"Newsflash: American Indian reservations in South Dakota are among the most poverty-stricken areas in the United States. We note this sad news with a touch of sarcasm, since it’s the same story every year.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Ziebach County, in north-central South Dakota, remains the poorest county in the nation. In that county, located within the borders of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, 62 percent of the 2,500 residents live below the poverty line. The national average is 18 percent.

Also, Ziebach County shows that the rate of children is even higher, at nearly 77 percent.

Ziebach isn’t the only South Dakota county to make the list. Shannon County and Todd County also are among the six counties in the nation with the worst poverty rate. And in the Midwest region, the seven poorest counties are in South Dakota.

What to do?

There is no easy answer, except to keep trying. Numerous efforts have been made in the past — most with little to no result. We have contended that the key to improving conditions on American Indian reservations begins with better policing; no real, impactful economic development will ever occur on a reservation that is plagued by crime, gangs and fraud."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Priority No. 1 for Indian Country (The Mitchell Daily Republic 12/17)
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County on Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation is poorest in nation (12/10)