The Lakota Training and Leadership Institute began as a vision in 2000 to address the educational and economic needs of the Lakota people from a holistic perspective.

The needs among American Indians are great. Generations of forced reservation living, broken treaties and ineffective policies have resulted in a legacy marked by: ~ 70 to 80% unemployment ~ 70% or higher high school drop-out rate ~63% of Pine Ridge's 50,000 people live below the poverty line ~ $8,000 per-capita income, lowest in the U.S. ~ 80 to 90% of those who enter college drop out within the first year ~ 97% of college graduates are first generation graduates

LTLI's Campus is located just outside Pine Ridge village on Route 18 between Pine Ridge and Oglala, in South Dakota. A LTLI partner is leasing the property comprised of two housing units, a chapel, classroom building, computer lab room, and garage bays for shop and auto mechanics classes.

The Institute's Training includes skill and job readiness, personal health, budgeting and other life skills necessary for employment or microbusiness development.

Lakota Training & Leadership Institute is structured as a non-profit organization, currently under the fiduciary oversight of Oyate Kin Wachekiya Omniciye (OWO) - a Pine Ridge Christian Ministry with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.

Partnerships are needed and wanted in the areas of: ****Mentoring in microbusiness development programs and advisories ****Vocational teaching volunteers and mentors - if you've got two weeks or a semester - let us know - contact information below.

Wish List for Programs Tools and Equipment needed for all vocational programs to include carpentry, mechanics, electrical, plumping. Donations needed for start-up costs for new courses and on-site, economic development resources

To Find Out More On Partnering and Assisting these programs - contact the LTLI Board Secretary: Dale Dieleman - 800-886-9000 or 616-531-9102, Email: ddieleman@wwcs.org