Founded in 1868
Wakpamni Lake Community History
The Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
We are the Oglala Lakota, meaning “to scatter one's own,” one of the seven Titowan Lakota bands that make up the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Seven Council Fires). As part of the larger Sioux Nation, we have a deep-rooted history of resilience, strength, and cultural preservation.
Our treaty land base was originally established under the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, which designated the Great Sioux Reservation, covering all the land west of the Missouri River in South Dakota, along with portions of Nebraska and Montana. However, in 1889, the U.S. government unilaterally disestablished and partitioned the Great Sioux Nation, creating the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation—which remains our home today. While our reservation spans approximately 3 million acres (roughly the size of Connecticut) and is home to more than 45,000 enrolled citizens, we have never relinquished our claim to the entirety of the Great Sioux Reservation, including our sacred lands in the Black Hills (He Sapa).
The Oglala Sioux Tribe is a federally recognized tribal nation under Section 16 of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and operates under a Constitution and By-Laws approved in 1935. Our tribal government oversees a vast territory and is responsible for upholding treaty rights, protecting sovereignty, and advocating for the well-being of our people.
Despite our deep history and strong cultural foundations, our people face significant challenges due to our remote location, economic hardships, and a lack of critical infrastructure. The reservation has limited job opportunities, poor road conditions, and inadequate access to healthcare and essential services, which contribute to high poverty rates, substance abuse issues, and other social struggles. Yet, despite these modern difficulties, we remain rich in culture, language, and traditions. Our people continue to uphold our warrior lineage, and Pine Ridge is home to some of the largest concentrations of Lakota speakers, spiritual leaders, and cultural preservation efforts.
The Wakpamni Lake Community and Its Government
Growing Every Year
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is divided into nine governing districts, each of which has its own local governance structure with elected representatives, akin to counties within a state. One of these nine districts is the Wakpamni District, which is further divided into six communities, including the Wakpamni Lake Community (WLC).
The Wakpamni Lake Community Government is a municipal tribal government within the Oglala Sioux Tribe, operating as a local governing body with its own elected leadership and authority over economic development and community affairs. Formally reaffirmed as a tribal municipal government in 1978 (OST Resolution 78-101), the Wakpamni Lake Community continues the governance traditions of our ancestors while operating within a modern structure.
The Wakpamni Lake Community is built upon traditional Lakota family groups, or Tiospayes, including the Two Lance, Blue Bird, Yellow Hair, Lone Hill, Feather on Head, Has No Horse, Charging Thunder, Ghost Bear, Little Commander, and many more. These families have been instrumental in preserving Lakota language, spirituality, and traditional governance.
Even as we adapt to the modern world, we integrate traditional Lakota values into our decision-making processes, maintaining a matriarchal system of leadership where the heads of our Tiospayes serve on the community board. Our commitment to protecting our elders, cultural heritage, and traditional ways is at the heart of everything we do.
As of November 2023, our current President is Sandy Two Lance, who leads our community’s efforts toward self-reliance, sovereignty, and a thriving economy for future generations.