Lakota Young Men's Camp
Donation protected
Mitakuye pi (my relatives),
Anpetu Waste (good day), Cante Waste ya Nape Ciyuzape (I want to greet you with a warm handshake from my heart). I am writing to you on behalf of the Tiospaye Sakowin Wounspe na Woapiye O’tipi (Seven Extended Families Education and Healing Center) located in porcupine, SD. Research suggests that cultural awareness and strengthening the individuals’ self-esteem, cultural identity and language are key elements in preventing suicide, truancy problems, alcohol and drug use, abuse, teen pregnancy, and reducing health risk factors. There is an urgent need for increased cultural awareness and cultural activities that promote healthy lifestyles for all age groups. The need for cultural activities is critical due to the nonexistent programs and services geared toward helping the entire family, as well as the shortage and over expended health education, prevention, and service programs located within the Pine Ridge Reservation and other Indigenous communities. Tiospaye Sakowin Education and Healing Center is now gearing up for the second Lakota Koskalaka Wica Yuwita Pi - Lakota Young Men's Gathering of 2015. This event will be hosted the weekend of November 6th through the 9th on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
In wake of the nine tragic suicides on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, a meeting was hosted by Tasunke Wakan Okolakiciye, Mila Yatan Pika Pte Oyate Okolakiciye and Oaye Luta Okolakiciye. An intense desire and need to help the youth and their families suffering from the impact of this epidemic, Tiospaye Sakowin was born and a strategic plan developed to continue to provide healing services to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. These organizations are the first of seven families to align in this effort to promote Lakota Cultural Healing and Education. We were quickly joined by Sung Nagi Okolakiciye (Spirit Horse Society) from Manderson, SD.
Each of these organization provided unique attributes that provide healing and empowerment services to the Lakota Oyate. With room to grow, Tiospaye Sakowin will partner with seven organizations with like minds, missions and philosophy to strengthen and expand the impact of indigenous services. As you will see in the remainder of this proposal, community connectedness and the participation and support of the agency are immeasurable. Please join us in making this camp a success and impact the lives of the Lakota youth living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
In 2003, a respectable elder the late Johnson Holy Rock stated “If we lose our language we lose our identity as Lakota and our total way of life”. The Tasunke Wakan Okolakiciye (Medicine Horse Society) works to provide Lakota cultural, language, and hands on education services to the Lakota Oyate to strengthen the individuals’ self-esteem, cultural identity and use of the Lakota language to promote healthy lifestyles within the family (tiwahe) and extended family (Tiospaye) in order to make an impact on the Oyate (community). Our mission statement is as follows;
“When the people followed the Lakota life ways and laws, the people flourished. Therefore, Tasunke Wakan Okolakiciye promotes the rebirth of the Lakota life ways and laws through education, healing, and collaboration”.
Primary goal of Tasunke Wakan Okolakiciye: Implement Lakol Wicohan (Lakota life ways and laws, which includes language, values, beliefs, ceremonies and laws of the Lakota people).
Long term goals:
1) To revitalize and implement the Lakota language through education and practice.
2) To strengthen the cultural identity of the Lakota Oyate through linking Lakota Philosophy with the Lakota language.
3) To empower the Lakota Tiwahe (families) in reclaiming their Lakota identity, through integrating the Lakota Customary, Natural, and Spiritual law within the educational process.
4) To provide education training and assistance regarding cultural competency.
Please join us in making this dream a reality for our youth. Wopila Tanka Iciciyapi, Tiospaye Sakowin Board, Staff and Volunteers!
Anpetu Waste (good day), Cante Waste ya Nape Ciyuzape (I want to greet you with a warm handshake from my heart). I am writing to you on behalf of the Tiospaye Sakowin Wounspe na Woapiye O’tipi (Seven Extended Families Education and Healing Center) located in porcupine, SD. Research suggests that cultural awareness and strengthening the individuals’ self-esteem, cultural identity and language are key elements in preventing suicide, truancy problems, alcohol and drug use, abuse, teen pregnancy, and reducing health risk factors. There is an urgent need for increased cultural awareness and cultural activities that promote healthy lifestyles for all age groups. The need for cultural activities is critical due to the nonexistent programs and services geared toward helping the entire family, as well as the shortage and over expended health education, prevention, and service programs located within the Pine Ridge Reservation and other Indigenous communities. Tiospaye Sakowin Education and Healing Center is now gearing up for the second Lakota Koskalaka Wica Yuwita Pi - Lakota Young Men's Gathering of 2015. This event will be hosted the weekend of November 6th through the 9th on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
In wake of the nine tragic suicides on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, a meeting was hosted by Tasunke Wakan Okolakiciye, Mila Yatan Pika Pte Oyate Okolakiciye and Oaye Luta Okolakiciye. An intense desire and need to help the youth and their families suffering from the impact of this epidemic, Tiospaye Sakowin was born and a strategic plan developed to continue to provide healing services to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. These organizations are the first of seven families to align in this effort to promote Lakota Cultural Healing and Education. We were quickly joined by Sung Nagi Okolakiciye (Spirit Horse Society) from Manderson, SD.
Each of these organization provided unique attributes that provide healing and empowerment services to the Lakota Oyate. With room to grow, Tiospaye Sakowin will partner with seven organizations with like minds, missions and philosophy to strengthen and expand the impact of indigenous services. As you will see in the remainder of this proposal, community connectedness and the participation and support of the agency are immeasurable. Please join us in making this camp a success and impact the lives of the Lakota youth living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
In 2003, a respectable elder the late Johnson Holy Rock stated “If we lose our language we lose our identity as Lakota and our total way of life”. The Tasunke Wakan Okolakiciye (Medicine Horse Society) works to provide Lakota cultural, language, and hands on education services to the Lakota Oyate to strengthen the individuals’ self-esteem, cultural identity and use of the Lakota language to promote healthy lifestyles within the family (tiwahe) and extended family (Tiospaye) in order to make an impact on the Oyate (community). Our mission statement is as follows;
“When the people followed the Lakota life ways and laws, the people flourished. Therefore, Tasunke Wakan Okolakiciye promotes the rebirth of the Lakota life ways and laws through education, healing, and collaboration”.
Primary goal of Tasunke Wakan Okolakiciye: Implement Lakol Wicohan (Lakota life ways and laws, which includes language, values, beliefs, ceremonies and laws of the Lakota people).
Long term goals:
1) To revitalize and implement the Lakota language through education and practice.
2) To strengthen the cultural identity of the Lakota Oyate through linking Lakota Philosophy with the Lakota language.
3) To empower the Lakota Tiwahe (families) in reclaiming their Lakota identity, through integrating the Lakota Customary, Natural, and Spiritual law within the educational process.
4) To provide education training and assistance regarding cultural competency.
Please join us in making this dream a reality for our youth. Wopila Tanka Iciciyapi, Tiospaye Sakowin Board, Staff and Volunteers!
Organizer
Cindy Giago
Organizer
Porcupine, SD
