Aaron Huey And The Pine Ridge Reservation

Photojournalist Aaron Huey has highlighted the plight of the poverty stricken Native American Lakota Tribe in a compelling series of photos. Through intensive research and a deep sense of respect, he has illuminated a tale of broken promises, neglect and the painful history of colonialism in the USA.

The striking photographs are the result of years of extensive research covering the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, and focus on one of the most controversial Native American issues. Huey remarked of his experiences visiting the Pine Ridge Reservation for the first time in an interview with Time Magazine:

‘When I first went to Pine Ridge… the focus was on getting pictures of gangs, superficial violence, drugs and extreme circumstance’, adding that the Lakota tribe were the survivors of ‘a calculated and systematic destruction of a people.’ Huey provocatively refers to the reservation as a ‘prisoner of war’ camp.

The descendants of the Lakota tribe now reside in the Pine Ridge Conservation in South Dakota, which remains one of the poorest counties in the country. Huey’s photo essay gives an unflinching portrait of the poor treatment of this neglected community within which 30% of homes have no electricity, the life expectancy for men is only 47 years old and there is a shocking infant mortality rate. Rife with unemployment, over 90% of the population in the reservation are now living below the federal poverty line. Huey has collaborated with two street artists, Ernesto Yerena and Shepard Fairey to create a national billboard campaign as part of the Pine Ridge Project to highlight the history of broken treaties and the issues facing the Lakota Tribe today.
Check out the work done by Honour The Treaties here.
Watch the video below to see Aaron Huey talk about his time spent at the reservation, and visit his website for more of his photography.

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