Alternative Break Trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation

There is an open spot for the Alternative Break trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation in May. The theme of this trip is the role of development and environmental justice within indigenous communities. Along with learning about the history of the Lakotas, visiting different sites on the reservation, participating in service and cultural immersion activities, the trip will offer participants a look at different kinds of nonprofits working on the reservation. We will be looking at whether these nonprofits are creating a dependency problem or empowering the community. We will also be analyzing the difference between non native and native nonprofits. The second component of this trip is to examine how alternative energies on the reservation can lead to sustainable development. Pine Ridge is the windiest reservation in the United States and some nonprofits have been started to create wind turbine projects. The hope is alternative energies will bring jobs to the reservation (Pine Ridge has an unemployment rate of 85%). The trip dates are May 16-28. The estimated cost is $1,600. Faculty advisor Judith Shapiro is joining the trip. If you are interested email Katebirs@gmail.com

For more information visit www.american.edu/altbreak
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=42541770874&ref=ts
You can watch a video on youtube about the trip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb4-Jl_ENCY