The South Dakota Cowgirl

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History and Photography of the Lakota

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One of the most searched terms on my blog is this: Life on an Indian Reservation.

I’m going to urge you to spend 15 minutes on the video below. If, after you’ve watched it, you still find yourself complaining about the little things well, then, look again.

Prepare to view the world a little differently. Grab the tissues. You’ll need ’em.

I find it fitting that as we are approaching Thanksgiving (where History Books remind us of a pretty, little picture of Pilgrims and Indians as friends), that I discovered the work of Aaron Huey. How and why I’m just now discovering him is beyond me. But I’m grateful for it, and for him. I like to look at my life and see how blessed I am, and if that video above isn’t a testament to how good most of us have it, I don’t know what is.

I am grateful for the life I have.

For the house I live in.

For people who love me.

For the people that raised me to love myself.

For people in my life who set good examples.

For freedom to pursue life, liberty and happiness.

That I have never in my life had to worry about where my next meal would come from.

Or if my dad would beat me.

Or if He’d come home drunk.

We should want that for all human-kind.

We should strive for that.

About ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Jenn Zeller is the creative mind and boss lady behind The South Dakota Cowgirl. She is an aspiring horsewoman, photographer, brilliant social media strategist and lover of all things western.

After a brief career in the investment world to support her horse habit (and satisfy her mother, who told her she had to have a “real” job after graduating college), she finally took the leap and stepped away from a regular income; trading the business suit once and for all for cowgirl boots, a hat, and jeans. She has not looked back.

When Jenn first moved to The DX Ranch on the South Dakota plains, she never imagined she’d find herself behind a camera lens capturing an authentic perspective of ranching, and sharing it with others. Jenn has always been called to artistry, and uses music, writing, images, home improvement, and her first true love of horses to express her ranching passion.

Horses are the constant thread and much of her work centers around using her unique style of writing to share her horsemanship journey with others in publications such as CavvySavvy, the AQHA Ranching Blog, the West River Eagle, the family ranch website, and her own website.

Using photography to illustrate her stories has created other opportunities -- Jenn’s brand “The South Dakota Cowgirl” has grown to the level of social media “Influencer”. This notoriety has led to work with Duluth Trading Company, Budweiser, Wyoming Tourism, Vice, Circle Z Ranch and Art of the Cowgirl, to name a few. She also serves as a brand ambassador for Woodchuck USA, Arenus Equine Health, Triple Crown Feed and Just Strong fitness apparel. Her photography has been featured by Instagram, Apple, TIME Magazine, The Huffington Post, and Oprah Magazine. Jenn’s work has been published internationally, has been seen in several books and has graced the covers of several magazines.

Jenn became a social media influencer by accident when she started to explore Instagram as a way to share her life on the ranch with folks that don’t get to experience it. It’s grown into an incredible platform that she uses to empower women, create an environment for self improvement and share life on the ranch.

When she’s not working, she loves to drink coffee, play with her naughty border collie named Copper, start ranch colts, and run about the country chasing cans. Her mother still thinks she doesn’t have a “real” job.

Give your horse or dog, or cat the gift of mobility.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cheyenne Wilson says

    Being Lakota, I thank you for sharing this. I certainly agree that this is not an easy fix…….

    Reply

    • ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ says

      Cheyenne- I love my life on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation and I love my Lakota Cowboy. It is so sad to me that as a society we’re so unaware of what goes on/has gone on in our own country and the continued broken promises by our government to the Sioux. I love the culture, and the people.

      Reply

  2. newmexicomtngirl says

    This Ted show is just amazing and his story and stories ought to be shown on every public tv around. This ought to be broadcast into every inch of every government building and before every single vote. Thank you for finding this and showing us. I feel so connected to Wounded Knee that I must have been there in my past life.
    peace,
    CheyAnne

    Reply

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