Mission: Our mission is to be a multi-cultural and cross- generational community who work and play together to alleviate conditions of poverty, honor indigenous wisdom and begin to reconcile the tragic history of the Lakota People on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Results: In 2019:
Through an unprecedented partnership with the Oglala Lakota Housing Authority we provided temporary, FT employment to over 30 tribal members and repaired over 280 homes damaged in a 2018 hailstorm
Distributed multiple truckloads of needed material and food donations
Partially restored a vandalized youth center in Wounded Knee
Launched Gen7 & facilitated three Gen7 Youth Leadership events
Established our Featured Artist initiative
Cut and delivered approximately ten cords of firewood
Brought in over 100 volunteers over four weekends to our annual Race to Winterize
Raised awareness and gained amazing allies through the LakotaRide
Hosted six return Volunteer Service Trips
Brought Lakota cultural presentations to a half dozen schools
Established the Nagi Circle/Calls to Action initiative
Earned a top-rating with Great Nonprofits for five years in a row
Target demographics: We are a community of Native Lakota and non-Natives who believe that the wisdom, culture and traditions of the Lakota People can inform and benefit the Modern World at the same time that the Modern World can assist and support the Lakota People in creating more prosperous and humane living conditions on the reservations.
Direct beneficiaries per year: Provided home construction and renovation work; Shared the Lakota culture and traditions; Endeavored to make progress reconciling our tragic and difficult shared history.
Geographic areas served: Pine Ridge, South Dakota
Programs: Through a variety of collaborative projects, we strive to build alliances and strengthen communities for people both on and off the reservation. Additionally, we seek to provide sustainable employment as well as quality and safe housing for the Lakota People.
I spent a week with the Tipi Raisers on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Their connectedness to the Lakota, enabled them to expose us to their traditions & spirituality in insightful and reverent ways. The information and interactions changed me. It increased my admiration for the Lakota way of life and my respect for their fight to retain and pass it on to future generations. It was definitely time well spent
After a week with the Lakota people on the Pine Ridge Reservation volunteering and learning more about their proud history and culture, I have come away with great respect for them and the intention to explain their situation and encourage others to become involved with them...come and see! It was a fantastic week!
Our church group St Francis Builds spent a week learning Sioux customs/traditions while helping to repair 2 houses on the Pine Ridge Reservation. It was a wonderful learning experience while we could also give something of ourselves. Go for it!
