The young children were not educated properly, for the only teaching that the boarding schools were concerned about was the blotting out of Indian ways and customs with the replacement of white ways and customs. Indians were taught to shun the Great Spirit, Wakan Tanka, and convert to Christianity. The Sioux Sun Dance and powwow dancing were not even allowed on the reservation. The Sun Dance was very important to the Sioux, but the white man obviously didn't care. As for today, reservation life hasn't improved much.
Suicide rates are twice the national rate, as are deaths from influenza and pneumonia.
Deaths from alcoholism are ten times the national average. Those that are able to get jobs tend to be with the tribal or federal government. Until then, the reservation Indian will be in a miserable state. Dancing is an issue that deserves special attention, so we shall shed some light on it briefly. The powwow is not a religious or true ceremonial dance, but more of an enjoyable and social dance.