Mitakuyapi, my name is Delaney Apple. I'm an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in Pine Ridge, SD.

I moved to the Black Hills, Rapid City, when I was young and have lived here ever since.

Living away from home has been challenging with just as many hardships, but we persevere. Our Lakota culture and family systems are what helped me through hardships in my life. Since then, I've turned and passed on those cultural practices and ways to our youth and community as a means to maintain healthy life ways.

We have a beautiful culture, and when our youth sing, it lifts the heart of the people.

I am asking for assistance to raise funds for our youth identity group. We started in my basement over a year ago and have since moved to the Lakota Homes Community where I grew up. We need funds to buy food each week, buy materials for sewing projects, beading projects, drum making, and other cultural initiatives we want to begin. Anything helps and will go a long way to help make these things possible.

Wopila epinktelo.