Lakota Tradition

Pow Wow ("Wacipi" in Lakota) held in Dupree on July 9th.

Team 4: July 10-July 24

Adam Meeker, (MPLS) Jessica Lehman, (MPLS) and Sam Alley (St. Paul) arrived on the Cheyenne River Reservation on July 10th to begin their 15 day journey as Team 4.  They were immediately immersed in the Lakota culture as a Pow Wow was being held in Dupree where the Sioux YMCA is located on the night of their arrival.  They were able to connect with Sioux YMCA Board member, Mona, and Carol, from the Sioux YMCA Board of Trustees at the Pow Wow and ask questions and learn more about Lakota traditions and values right off the bat.  Dupree was celebrating 100 years since the establishment of the town so it was a busy, bustling weekend. Unfortunately, Bill Wetzel, Executive Director of the Sioux YMCA, passed away over the weekend of Team 3 and Team 4's transition. Though dealing with this very difficult situation, Team 4 discussed their "plan to move forward and continue the mission that Bill and all of us believe and support so much."

Team 3 prepared the youth for the transition of Team 4 coming in so they were happily greeted by many eager youth in all of the communities, making it easy for them to start right where Team 3 left off.  Adam and Sam proved to easily become positive influences and role models for the boys in the communities; many of whom do not have positive male figures in their lives.  Jessica seemed to be able to easily build rapport with the young people very quickly as well as she was receiving hugs from youth her first day in the communities!  In each community Team 4 did programming in, the youth did not want them to leave.  For Team 4 "It was easy to feel the impact that we have on these kids lives and how important it is that we are out here doing what we're doing."

Heather Patton and Megan Seibring, from the Sioux YMCA Initiative Leadership Team, were visiting the Reservation and conducting various youth and adult community dialogues in each of the four communities being served the first week of Team 4's stay.  Heather and Megan were able to provide some insight to Team 4 as to what the community members' identify as their hopes and dreams for their community and future, which helped to shape some of the programming for the last half of Team 4's stay.  Team 4 continued to lead intentional programming with the youth focusing on team building and team work, positive attitudes, following rules, and positive communication, all while working inside and out in 102 degree South Dakota heat!

Team 3: June 29-July 9

Team 3 consisting of Kim O’Grady (MPLS) and Olivia Vlahaus (University of Minnesota YMCA Student Volunteer) headed out to the Reservation on June 29th. Spending their first two days becoming familiar with the four communities, Kim and Olivia had the opportunity to see La Plant and Swiftbird during their first day of programming and Cherry Creek and Red Scaffold on their second. The communities seemed a little quieter than past days, so the groups split up and rallied the kids to come and join them in playing fun games like spud, zig zag flag tag, and jumping rope. The first days of programming also brought conversations of YMCA core values and rules as well as a scavenger hunt.

Team 2 headed back to Minneapolis on July 2nd which gave Team 3 their first opportunity to program on their own and have a completely different experience from their first few days on the Reservation. Olivia and Kim had the chance to work with an individual youth who was much more open with the two of them than she had been the previous days. By having a chance to sit down with this youth and work on some beading;, Olivia and Kim were able to learn more than they expected the youth to share given a group dynamic.

After spending their next day in La Plant teaching safer sport alternatives , Olivia and Kim spent the next several days building relationships with potential volunteers in the communities and creating awareness of the longer term goals and present goals of the Sioux YMCA Initiative. Building and developing relationships with community members and gathering information from those who could be helpful in current and future programming was a great way to begin to wrap up their time on the Reservation. They planned a barbeque and basketball games which resulted in two community events in all four communities. With a good turnout of youth in La Plant and the best turnout of youth the team had seen at Swiftbird; the crafts and continued alternatives for gaming and safe play continued.

Kim and Olivia’s remaining time on the Reservation continued to create relationships with new established leaders in the community and with an interpersonal communication from a youth that dramatically effected team member Kim. The youth shared about his family, his experiences, expectations, and goals. All this came from a youth who days before refused to open up. The sharing from the youth opened eyes as to what expectations the youth on the Cheyenne River Reservation have and how the opportunities we attempt to enlighten each person with everyday can be a life changer.

Team 2: June 18-July 2

Team 2, consisting of Ashley Burke (ATC), Louise Bilek, (MPLS), Michelle Lanz (MPLS) and Erin Watson (YMCA of the USA), headed out on June 19th for their stay on the Cheyenne River Reservation.  Their first two days were spent working with Team 1 on hosting the "Olympic Games" in all four of the communities we serve.  The games were designed so that youth of all ages and abilities could participate, which brought many of the youth together who wouldn't normally interact.  The games proved to be a huge success in each of the communities; bringing out large crowds of youth.  Team 2 stated that "the youth arrived with large bags of potato chips and bottles of soda, but left exercised and enjoyed eating the apples and oranges we brought."

With four people on their team, Team 2 was able to offer various programming with varying levels of age-appropriate activities for children of all abilities.  Team 2 also worked hard on incorporating the local Lakota culture into their programming, including creating a game they named "Four Corners" to teach the children the core values of the Sioux YMCA and learning some words in Lakota from the children.  Team 2 stated that they "saw how the kids really look out for each other" and enjoy showing people their community so they decided to plan a scavenger hunt in each community to take place as Team 3 arrives.  The scavenger hunt was "awesome" according to one of the young boys who participated!

Traditionally, the incoming Team is greeted when they arrive on the Reservation with a "Welcome Dinner" with Bill, the Executive Director of the Sioux YMCA. Team 2 made arrangements to include a Sioux YMCA board member and a volunteer with the Sioux YMCA, and Denise, the Program Director at the Sioux YMCA.  As Team 2 departs to head back home from their stay on the Reservation they stated "All in all Team 2 is sad to be saying goodbye, happy with the work that we have done and excited to see the following teams keep up all of the great work that they YMCA is doing for the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation."

Ashley and Michelle watch as Louise plays a game of "Entourage" with a youth...

And the winner is...

Angelo!