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Through community efforts we were able to have three successful horse camps between 2021-2022, titled, Healing with Horses in Rapid City, SD. There was an overwhelming request by city officials, local agencies, tribal officials, schools, service providers, law enforcement, and residents to continue the Healing with Horses camps for the community and other tribal and non-tribal entities to address community issues, which included violent criminal activities in primarily Indigenous neighborhoods. During the 4-day camps local law enforcement stated that there were no reports of violence or crimes in those neighborhoods. The need for cultural resources and community outreach was apparent and urgent. Concerned community members and officials began planning ongoing horse camps that included a variety of cultural activities. These camps brought awareness to the community issues, along with powerful healing energy of hearing Lakota songs and drums, the sounds of children laughing, and elders speaking their Lakota language echoed through Northside Rapid City, along with the beautiful sight of tipis and horses created a space for Lakota and non-Lakota community members to share culture and enjoy each other's company. It brought many people from all walks of life together, and if only for that moment in time there was no young people dying of violence or suicide, it was all worth it.
As a wraparound process, we will be responding to the mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of our wakanyeja (children) in this area. We will set up a traditional Ti Ikceya (tipi) and light a Peta (fire) to bring awareness of culture, recovery, and resources.
Through these traditional teachings, we will bring our youth and the horse nation together, to build connections for healing. There is a high rate of Native American youth experiencing depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues with compounding substance abuse and addictions. Through the spirit of the horse relatives, they can help bring healing to our community and offer those much-needed connections to those facing hardships.
We, Wicouncage Okolakiciye, seek to come together for the Native youth experiencing hardships in our community. Collaborating with community members and local organizations, together, we can support our Native youth by keeping the fire lit for four days.
Mission:
To create a healing environment where we as individuals, families, communities can talk about and develop solutions to the social problems we are facing. We can address our hurts and hardships through cultural teachings, healing approaches, and methods and work through them together. We strengthen through identity, culture, songs, and ceremonies as the tools to overcome those hardships. To find healing/recovery that works for each of us to find sobriety and identity. To build a community of kinships and values, working towards building on the strengths of those struggling. To collaborate with the resources in the surrounding area to provide the most resources for our Native youth searching for help.
Vision
To rekindle the fire within the individual, the individual will return to the family, community, and way of life that promotes holistic healing. To help our community to realize they are a part of a Tiospaye, family, that is greater than themselves. We fight through the hardships and know we are not alone in the fight; we become resilient in our beliefs and with prayer, we design the foundation to sobriety and a better way of life.
Challenge
Suicide Ideation/self-harm
Substance abuse and misuse
Risky Behaviors
Recent and past experience with high-level trauma
Lack of Parenting Skills
Unstable home life
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Event Venue
Lakota Community Homes, Rapid City, South Dakota, United States
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
