Pine Ridge Indian Reservation Struggles With Child Suicide

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation struggles with suicides among its young people. The rate of suicide is estimated at 400 times higher than in the rest of the country and children as young as 9 years old are killing themselves. There has been more than 200 attempted suicides since the beginning of this year and the incidences of suicides and attempts seem to be on the increase. Tribe officials say they cannot remember such a high rate of suicides and attempts in such a short period on the reservation, which is already overwhelmed with high rates of unemployment, poverty, domestic abuse and alcohol addiction. This is a spiritual war zone and there needs to be a revelation to the parents, teacher and the children of the power of God and the authority of the name of Jesus! This is the only way that this will stop! Our mission team has been visiting Pine Ridge Reservation regularly for more than 11 years. In June, we visited two villages where about 11 children have received Jesus as their Savior. We have been talking to them about suicide because of the terrible things that have been happening on the reservation. We were told that there has been a dark shadow visiting some of the children and telling them they are useless and they should kill themselves. This dark shadow shows them how to tie a rope into a noose and hang themselves. We had a special message for the children and told them not to believe that. We taught them about the power that is in the name of Jesus. We gave each of them a special chain to wear around their neck that says, "God in me is greater than any darkness that comes near me, leave in Jesus name!" Several of the children we talked to have been visited by the dark shadow. When we went to the 2015 College Graduation ceremony in June 2015, the President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe talked about suicide. He said that a spirit has announced that it wants 16 more children and youth, so far it has taken the lives of 10 and wants 6 more. The President said “We have no answer.” We talked to some of the children on the reservation in August and out of 50 children, 16 were visited by the dark shadow. This book “The Shadow’s Defeat” (pictured) came about as we were preparing a lesson to teach to the children. It is a book about bullying and suicide. It is not only a story but it also has pages that can be colored. We will distribute it with a necklace (God Chain) and a pack of crayons. This book will give anyone who is dealing with thoughts of suicide hope and answers! Interestingly, as the graphic artist was drawing the illustrations she told her sister what the book was about. Her sister expressed how she had been visited by the dark shadow and that she has attempted suicide at least four times. After she heard the story, she realized that she had authority over the dark shadow that she was valuable and that life was worth living! Please pray that we will have an open door to distribute this book to all classrooms and homes throughout the reservation! We will be leaving for the Pine Ridge reservation mission trip November 4th. Please share this message with everyone you know! If you would like more information, visit our Facebook page LAKOTA VISION.