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=**** Declines on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation: ****= **//an investigation into the current social, economic, and cultural conditions. //**


 * Upon first hearing that my good friend was taking a trip with her youth group to a Native American Reservation, I was immediately interested. Although I had months in advance to pack, organize, and get ready for my departure, nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to experience. Extreme poverty and devastation was evident, but hidden social issues such as education, alcoholism, and gang rivalries, challenge the well-being of everyone living on the reservation. The extremely devastated economy was nothing like I had anticipated. Previously, I only attributed that level of devastation to the inner cities of America – not on a government regulated Native American Reservation; leading me to question why, and how this could be going unnoticed. Struggles to maintain the rich Sioux culture reveal a depleting heritage, due to forced acculturation to the American culture. Through studying many government treaties, it is evident that conditions on the reservation could be drastically different, if the promises were followed through. ** **The Standing Rock Indian Reservation faces declining social, economic, and cultural states, due to failed federal government efforts. **