Open Spirit Opening Laundromat at Pine Ridge Reservation

Porcupine, SD – On a reservation larger than the state of Delaware, the Oglala Lakota people face logistical difficulties even with the simple task of washing their clothes.

The 40,000 Lakota people who live here often have to travel an hour or more from the reservation to clean their clothes. That changed this week, says Jerry Baker, director and founder of One Spirit, a South Dakota-based nonprofit.

“We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of our first laundromat,” said Baker. “This is an exciting new service we are bringing to Lakota and they have been requesting it for a long time.”

One Spirit will celebrate its grand opening
Saturday, April 11. At the grand opening, people can come inside, meet the staff, learn about the place and, of course, wash and dry their clothes. There will also be food available for guests and games in the laundromat.

For the grand opening, the laundromat will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., up from its typical 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday to Friday 10 AM to 8 PM and Saturday and Sunday 8 AM to 8 PM.

The machines will run on tokens that can be purchased in the community and in the laundromat, and laundry supplies and snacks will be available for sale in the laundromat. Additionally, games will be available for children and adults who are waiting to get their laundry done.

From pilot programs to economic assets

One Spirit first became aware that there was a need for laundry services on the reservation when it placed a pair of machines at the Allen Youth Center in Allen, South Dakota for parents to use for free.

“Allen is a small community, very small,” Baker said. “Still, the machines were being used almost constantly. If they ever broke down, we heard about it loud and often. It was a testament to the need for this laundromat, and we are grateful to our donors for making it possible.”

So, the non-profit organization decided to help bring good sanitation and economic development to the reservation. It partnered with the Wakamani District on the reservation to renovate a vacant building into space suitable for washing, drying and folding laundry. The project serves a dual purpose: improving sanitation and promoting economic growth.

Estimates vary, but it is believed that the unemployment rate in the Pine Ridge Reservation is over 80%, exacerbating the effects of poverty. One Spirit has structured the laundromat so that it keeps money on reservations, reducing the impact of inequality.

In the long term, the building will be turned over to the Vakapamni District, and income from its operation will be used to support housing and youth programs.

Or, as Baker said: “We hope this and our other programs will help make a lot of difference for the Lakota.”

about a soul

One Spirit is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that strives to provide sustainable, culturally appropriate programs that promote self-reliance, economic development, and educational opportunities for the Lakota people. Learn more at onespiritlakota.org

contact: jerry baker
executive director
Soul
phone: 570-460-6567
Email: jbaker@nativeprogress.org