South Dakota Reservations

Did you know that South Dakota is home to more than 71,000 American Indians — many of whom live on South Dakota reservations?
The Oceti Sakowin — Seven Council Fires — is made up of allied bands that speak one of three dialects: Dakota, Lakota or Nakota.
Here’s a little bit about each of the nine reservations located throughout South Dakota:
Cheyenne River Reservation
Division: Teton
Bands: Mnicoujou (Planters by the Water), Oohenumpa (Two Kettle), Itazipco (Sans Arc or Without Bows) and Siha Sapa (Blackfoot)
Total Land Area: 1.4 Million Acres — approximately the size of the entire state of Connecticut!
Estimated Tribal Enrollment: 15,993
Traditional Language: Lakota
Major Employers: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Median Family Income: $22,917
Unemployment Rate (Department of the Interior 2005): 88%
St. Joseph's Students Enrolled in this tribe: 2%
Cheyenne River Tribal Office
PO Box 590
Eagle Butte, SD 57625
605-964-4155
www.cheyenneriversiouxtribe.org
Read more about this South Dakota reservation here: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
Crow Creek Reservation
Division: Santee, Yankton
Bands: Mdewakanton (People of Spirit Lake) and Ihanktonwan (Dwellers at the End of the Village)
Total Land Area: 125,591 acres
Estimated Tribal Enrollment: 3,429
Traditional Language: Dakota
Major Employers: Agriculture
Median Family Income: $13,750
Unemployment Rate (Department of the Interior 2005): 58%
St. Joseph's Students Enrolled in this tribe: 19%
Crow Creek Tribal Office
PO Box 50
Fort Thompson, SD 57339
605-245-2221
www.crowcreekconnections.org
Read more about this South Dakota reservation here: Crow Creek Sioux Tribe.
Flandreau Santee Sioux Reservation
Division: Santee
Bands: Mdewakantonwan (People of Spirit Lake) and Wahpekute (Leaf Shooters)
Total Land Area: 2,356 acres
Estimated Tribal Enrollment: 736
Traditional Language: Dakota
Major Employers: Flandreau Indian School, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and Royal River Casino
Median Family Income: $35,500
Unemployment Rate (Department of the Interior 2005): 38%
St. Joseph's Students Enrolled in this tribe: 1%
Flandreau Santee Tribal Office
PO Box 283
Flandreau, SD 57028
605-997-3891
www.santeesioux.com
Read more about this South Dakota reservation here: Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe.
Lower Brule Reservation
Division: Teton
Bands: Sicangu (Burnt Thigh or Brule)
Total Land Area: 132,601
Estimated Tribal Enrollment: 3,410
Traditional Language: Lakota
Major Employers: Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Golden Buffalo Casino, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service and the Lower Brule Farm Corp.
Median Family Income: $20,263
Unemployment Rate (Department of the Interior 2005): 52%
St. Joseph's Students Enrolled in this tribe: 21%
Lower Brule Tribal Office
187 Oyate Circle
Lower Brule, SD 57548
605-473-5561
www.lowerbrulesiouxtribe.com
Read more about this South Dakota reservation here: Lower Brule Sioux Tribe.
Pine Ridge Reservation
Division: Teton
Bands: Oglala (Scatter Their Own)
Total Land Area: 2 million acres
Estimated Tribal Enrollment: 46,855
Traditional Language: Lakota
Major Employers: Oglala Sioux Tribe, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Services
Median Family Income: $20,477
Unemployment Rate (Department of the Interior 2005): 89%
St. Joseph's Students Enrolled in this tribe: 5%
Oglala Tribal Office
PO Box 2070
Pine Ridge, SD 57770
605-867-5821
www.oglalalakotanation.info
Pine Ridge Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 375
Kyle, SD 57752
605-455-2685
www.oglalalakotanation.info
Read more about this South Dakota reservation here: Oglala Sioux Tribe.
Rosebud Reservation
Division: Teton
Bands: Sicangu (Burnt Thigh or Brule)
Total Land Area: 882,416 acres
Estimated Tribal Enrollment: 24,217
Traditional Language: Lakota
Major Employers: Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Todd County School District
Median Family Income: $18,673
Unemployment Rate (Department of the Interior 2005): 83%
St. Joseph's Students Enrolled in this tribe: 13%
Rosebud Tribal Office
PO Box 430
Rosebud, SD 57570
605-747-2381
www.rosebudsiouxtribe-nsn.gov
Read more about this South Dakota reservation here: Rosebud Sioux Tribe.
Lake Traverse Reservation
Division: Santee
Bands: Sisseton (Fish Dwellers), Wahpeton (Forest Dwellers)
Total Land Area: 106,153 acres
Estimated Tribal Enrollment: 12,389
Traditional Language: Dakota
Major Employers: Dakota Sioux Casino, tribal government and Bureau of Indian Affairs
Median Family Income: $33,693
Unemployment Rate (Department of the Interior 2005): Not Available — The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate is the tenth largest employer in the state of South Dakota. The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate operates three casinos; one in North Dakota and two in South Dakota.
St. Joseph's Students Enrolled in this tribe: Less than 1%
Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Office
PO Box 509
Agency Village, SD 57262
605-698-3911
www.swo-nsn.gov
Read more about this South Dakota reservation here: Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate.
Standing Rock Reservation
Division: Teton, Yankton
Bands: Hunkpapa (Campers at the Horn) Siha Sapa (Blackfoot), Ihantonwanna (Little Dwellers at the End of the Village) Ihanktonwan (Dwellers at the End of the Village)
Total Land Area: 562,366 in South Dakota
Estimated Tribal Enrollment: 15,568
Traditional Language: Lakota and Dakota
Major Employers: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Sitting Bull College, Prairie Knights Casino, Grand River Casino and school districts.
Median Family Income: $23,922
Unemployment Rate (Department of the Interior 2005): 86%
St. Joseph's Students Enrolled in this tribe: 1%
Standing Rock Tribal Office
Box D
Fort Yates, ND 58538
701-854-8500
www.standingrock.org
Read more about this South Dakota reservation here: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
Yankton Reservation
Division: Yankton
Bands: Ihanktonwan (Dwellers at the End of the Village)
Total Land Area: Approximately 40,000 acres
Estimated Tribal Enrollment: 11,594
Traditional Language: Dakota
Major Employers: Fort Randall Casino, Indian Health Service, Yankton Sioux Tribal Offices, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Marty Indian School
Median Family Income: $27,576
Unemployment Rate (Department of the Interior 2005): 86%
St. Joseph's Students Enrolled in this tribe: 4.5%
Yankton Tribal Office
PO Box 1153
Wagner, SD 57380
605-384-3641
www.yanktonsiouxtribe.net
Read more about this South Dakota reservation here: Yankton Sioux Tribe.