Travis Vaad of Chamberlain has been working with the youth on the reservations for 10 years. He knows the land, the people and the poverty, but many bikers who come through for Sturgis are unaware of what life is about across reservation lines.

This year, he hopes to change that by bringing bikers and Native Americans from the reservation together during the rally with the Tribal Hope Foundation.

He's working with friend Joshua Hanson at Kingdom Promotions ministry from Kansas and partnering with Indian Motorcycles to sponsor rides, concerts and connections.

"There's 500,000 to 600,000 people that come in to this little town from all of the United States and the world, and what better opportunity that they're coming here this close to the reservation," Vaad said.

Vaad said he was reading a newspaper series on teenage suicides in South Dakota reservations last year when he first became aware that they were some of the highest in the nation. On the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations, the suicide rate is five times higher than the national average, he said.

"My friend Josh, who was visiting at the time, it just broke his heart," Vaad said. "We were just both like, 'We need to help, this is our backyard, in a sense.'"

Bikers can visit Suicide Rides for Hope at the Indian Motorcycle tent in downtown Sturgis or to the left of the main Buffalo Chip stage to register for one of their rides or hear about suicide issues at the reservations.

Vaad hopes that organizing rides to the reservations and bringing people together to talk will give bikers an understanding about the need to lower suicide rates and inspire them to think about a solution.

"We really believe that all of us are created, that there is a creator and he has a good plan and a destiny for all people," Vaad said. "That's why we have a problem with the suicide issues. We don't think that's probably our creator's best plan for these people."

The Tribal Hope Foundation is bringing Christian band Seventh Day Slumber, a regular at Hills Alive, to Rapid City and the Buffalo Chip during the rally to connect with teenagers and share the lead singer's personal message about suicide.

The Rapid City concert is at Lakota Homes, a side of town where bikers normally wouldn't go, Vaad said, but will bring Native families and bikers together for music and a free throw contest.

Native Americans familiar with reservation problems of suicide and poverty will visit the Buffalo Chip on Thursday during the band's concert to give testimonials, Vaad said, and traditional hoop dancers and drummers will add to the performance.

The organization worked with Marc Pomerantz of Indian Motorcycle in Kings Mountain, N.C. to put together ride to Crazy Horse Monument on Thursday that leaves from the Indian tent in Sturgis.

"We want to honor the Native people in all of this," Vaad said. "The Black Hills and Bear Butte and this area are just really sacred and dear to their heart. Some people don't want to revisit the reality and the history that was done, but in all of this, we just want to bring awareness."

Vaad and Hanson began working with reservation youth last week, sponsoring a children's fishing tournament and a basketball camp at the SuAnne Big Crow Boys and Girls Club. Sunday's ride to Pine Ridge from the Black Hills Harley Davidson ended at the basketball camp's closing ceremony luncheon. Bikers were invited to eat with the families and later join the Ogallala Nation Pow Wow.

Basketball is a great way to connect with people on the reservation, Hanson said, they're hoping that the lunch gave bikers an opportunity to talk with families on the frontlines.

"There are a lot of brokenhearted moms and dads out there with this suicide issue and a lot of parents are afraid for their youth," Vaad said.

Vaad has been planning the suicide awareness events on the reservations and at the rallies for six months.

"It's been a long road, and this is really the payoff when you start meeting people," he said.

SUICIDE RIDES FOR HOPE EVENTS

Aug. 5

Free Throw contest 3-6 p.m. and "Seventh Day Slumber" at Lakota Homes in Rapid City, 7 p.m.

Aug. 6

Indian Motorcycle Ride to Crazy Horse Monument

-Orientation and coffee 8:30 a.m.-9:50 a.m. at Indian Motorcycle tent on 4th and Lazelle Streets in Sturgis.

-10:30 a.m. depart for Crazy Horse

-Cost: $100, limited to 250 bikes, all bikes welcome

"Seventh day Slumber," Sam Kennison Stage at the Buffalo Chip, 5:30-8:15 p.m.

-presentation includes Native dancers and drummers

-purchase tickets through the Buffalo Chip

-Call Joshua Hanson at 785-447-0768 or visit KingdomPromotions.org for more details

PINE RIDGE AND ROSEBUD RESERVATION STATISTICS

-the suicide rate is five times higher than the national average

-the number one killer is alcoholism

-the average life expectancy for men is 48 and 52 for women

-70 percent of high school students drop out

-This is the poorest community in America, where the average income is $4,000 a year and 97 percent live below the poverty line. Many homes lack a telephone or functioning toilet.

Source: Tribal Hope Foundation