Aktuelle Infos von Indianern in Nordamerika in Englisch

Sie erhalten die Möglichkeit, sich über aktuelle Situationen bei den Indianern Nordamerikas in Englisch zu Informieren und an entsprechenden Hilfsaktionen teilzunehmen.

Evelin Červenková
Begründerin der Lakota Oyate Information

Current News by Native Americans in North America in English

You have the possibility to inform yourself about the current life of Native Americans and you can take part in helping actions.

Evelin Červenková
Founder of the Lakota Oyate Information in East-Germany

Von: One Spirit jbaker @ nativeprogress.ccsend.com
Date: Di., 9. Apr. 2024
Subject: Let the COUNTDOWN TO SUMMER begin!
To: lakotaoyateinfo @ googlemail.com

Summer is a time for FOOD, FUN, FRIENDSHIP, and FAMILY.

For Lakota families on Pine Ridge Reservation however, that is often not the case. Tables are often bare, children are out of school and looking for ways to pass the time, and the summer heat can be debilitating – physically and emotionally.

This is why we are so happy to launch our COUNTDOWN TO SUMMER 2024 FUNDRAISER!

With less than 50 days before Memorial Day, we are preparing many programs and events that will support Lakota children, teens, and adults across the Rez.

We need your help to meet our goals and make this summer a season to remember for everyone.

Some of our summer goals include:

When it comes to supporting the communities across the Rez, each one of our programs has the goal of EMPOWERMENT. When we first began working with people from Pine Ridge almost 20 years ago, they made it very clear that they didn't want hand outs. They wanted to learn and grow as individuals and as a community so that they can be self–sufficient and thrive with their traditions and culture at the forefront. This is why so much of what we do is focused on education and economic development. We want everyone to feel like they are capable of amazing things and programs like the Charging Buffalo Meat House, the One Spirit Employment Program, and the Allen Youth Center are constantly doing just that.

One of our latest additions to our Youth Initiative umbrella, Lakota YouthStay, is a prime example. Each July, Lakota youth aged 10–15 travel across the country to the Boston area, where they stay with a host family, explore new places, and take part in workshops and activities that aren't available on the rez. One parent of a participant says, "Our child had a chance to see what the world has to offer and is more eager to learn more about exploring the world." Additionally, a grandparent of another participant expresses that her granddaughter, "has more confidence in herself and is interested in college now."

These are the experiences that we strive to give to everyone on the reservation. We want to instill confidence to learn and grow as we also support current critical needs like healthy food and a safe place for children to play and learn – and the summer is a great time to do this!

There are several ways you can help us prepare for the summer!

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The summer can be a difficult season for many people on Pine Ridge ... but it doesn't have to be.

YOU can help make this a season to remember!

Tables can be full of nutritious food. Children can be safe while learning and experiencing new things. Families can focus on enjoying their time together.

Make a donation today!

Thank you for supporting One Spirit and the Lakota people of Pine Ridge Reservation. Be sure to follow us on social media to learn more about our summer programs and stay up to date on all the amazing work that is being done!

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One Spirit | PO Box 3209, Rapid City, SD 57709

Sent by jbaker @ nativeprogress.ccsend.com

Von: AIANTA arichardson-aianta.org @ shared1.ccsend.com
Date: Do., 28. März 2024
Subject: Welcome to the NEW NativeAmerica.travel!
To: lakotaoyateinfo @ googlemail.com

Welcome to the NEW NativeAmerica.travel!

Native Nations and Communities 1st Destination Website is Completely Redesigned with many New Features

With a new, exciting design, NativeAmerica.travel offers visitors an immersive journey into Native American cultures, histories, and landscapes. Based on user and visitor comments, every aspect of the website has been updated. Advanced features include a more user-friendly navigation system, a robust trip planning option, Google language translation, and a calendar system that features Powwows and native events from across the nation. In addition, an entirely new interactive map with a built–in itinerary–building option is available to visitors planning a trip to Indigenous destinations. Big, bold photos, engaging information, and powerful trip–planning tools for travelers–it's all on NativeAmerica.travel.

Check it out! NativeAmerica.travel
Questions? Reach out to us at admin@nativeamerica.travel

NativeAmerica.travel Reimagined: Your Free Resource to Promote Indigenous Destinations and Experiences

Join us for a webinar on the re–launch of NativeAmerica.Travel! Discover how AIANTA members can maximize visibility, access listing opportunities, utilize our new booking platform, and benefit from curated itineraries. Learn how AIANTA can elevate your business in the Indigenous tourism industry. Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your presence and reach a wider audience. Register now to secure your spot!

Link: http://bit.ly/AIANTA-24WebinarAPR30

New Mapping Tool Now Available

AIANTA has partnered with VisitWidget, a premiere interactive mapping tool providing visitors an unforgettable, personalized experience. Prospective visitors now have an intuitive and interactive way to plan and share their ideal itinerary with their group. Now used by many top Destination Marketing Organizations (DMO's), this mapping system is quickly becoming the ultimate travel planning tool. Attend our webinar to see how it all works! Link: http://bit.ly/AIANTA-24WebinarAPR30

Add the New NativeAmerica.travel App to Your Smartphone!

Yes, the NativeAmerica.travel app is now available as a free download! All the great features of the redesigned website are in this app, including the new map and itinerary option.

The NativeAmerica.travel app can be downloaded at the App Store and Google Play.

Generate More Sales Through Our New Booking System–It is FREE!

NativeAmerica.travel has partnered with WeTravel, the premiere booking and payments platform for multi–day and group travel businesses. To learn more about WeTravel, click on the video link below for a quick one-minute overview, and make sure to reach out to us at admin@nativeamerica.travel to sign up for this new booking system and sell your tours on NativeAmerica.travel. WeTravel offers a free version with tools to help you plan your tours and itinerary.

Explore NativeAmerica.travel here

Connect with us!

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AIANTA | 6000 Uptown Blvd NE, Suite 150, Albuquerque, NM 87110

Sent by arichardson@aianta.org

Von: One Spirit jbaker @ nativeprogress.ccsend.com
Date: Do., 15. Feb. 2024
Subject: Help Feed Lakota Youth
To: lakotaoyateinfo @ googlemail.com

Give the Gift of Knowing Where the Next Meal Comes from

One of Jeri Baker's founding visions for One Spirit was ending hunger and food–related illness on Pine Ridge Reservation. As one of the poorest communities in the United States, it's no surprise that Pine Ridge is also a food desert, where getting enough food, and especially nutritious food, is a challenge. The economic conditions on Pine Ridge and elsewhere in the U.S. have only made it more difficult.

Recently, teachers on the reservation reached out to us to ask for assistance in making sure that their students had enough healthy food. No child deserves to be hungry, but unfortunately, that's the reality at Pine Ridge. We're working to restock our food pantries, bring additional pantries into service, and even planting crops to help long–term, but those won't help children who are hungry right now.

Right now, kids on the reservation are hungry. If you haven't participated in one of our food drives, please consider making a tax–deductible donation today and give a child the gift of knowing where their next meal will come from.

P.S., if you can't make a donation, you can help by sharing this email!

MAKE A DONATION

Lakota YouthStay Application Deadline Extended

The deadline to apply for the Lakota YouthStay summer program has been EXTENDED to Sunday, Feb. 18th. We got word that a few more youth are working on completing their applications for the 2024 Lakota Youth Stay program in Boston/Medford MA. To give these youth a chance to finish, the new deadline is Sunday, Feb. 18th.

The LYS application comes in five sections – an initial demographic section, a personal statement, 4 photos and 2 letters of recommendation. You'll need time to fill out the application, write a personal statement, take 4 photos, and collect references so start TODAY! To be considered for this year's Lakota Youth Stay program, the complete application must be received by midnight on Sunday Feb. 18th.

Who Can Apply

Lakota youth, ages 10–15 years old, who are curious, adventurous, and open to new experiences and new people are welcome to apply to be considered for this amazing opportunity.

What You'll Get to Do

How to Apply

Start the application now to be considered for this year's program.

The 2024 Summer Program will take place July 2nd – July 11th.

APPLY HERE

For questions about Lakota YouthStay, reach out to Joy Harris at info@lakotayouthstay.org or visit lakotayouthstay.org.

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One Spirit | PO Box 3209, Rapid City, SD 57709

Von: Chase Iron Eyes, Lakota Law info @ lakotalaw.org
Date: Sa., 3. Feb. 2024
Subject: Keeping Pine Ridge warm in winter
To: Evelin Cervenkova lakotaoyateinfo @ googlemail.com

Lakota Law

Dear Evelin,

Hau, mitakuyepi. I hope you are staying warm and cozy this winter. Today, I share with you the critical efforts of my friends at the Wakpamni Wood Crew, who gather and deliver firewood to keep people safe on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation throughout the frigid winter months (when temperatures frequently dip well below zero).

To understand the importance of what they do, I encourage you to watch this short video co–produced by Lakota Law and my other organization, Last Real Indians (LRI), in partnership with the crew. You'll meet my relative, Ricky Gray Grass, who is a spiritual leader and formerly served as the Fifth Member – part of the tribe's executive committee – for the Oglala Nation. You'll hear how he and his crew improve the lives of the people, especially elders, who may not otherwise have reliable access to heat when it matters most.

Watch: We have great gratitude for the Wakpamni Wood Crew, which makes sure elders and other tribal citizens stay safe and warm during Pine Ridge winters.

I've known Ricky for a long time. He and many of his crew stood with me the day I was arrested at Last Child's Camp, our final frontline stand during the NoDAPL protests in 2017. He's also well known by locals on Pine Ridge and throughout the district of Wakpamni (Thunder Lake Hocoka), where he leads sweat ceremonies and provides trusted guidance to many. It is always an honor for me to be able to share space with him and support his work.

On that note, I hope you, too, will check out his website to learn more. And I invite you to stay connected to everything I'm doing, not just by continuing to support Lakota Law, but also by subscribing to the LRI newsletter. These two organizations share many priorities, but LRI may often take a less politicized, more aggressive stance on certain issues. Jump in and buckle up!

One of my goals as Lakota Law Director is to make sure that, as we go forward, we balance our national and international activism – like asking the Department of the Interior to change offensive place names for Black History Month – with strong community initiatives that can create direct, positive impacts for my relatives living on the rez. Our solidarity with Ricky and the Wakpamni Wood Crew is just one example. Please stay tuned; there's much more to come.

Wopila tanka – thank you for supporting our communities!
Chase Iron Eyes
Director and Lead Counsel
The Lakota People's Law Project

DONATE TODAY

Lakota People's Law Project
547 South 7th Street #149
Bismarck, ND 58504–5859

The Lakota People's Law Project is part of the Romero Institute, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) law and policy center. All donations are tax–deductible.

Von: Re–Member director @ re-member.org
Date: Di., 23. Jan. 2024
Subject: Plan your volunteer trip to Re–Member in 2024!
To: Evelin Cervenkova

Dear Evelin,

The 2024 volunteer season is just around the corner! We will welcome our first volunteers in early March and will continue to host groups through September. That's 31 weeks to choose from, and most still have plenty of availability.

Volunteering with Re–Member is a rewarding and eye–opening experience. For many, it is life–changing. We hope you will join us this season as we continue to work alongside the Oglala Lakota people to build a better today – and tomorrow on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Visit our website to check trip availability, reserve slots, submit volunteer information, and pay deposits online. Of course, you are still welcome to pay trip fees by check or money order.

View our 2024 trip calendar and book your week at Re–Member

Each group will be limited to no more than 14 individuals, with a weekly cap set at no more than 42 volunteers for the spring and fall seasons. For a ten–week period in June, July, and early August, we will increase our weekly cap to 48 volunteers. The per–person program fee is $775, inclusive of a 4.5% tribal tax. All meals, lodging, transportation and construction materials utilized while on the reservation are included in the program fee.

All volunteer trips begin on Saturday and end on Friday. In addition to our regular weekly program, we offer three unique weeks throughout the year:

Kids Week begins July 6
Healthcare Week begins July 27
Senior Week begins September 14

We hope to see you in 2024!

Paula Sibal
Volunteer Trip Coordinator

Will Paese
Executive Director

Follow us on Twitter Connect with us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram

Copyright © 2024 Re-Member, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:

Re–Member
PO Box 5054
Pine Ridge, SD 57770

RE–MEMBER
director @ re-member.org

Von: One Spirit jbaker @ nativeprogress.org
Date: Do., 18. Jan. 2024
Subject: See One Spirit on PBS tonight!
To: lakotaoyateinfo @ googlemail.com

One Spirit will be featured on PBS TONIGHT!

Several months ago, we were happy to be interviewed and shadowed by a PBS film crew to share about the current conditions on Pine Ridge Reservation and how our programs are working to build up the community through basic needs support, employment development, and cultural preservation.

You can tune in to Native Report – "Exploring South Dakota" tonight, January 18, at 7:30PM on PBS NORTH (for those local to Duluth, MN) or you can watch on the free PBS streaming app or Youtube channel after the broadcast.

Click here to visit the PBS North – Native Report website where you can watch previous episodes of Native Report and "Exploring South Dakota" after the premiere tonight.

Follow us on social media to see more updates and stories from the rez!

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Thank you for supporting One Spirit and the Oglala Lakota people of Pine Ridge Reservation!

One Spirit | PO Box 3209, Rapid City, SD 57709

Sent by jbaker @ nativeprogress.org

Von: One Spirit jbaker @ nativeprogress.org
Date: Mi., 10. Jan. 2024
Subject: An Urgent Need on the Rez
To: lakotaoyateinfo @ googlemail.com

Temperatures are dropping fast. Lakota people need your help today.

This week, temperatures on the rez will be dropping below zero and won't return to positive for several days. It is forecasted to get as low as –27 BEFORE wind chill is considered.

This is expected to be a very difficult time, especially for those who are without proper heating sources. Most homes rely on wood–burning stoves but firewood is in short supply and hard to acquire. It can also be very expensive. We have already begun to receive many calls looking for assistance – but we need your help.

One truckload of firewood costs about $200 – that is all it would take to get a family through these incredibly cold days ahead and prevent serious injury.

With a donation today, you can ensure Lakota men, women, children, and elders stay warm through this critical time.

Click here to provide firewood to Lakota families in need!

Can't make a donation today? Share our efforts with your loved ones and let them know the Lakota people of Pine Ridge Reservation need their help.

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Thank you for supporting One Spirit and the Lakota people of Pine Ridge Reservation.

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One Spirit | PO Box 3209, Rapid City, SD 57709

Sent by jbaker@nativeprogress.org

Von: Warrior Women Project info @ warriorwomen.org
Date: So., 31. Dez. 2023
Subject: Bring it on, 2024!
To: lakotaoyateinfo @ googlemail.com

Honoring the Women of Wounded Knee

Dear Evelin,

This year, we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the 1973 Wounded Knee Occupation by creating a one–of–a–kind traveling exhibit using the oral history interviews from our archive to tell the history of how women's activism led to the stand at Wounded Knee. Our journey took us from the local schools on Pine Ridge Reservation to the global stage in the Netherlands, where we participated in NANAI's 50th anniversary ( see 'Local to Global' video #2 in playlist), strengthening the international solidarity upholding Indigenous sovereignty.

In the coming months, we will begin a new project, at the request of the community, by conducting interviews with the former students and teachers of the 'We Will Remember' Survival Group/School – now celebrating their 50th Anniversary. Established by Madonna Thunder Hawk and other women during the Wounded Knee trials, 'survival schools' were far more than educational institutions; they provided community and a sense of belonging for Native youth marking a significant shift towards Native–controlled education. Watch our new short video on the history of the 'We Will Remember' Survival Group/School and their role in the legacy of Wounded Knee '73.

Our work echoes the saying, "If you want the work done, invite the women." This spirit of action and dedication is our focus as we preserve and pass on these stories that have never before been shared to the next generation. Through our exhibit, ongoing oral history gathering, and educational partnerships, we ensure these narratives of strength and resilience continue to inspire, educate, and resonate.

As we look ahead to 2024, we are finding that the longer we stay connected to and accountable to community, the more we are asked to do the work and we need your help to keep up with the demand and we invite you to join us on this mission.

DONATE NOW!

Thank you for being a part of our journey and for helping us carry these important stories into the future.

Warm regards,
The Warrior Women Project team

525 West Townview Circle, Mansfield Ohio, United States

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Buffalo House https://www.lakotatimes.com/articles/one-spirit/

One Spirit

December 20, 2023
JAMES GIAGO DAVIES

LT CONTRIBUTOR

PINE RIDGE – Outsiders from the off reservation world, even people with generous hearts and humanitarian motives, often struggle trying to find acceptance on the Pine Ridge Reservation. But not Jeri Baker and her organization, One Spirit. Starting back in 2005, One Spirit distributed boxes of food, and during that process, they learned how the reservation ticked, they hired tribal members, and formed friendships and beneficial associations, and all of that allowed them to expand their operation, targeting the most pressing needs from Allen to Red Shirt Table. One Spirit funds lots of programs, programs which help lots of tribal members, and they continue to expand and refine their operation.

"My background is in human services," Baker told LT. "I worked with a tribe in Virginia, the Mattaponi. I heard of a medicine man there, Sun Eagle, and he told me about Pine Ridge. I came up to visit Pine Ridge and found there was a lot of poverty, a lot of need there. I'm from the Appalachian Mountains, and I grew up in poverty. I know what it is, what it's like. I (was) graduated from Berea College, and the motto of that college is 'God has made of one blood all the peoples of the Earth.'"

Baker said that One Spirit became a 501c3 in 2008: "We started working with the Lakota in a way that provides resources for the people, and let's them decide what they need on their reservation. We were in an area where there was a lot of poverty, a lot of unemployment. We try to bring jobs there for the people, and self sufficiency and the things they need to feel good and right about themselves."

Every journey has a first step, and from the get, Baker and One Spirit made the right steps: "We started out on the Food Program because that was the (biggest) concern at that time."

Baker started "giving boxes of pre-selected food," but now has progressed to "three food pantries in different areas of the reservation."

The food program was an organic expression of Baker's systematic mind: identify the fundamental need, address it, refine it, and then move on to the next pressing need. At each stage, One Spirit's programs have had a tangible impact on the quality of Lakota lives.

"Bamm Brewer was helping us with managing the food program," Baker said. "And he said to me one day, 'What we really need is to return to the traditional diet of buffalo, and process our own buffalo. There are a lot of diet–related health problems on the reservation, certainly diabetes is the most widely known one, cancer, high blood pressure. What we want to do is get back to traditional fresh food and produce so they can have the kinds of nutritious foods everybody else has. We built the Buffalo House, which is a meat processing facility, and there is a herd of buffalo there now, somewhere around 75–100 (head), and we are looking to bring back the buffalo. The buffalo can be an important part of the economy, the diet for sure, but also using all parts of the buffalo, just like the Lakota always did. The buffalo are harvested in a ceremonial, traditional way, and Bamm is a person who can certainly adequately demonstrate that."

Baker is able to network with other humanitarian groups, like Amish farmers from Ohio, which bring them to the reservation to help One Spirit out: "The interesting thing about the buffalo house is it is being built by a group of carpenters from Ohio, from the Amish country. So, they are providing free labor, and One Spirit is providing the resources. They bring a crew out for a couple of weeks at a time to get the parts of the work done, and Bamm actually gave them a name, he called them the 'Thundering Chainsaws.'"

The main focus of One Spirit activities has been in the town of Allen, an especially isolated and impoverished community.

Baker said, "For a group of people, that have such a beautiful culture, and Lakota values are right on target, the drugs and the alcohol addictions have hit hard, and so we started a youth center that opened in 2015 out in the Allen area. Allen is known, in many ways, as the poorest place in the US, and so if you are going to start somewhere, you start where it is most needed."

The Thundering Chainsaws went to work in Allen and besides the youth center, a laundromat was added in the back of the building.

"Kids were saying there was no place to wash their clothes," Baker said. "They didn't want to go to school with clothes that were not clean. We provided free access to the machines, and we are fortunate to have a company that provides us with free laundry detergent. So, it is well used by the community. We also put up a food pantry there. We were really lucky this year because Phil Jackson's family foundation gave us the resources to build a beautiful outside basketball court at the center, and it's well–used by the young people there. We have a cook inside who prepares a nutritious meal every day, and the kids are welcome to come, anybody's welcome to come. We are trying to wipe out hunger there."

One Spirit funding comes from donations and grants, and non–Native people receive no monetary compensation, they are all volunteers.

"The money that comes in goes to the Lakota people and the programs there," Baker said. "We hire them, we buy the materials for the things they need, we provide the money for consultation when they need it, for professional expertise. Recently we had an elder that had very bad living conditions for many years, part of her roof had fallen in, she had to live in one part of the house. The Thundering Chainsaws came and built a house for her. She got to move into her new house a couple of months ago."

One Spirit provides many other services, including Okini Market "between Sharp's Corner and Porcupine. and they have not only clothing, but they have household goods and Christmas decorations, sewing materials, baby clothes, and other things people do need."

There is also a horse camp where youth learn to ride and take care of horses in the traditional Lakota way. There is a Firewood Assistance program, a Youth Camp Program, and an Employment Center so that Pine Ridge can produce skilled people, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, who can come back to the reservation and provide difficult to obtain services to other tribal members.

Baker gets the inspiration and drive to maintain and expand One Spirit because of a sixty–year–old quote from John F Kennedy: "We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard ..."

One Spirit renders hard things into beneficial reality.

(Contact James Giago Davies at skindiesel@msn.com)

Von: One Spirit jbaker @ nativeprogress.org
Date: Mo., 18. Dez. 2023
Subject: Thank you for making an IMPACT!
To: lakotaoyateinfo @ googlemail.com

The 2023 IMPACT Fundraiser is over halfway complete and we just want to say LILA PILAMAYAYE!

Thank you so much to all those who have made donations and shared our stories over the last couple of weeks. We have officially passed the $50,000 mark! There has been a great response so far and we are making progress towards our goal of raising funds to cover operational costs for One Spirit programs to be covered for 2024.

As we have been raising money for our core programs, we have been sharing stories of IMPACT; how One Sprit programs have had a positive effect on the Lakota people of Pine Ridge Reservation. Some stories that have been shared include:

Lakota YouthStay Joins One Spirit as a Youth Initiative

The Charging Buffalo Meat House Inspires and Teaches Incarcerated Men

Here are some examples of how YOU can make an impact on a Lakota family today with a donation to One Spirit:

The average wood delivery costs about $200 and can provide enough heat for 1–3 weeks for most families.

A week's worth of food for a family of five can be provided for $250.

$500 gives a child a week filled with fun and learning at YMCA Camp Marrowbone this summer.

A new wood stove can be purchased for $700.

$1000 can propel the progress of a new food pantry on the reservation leading to countless families receiving the food assistance they desperately need.

We know that times are hard for most Americans right now – inflation keeps rising and food prices are high. In fact, they've priced out many native families. The most recent US Census revealed that the median income for households in Allen, SD is less than $8,000 a year. With homes often made up of parents, grandparents, and multiple children, it is critical that resources be available to help them stay fed, warm, and supported through hardships. With your help, we can be a resource that has a large impact.

How You Can Contribute to the One Spirit Impact Fundraiser:

We hope to see you on social media and our website as the One Spirit Impact Fundraiser continues until December 31st!

A donation to One Spirit can have a lifesaving impact.

Make a donation today using the link below.

MAKE A DONATION

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One Spirit | PO Box 3209, Rapid City, SD 57709

Sent by jbaker @ nativeprogress.org

Von: First Peoples Fund collectivespirit @ firstpeoplesfund.org
Date: Mo., 11. Dez. 2023
Subject: First Peoples Fund Announces New Website and Logo!
To: lakotaoyateinfo @ googlemail.com

Embracing Our Roots + Unveiling Our Fresh Look!

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We are absolutely thrilled to share some incredible news with you today!

It is with great sincerity, strength, and boundless excitement that we unveil our brand–new website and refreshed logo. Today, we celebrate our visual transformation that reflects our deep–rooted values, mission, and guiding principles. And although our appearance may be changing, our work remains centered on the Indigenous artists, culture bearers and communities with whom we work.

Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our profound lineage. With this revitalized visual identity, we honor our origins and history yet eagerly anticipate the next 25 years of our journey. We are deeply grateful to have you by our side. Together, we will continue to stand firm in providing vital and unwavering support to empower Indigenous cultural, artistic, and ancestral practices.

The Logo

The refreshed logo honors and maintains the integrity of the original turtle logo designed by Richard Red Owl (Oglala Lakota) in the mid–1990s. Through a graphic design approach, the logo consists of concentric circles that form the turtle shell and its markings. The negative space within the turtle logo mark features four symmetrical icons representing people from the four directions. The underlying shape psychology of the logo reflects FPF's work within the Indigenous Arts Ecology, which unites and uplifts artists and culture bearers from across Turtle Island.

The Website

We invite you to explore our new website and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Indigenous art, culture, and tradition. The design approach and new color schemes center on showcasing our Native artists and culture bearers, along with their work. Through the revised architecture of the site, we hope to enhance and simplify the user experience. So please join us in witnessing our visual evolution firsthand and be a part of our ongoing story of cultivating renewal and growth of the Indigenous Arts Ecology.

In closing, we thank you for being an integral part of the First Peoples Fund family and Collective Spirit® – that which moves each of us to stand up and make a difference, to pass on ancestral knowledge and simply extend a hand of generosity. We look forward to embarking on this new chapter with you!

Pilamayaye (Thank You),

Lori Pourier (Oglala Lakota)

President/CEO of First Peoples Fund

VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE

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Copyright (C) 2023 First Peoples Fund. All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:

706 West Boulevard, Rapid City, SD 57701

Von: Thunder Valley CDC advancement @ thundervalley.org
Date: Mo., 27. Nov. 2023
Subject: Support Lakota Youth
To: lakotaoyateinfo @ googlemail.com

This Giving Tuesday, support Thunder Valley's Lakota Youth Summer Programs
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Dear Evelin,

This giving season, we are for your support for our youth leadership programs: our Summer Youth Academy, Youth Mentorship Program and our traditional Girls and Boys Societies.

As Lakota, the two strongest components of our community are our youth and our spirituality. All of our work is building to liberation, which I understand, in the words of my father, Russell Means, as the freedom to be responsible.

What does this really look like for our children? Our programs are designed to approach healing holistically, take care of their physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs, all while putting them in positions to actually lead. Some things you learn by doing.

At our recent healing camp for young men we started, as we always start, with wochekiye, with prayer. We know it is important to begin things in a good way. Before diving into teachings, we introduced some meditation techniques that help us focus on what is important and make sure we're not being pulled in too many directions.

As the day progressed, we introduced some simple body weight exercises and shared traditional teachings about being a young warrior. To close out the camp, we brought in a panel of women who lead in our community. They spoke about what we expect and what we should expect from our young men.

Teachings and internal practices like these help our children to know where we come from and who we are as Lakota. With this grounding they have the knowledge and know they have the support to lead. Two years ago, our Youth Leadership Initiative proposed and passed into tribal law a measure that created a Youth Advisory Council Seat on our tribal council, literally giving our youth a seat at the table.

Our transformative vision is more ambitious than local change. We take our young leaders to conferences around Turtle Island, providing new perspectives and the other surprises that come from meeting people from different places. At these conferences they have the chance to build new transnational networks and lay the foundation for a new world.

By helping our younger generation understand who they are and where they come from, by giving them the encouragement, space and opportunity to lead, we are preparing them to guide our nation, to build friendships and ally relationships with people from all nations, all so that they can decide how we move forward and heal together.

We know what our children need from us, and we could use your help. This giving season we are asking you to start a recurring donation plan. Sustained gifts make it easier for us to plan because we know we can count on your support.

These programs are expensive, because we do them right. Our summer programs, the Youth Leadership Academy and Youth Mentorship program, will cost $60,000 year to cover speakers, transport, materials and travel. This year we plan to offer four healing camps for our WWHY Girls' Society, each one costs $23,000. Finally, to take our young leader to conferences around Turtle Island will cost $15,000.

Join us today to provide these opportunities for our youth. Donations can be mailed to:

Thunder Valley CDC

290 Empowerment Dr

Porcupine, SD 57772

If it's easier, you can donate online at:

http://go.pardot.com/e/806403/gn-giving-tuesday-2023-c538486/8bvdf/909480576/h/4GTxHGgtHiJCAZiBOA_Dl-0wUd4aLopQ7ZCuEElP3nY

Philamayaye (thank you),

Tatewin Means, JD

Executive Director

Copyright © 2023, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:

Thunder Valley CDC
290 Empowerment Drive
Porcupine, SD 57772

Von: One Spirit jbaker @ nativeprogress.org
Date: Di., 21. Nov. 2023
Subject: The wait is almost over!
To: lakotaoyateinfo @ googlemail.com

The wait is almost over!

In just ONE WEEK, the 2023 One Spirit Impact Fundraiser begins! We are preparing to share many stories of how, thanks to your support, One Spirit programs have had an impact on the Lakota community of Pine Ridge Reservation this year as each program has been a direct response to community needs. We are also excited to share some of our goals for 2024!

As we have been gathering stories and memories to share with you, we have been overwhelmed with examples of why we do what we do. There are so many kind and beautiful people that are struggling in ways that many of us can only imagine.

There is currently a food crisis on the reservation. Teachers tell us that their students are writing about being hungry and not having any food at home. Grandparents say that the adults always wait until the children finish eating before they eat themselves. "There has to be enough for the children," they say. Reports from the community are that children and teenagers are breaking into homes and taking only food. Just a few days ago, Oglala Sioux Tribe President, Frank Star Comes Out, signed an official proclamation declaring a State of Emergency on the reservation due to the levels of crime – – something that has been fueled by lack of basic necessities and resources for help.

As 2023 comes to a close, we are determined to be a resource for those who need it. We will never stop working on relieving the burdens that too many Lakota individuals face daily. In order to do this however, we need your help.

In just one week, we will be officially launching our 2023 One Spirit Impact Fundraiser. From November 28th to December 31st, we will be raising money that will support our core programs such as multiple food pantries, firewood distribution, and the Allen Youth Center for the rest of the year and 2024 as well.

Throughout the campaign, we will be sharing stories of impact on our social media accounts and website. Some of these will include:

Providing a new home to Barbara High Pine, an elderly woman whose spirit, intellect, and tenacity are admired by many

The journey to providing food to the community by opening 3 new food pantries across the reservation and planting regenerative gardens

How the new basketball court at the Allen Youth Center has provided a safe place for children to spend their time under the caring supervision of Lakota adults

A look at how One Spirit has supported economic and employment development through the Charging Buffalo Meat House and the One Spirit Employment Program

We know that times are hard for most Americans right now – inflation keeps rising and food prices are high. In fact, they’ve priced out many native families. The most recent US Census revealed that the median income for households in Allen is less than $8,000 a year. With homes often made up of parents, grandparents, and multiple children, it is critical that resources be available to help. With your help, we can be a resource that has a large impact.

So we encourage you to mark your calendars, follow our social media accounts, and join us as we prepare for 2024 and tackle the critical issues that the Lakota people of Pine Ridge Reservation are currently facing.

You don't have to wait until our fundraiser starts to contribute to our efforts! Donations are always being accepted on our website.

A donation to One Spirit can have a lifesaving impact.
Make a donation today on our website.

MAKE A DONATION

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One Spirit | PO Box 3209, Rapid City, SD 57709

Sent by jbaker @ nativeprogress.org

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