"Nicholas D. Kristof is right that Indian country faces disparities with the rest of the nation, especially in health care, law enforcement, education and unemployment — all areas for which our federal government has not lived up to its promises. The issues facing Native American children should be front-page news.

But that isn’t the end of the story. Pine Ridge, like all Indian reservations, is home to a unique culture and tradition. Tribal communities have the most inspirational and resilient young people I’ve ever met. Indian country has generated innovative economic development, cutting-edge health care programs and, most important, cohesive and powerful Native American pride."

Get the Story:
Byron Dorgan: Helping Native Americans (The New York Times 5/18)