Lakota Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability and Indigenous Rights
The Lakota Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability and Indigenous Rights Program in South Dakota offers students the opportunity to live alongside and learn from Lakota native Americans. Through agricultural service projects, immersive accommodations, guided trips, relationships with local residents, and readings and discussions on Lakota history and culture, participating students walk away from their experience on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation not only enriched educationally, but also with a newfound sense of community and connection to the environment.
This summer, eight University of Pittsburgh undergraduate students will be participating in the Lakota Perspectives program. Coming from a wide range of majors and backgrounds, each student will be making a unique contribution to the program. The faculty leader, Mark Kramer, is a teaching professor in Pitt’s English department where he has taught creative writing and experiential learning courses for nearly two decades. Mark will guide students through various service work, cultural learning, and writing and academic exercises. To facilitate this program, we partner with Amizade, an organization that offers community-based, ethical global service learning experiences. Over the course of many years, Amizade has established long-term relationships with members of the Lakota tribe, built on trust, mutual respect, and sustainable commitments, with a shared interest in social justice and righting historical wrongs.
Learn more through this PittGEO Program Spotlight and student testimonials, and thank you for your support!