy up all the Indian land.

As far as legality, they are a Sovereign Nation and yes, they can make rules and do things that we not on Indian Land cannot do.

I think you need to do more research before spouting these opinions, or even after spouting them as they are based on assumptions that have no bearing on reality.

Here are some links to start you out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Ridge_Indian_Reservation
Life in the Pine Ridge Reservation is very poor, probably easily comparable to the least developed countries of the Third World. Unemployment on the Reservation hovers around 85% and 97% live below the Federal poverty level. Average annual family income is $3,800 as of 1999.<1> Adolescent suicide is four times the national average. Many of the families have no electricity, telephone, running water, or sewer. Many families use wood stoves to heat their homes. The population on Pine Ridge has among the shortest life expectancies of any group in the Western Hemisphere: approximately 47 years for males and in the low 50s for females. The infant mortality rate is five times the United States national average.

http://www.lakotamall.com/oglalasiouxtribe/
http://www.friendsofpineridgereservation.org/
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=9504
"Shannon County is one of the poorest counties in the country with an unemployment rate at 70 percent and an average annual family income of $3,800."