Reactions to Children of the Plains

ABC Airs Documentary About Pine Ridge, Indian Country Tunes In

By Vincent SchillingExamples from native and non-native people on Twitter included:

sky_scratcher: Jus watched #HiddenAmerica. Paints a pretty accurate picture but it takes more than jus an hour to do it justice

selis88: Reservations = concentration camps!

sealizis: One of the best stories I have seen reported in a VERY long time. Please look and search on #HiddenAmerica. Gr8 storby by @DianeSawyer

ToryJohnson: Unimaginable in our backyard. Must watch.

Stohlee: @DianeSawyer’s special on the Pine Ridge Reservation @ 10pm EST is simply staggering, in scope and impact #HiddenAmerica

Hundreds of Facebook users left comments on Indian Country Today Media Network’s Facebook page:

Adam Gonzales: Robert Looks Twice has my vote for President!!!

Marina Gray: I thought it was very well done. I love Diane Sawyer. I wish more journalists would do programs like this so people would understand more about what is going on in Indian Country NOW instead of looking at Native Americans only in the context of past history.

Ronnie Smith: If i hd all the money n the world i wuld help the ppl of pine ridge,cos it duzn’t matter wat tribe ur frm wr still all one tribe and one nation and yes we do nd a native american president,but thats gonna hpn 1 day and thats the truth.

Eli Redman: Well done, but think this needs to be even longer as there are so many complex issues and challenges. More education of mainstream America needs to happen and this was a tiny start. Diane Sawyer please keep going with this…it could have been ..say a 4 to 6 part documentary.

Randy Harvey: I watched this and had tears in my eyes several times. Our government will spend billions sending aid to other countries but they can’t take care of our own. I say it is time to make them stand up and honor their treaties and take care of the indigenous people. The government needs to walk the Good Red Road for a change.

Coree Sabaque: Was a very good documentary for those who don’t know what life’s like on a reservation any reservation for that matter. So much needs to be done an the new generation is where it needs to start. I’d like to say I want to be one of the changes and after finishing my education I’d like to go back and help my tribe bring hope to the youth.No Longer Hidden:  Shame on America!

By Levi RickertAfter watching the program, I say "Shame on America!"

It would have been difficult for any normal compassionate individual to watch "A Hidden America: Children of the Plains" on ABC's "20/20" without feeling angry and sad.

The old adage "a picture is worth a thousand" words kicked into play quite vividly last night with almost any one of the television shots showing the living conditions of the four Lakota youth featured.

One of the youth lives with fourteen other people. Fifteen people living in a dilapidated HUD-home is outrageous. One featured teen girl has only three shirts in her wardrobe. That is downright pathetic. The program showed Lakota children without enough food to eat throughout their weekends. This is gross neglect, if not criminal.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Children of the Plains on 20/20.