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This project to restore native Lakota medicinal plants will take place on the Pine Ridge Reservation in southwest South Dakota, home to the Oglala Lakota Nation. The reservation covers approximately 2.1 million acres and includes rural communities such as Porcupine and Pine Ridge, with a population of roughly 18,000 people. Residents face high poverty, limited economic opportunity, and significant barriers to health care, with only one hospital serving the entire reservation. These conditions contribute to long-standing physical, emotional, and social stress in the community.
Lakota families and Pine Ridge community members consistently shared concern about the declining availability of culturally important plants such as sage, red willow and sweet leaf, and the loss of opportunities for youth to learn traditional land-based knowledge. Community members emphasized the importance of restoring these plants locally so that families can maintain their cultural practices and community wellness.
Native prairie habitats have been damaged by climate change, insect infestations, drought,
erosion, invasive species, overgrazing, and long-term land disruption. The Pine Ridge ecosystem faces soil erosion, overgrazing, and loss of native prairie habitat, which has reduced biodiversity and the availability of traditional plant species. Many families no longer have reliable access to traditional plants, and young people have limited opportunities to learn how to identify, grow, and use them.
This project addresses the loss of traditional medicinal plants and land-based knowledge.
Currently, elders and families do their best to maintain these practices informally, but there is no coordinated system for restoring, cultivating, and protecting these plants on Pine Ridge. Lakota communities traditionally practice land stewardship, plant gathering, and knowledge sharing across generations. These practices emphasize respect for the land and sustainable use of natural resources.
This project will restore and cultivate native Lakota medicinal plants on designated land through community-led planting, land stewardship, and educational programming. Elders and cultural leaders will guide what is planted and how it is maintained. Youth and community members will participate in planting, harvesting, and learning activities, and educational materials will be shared through Mita Oyate's (a Colorado-registered, Native-led non-profit serving Lakota communities on Pine Ridge and beyond) online platform and in-person workshops.
This project will increase native plant populations, improve soil and habitat health, and
strengthen biodiversity. These changes will improve ecosystem resilience and long-term
sustainability. No negative environmental impacts are expected.
Mita Oyate Cultural Society will supervise ongoing land care, education, and program
coordination. Community members will continue maintaining the plants, and the site will serve
as a long-term cultural and environmental resource. The online community will provide
continued engagement, knowledge sharing, and support beyond Rotary's funding period.
There will be opportunities for Rotarians to participate in planting and harvesting activities and educational events.
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