TRIBE: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, bands of Mnicoujou, Siha Sapa, Oohenumpa, and Itazipco

LOCATION: North Central South Dakota

SIZE: 2.8 million acres (similar in size to Connecticut)

POPULATION: 14,861

HISTORY: The Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation is part of the Great Sioux Reservation that was established under the Treaty of 1868 and is comprised of Ziebach and Dewey counties.

Originally the Reservation encompassed approximately 60 million acres of parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming. After opening the Black Hills area to homesteaders and prospectors, in 1889 the remaining area of Great Sioux Reservation was divided into seven separate reservations: Cheyenne River Agency, Crow Creek Agency, Lower Brule, Rosebud Agency, Sisseton Agency, Yankton Agency and Pine Ridge Agency.

Challenges facing the Cheyenne River Reservation include:
• Both Ziebach and Dewey Counties are consistently ranked in the bottom 1% economically of the 3,142 counties in the United States
• Ziebach County ranked as the 4th poorest in the nation according to the 2000 Census
• According to the US Census, over 45.1 % of the total population of the Cheyenne River Reservation is under 18
• 61.2% of youth under the age of 18 in Ziebach and 38.2% in Dewey are living below the poverty line.

Running Strong for American Indian Youth^® is proud to have a strong presence on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. This Reservation faces many challenges, but boasts a rich history full of traditions and unique culture.

Through grassroots organizations such as the Cheyenne River Youth Project®, Running Strong seeks to build opportunities for youth on the Reservation so they can create a bright future for themselves.

Programs we support on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation:
Cheyenne River Youth Project^®
Cheyenne River Youth Project^®- Children’s Garden
Cheyenne River Youth Project^®- Home Repair Assistance
Holiday Parties
Utilities Assistance
Prom Dress Drive
Toys for Tribes
Cheyenne River Field Office
Food Pantries
School Supplies
Operation Turkey Dinner