Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

The Lakota are a Native American tribe. Also known as the Teton Sioux, they are one of the three main subcultures of the Sioux people. Their current lands are in North and South Dakota. Saydie and I were trying to use the south entrance to the Badland’s which would take us through the reservation land, but we ran into a bit of a road block literally. The Oglala Sioux Tribe has banned non-residents with non-essential business from the Pine Ridge Reservation in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

  Due to the check point we ran into, we ended up having to turn around as they were only letting people who had official business activities through. We didn’t mind cause we had passed a spot back toward Scenic, South Dakota in between the Badlands and Buffalo Gap where we could see the heard of Bison, so I was able to find a place that wasn’t in either National Park to fly my drone just outside the reservation. Definitely wanted to respect the sovereignty of the tribe as they battled COVID-19. Saydie and I both had tested negative and were following the guidelines as best we could while traveling. National Parks and the great outdoors is a great place to social distance if you ask me. Drone footage to follow.