MNHS Social Studies Students Hear About Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Life for teenagers on a Native American reservation in La Plant, South Dakota is unlike anything local teenagers could imagine, according to Nicole Wroblewski. Ms. Wroblewski, a 2014 graduate of Manalapan High School, returned to the school to speak with social studies students about her time with members of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe.
Ms. Wroblewski spent a month on the reservation with Simply Smiles, a Connecticut-based nonprofit organization that works to provide a brighter future for impoverished children, their families and communities.
Describing the vastness of the land, Ms. Wroblewski told students that the reservation was roughly the size of the state of Connecticut. On the reservation is one school for students and one community building that the volunteers helped rebuild. The travel time to the nearest town is about an hour and a half. She explained to the students how teenagers there do not have the same opportunities as those in Monmouth County. While some teens may complain about their after school job, Ms. Wroblewski noted that for teens in La Plant, there are no stores or restaurants to have a typical teenage job experience.
Mental health issues, along with drug and alcohol problems are commonplace, she said.
Ms. Wroblewski’s goal is to educate people about the conditions and struggles of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe. She plans to return to La Plant next summer as an intern with Simply Smiles.