A Third World Nation in America

A New PR Initiative by RWU PR Students to inform faculty, students and staff, as well as the surrounding community of Bristol, RI of what we call "Third World America".  This third word is Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. In doing this, the students hope to raise awareness and alter attitudes toward Pine Ridge and help people to understand what is going on in their own country. 

Pine Ridge Native American Reservation is home to over 30,00 Lakota Sioux Native Americans. The Reservation is larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined (spread across 1.7 million acres), and lies within the two poories counties in the United States. The following are disturbing statistics about the Pine Ridge Reservation:

- Unemployment = 80%

- 49% are under Federal Poverty Level

- Adolescent suicide is four times the national average

- Life expectancy is 47 years for males, 52 for
  females

- Infant mortality is five times the national average

- 30% homelessness

- 60% live in substandard housing

- The Lakota Sioux have the poorest health of any minority 

   group in the United States

- Most housing facilities have no phone, electricity or running 

   water

- Housing can be as bad as 16 people in a 4 bedroom home

If you are interested in learning more, here is more information