Growing Food Security on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
The Slim Buttes Agricultural Development (SBAG) program, founded in 1985, continues to empower families on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation by helping them grow their own food. In 2024, SBAG expanded its impact by distributing seedlings, tilling gardens, refurbishing raised beds, building planter boxes, and educating the community on food preservation and healthy eating.
Field director Milo Yellow Hair reported that with grant funding from Running Strong, SBAG provided gardening assistance to 680 individuals, helping to increase access to fresh produce.
SBAG’s 2024 Impact in Numbers:
• 4,480 seedlings of 15 different plant varieties distributed
• 41 gardens tilled to promote home-grown food
• 20 new planter boxes and raised beds built and installed
• 48 existing planter boxes and raised beds refurbished and replenished with compost-rich soil
• 16 circular garden mounds created, 3 feet in diameter
• 750 lbs. of fresh produce distributed to elders and community programs
• 120 tree saplings given to local families
Additionally, SBAG has been creating compost piles and teaching gardeners how to build, maintain, and use compost effectively, ensuring long-term soil health and sustainability.
SBAG’s Executive Director, Tom Kanatakeniate Cook, emphasizes that this grassroots movement, now in its 40th year, was born from a Sun Dance vision—a vision to help the people where they live. As one of the oldest continuously operating community garden initiatives in the United States, SBAG remains dedicated to self-determination, sustainability, and food sovereignty—all without federal or tribal funding.
Why Gardening is Essential for Pine Ridge
Pine Ridge: A Food Desert in Need of Change
Pine Ridge is classified as a food desert, meaning that residents lack easy access to affordable and nutritious food. Grocery stores are scarce, and fresh produce is often expensive. Many families must travel long distances just to buy vegetables, increasing food insecurity and reliance on processed, unhealthy foods.
This lack of access has contributed to high rates of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity among the Lakota people. Through gardening, SBAG provides families with a sustainable way to access fresh, organic produce, helping them improve their overall health.
Bringing Back Indigenous Agricultural Practices
For generations, the Lakota people cultivated their own food, relying on corn, beans, squash, wild turnips, berries, and buffalo meat. Colonization disrupted these traditional foodways, replacing them with government rations that were high in processed sugars and unhealthy fats.
SBAG is working to reintroduce traditional foods and promote food sovereignty, helping residents return to a diet that aligns with their cultural and nutritional needs.
Expanding Community Gardening Efforts in 2024
Tilling Gardens and Distributing Seedlings
To ensure maximum participation, SBAG tilled gardens for 41 families, helping them prepare the land for planting. Additionally, 4,480 seedlings were provided, allowing families to grow their own vegetables and herbs.
Building Accessible Garden Spaces
For those with limited mobility or small living spaces, SBAG built and distributed 20 new planter boxes and raised beds. Another 48 existing planter boxes were refurbished and replenished with compost and rich soil. These efforts make it easier for elders and disabled community members to participate in gardening.
Sustainable Practices: Composting for Soil Health
SBAG has also prioritized soil sustainability by teaching gardeners how to create compost piles. Families are learning how to turn food scraps into nutrient-rich soil, reducing waste while enriching their gardens.
Education and Wellness: Gardening as Medicine
Workshops on Food Preservation and Diabetes Prevention
SBAG doesn’t just teach people how to grow food—it also teaches them how to preserve it. Workshops on canning, drying, and fermenting vegetables help families store food year-round.
Furthermore, SBAG promotes food as medicine, encouraging families to use indigenous foods to prevent diabetes and other health conditions.
Radio Program: Expanding Educational Reach
With grant funding, SBAG launched a 12-week educational program on the local radio station, providing:
• Gardening tips and techniques
• Traditional food knowledge
• Nutrition advice and diabetes prevention strategies
This program extends SBAG’s reach, allowing even more families to benefit from the knowledge of sustainable agriculture and healthy eating.
Looking Ahead: SBAG’s Plans for 2025
With continued support from Running Strong donors, SBAG is already preparing for an even bigger impact in 2025. Plans include:
• Increasing seedling distribution and soil enrichment efforts
• Adding new educational workshops on composting and traditional farming
• Expanding greenhouse operations for year-round food production
• Strengthening community-based food programs
Milo Yellow Hair shared his appreciation for the ongoing support:
“All of us here at SBAG greatly appreciate the Running Strong Garden Match. We are looking forward to another successful match in the spring of 2025 to continue assisting Pine Ridge families in their efforts to grow their own food. Wopila Tanka.” (Thank you)
