The Allen Youth Center Art Program Springs Forward
Thanks to a grant from the South Dakota Arts Council, which covers half of the artist-in-residence's fee, and in particular thanks to the outpouring of generosity from our loyal One Spirit family, the previously announced four-week Art Camp is now in full swing at the Allen Youth Center.
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Jeri Baker and John Bad Wound at the annual Karl-May-Festival in Radebeul
For the first time, Jeri Baker and John Bad Wound attended the Karl-May-Festival in Radebeul near the town of Dresden in Germany and joined the members of One Spirit Germany as they promoted One Spirit at the festival and sold Native made jewelery. The financial benefits will go back to the reservation and will be spend for kids' programs.
Jeri Baker, John Bad Wound and guests at our booth
Photo by Gabriela Truemper
Click to read Jeri's report:
Press Release Charging Buffalo House
GRAND OPENING OF CHARGING BUFFALO FACILITY ON PINE RIDGE RESERVATION
JULY 7, 2018 11:00 AM (MDT)
One Spirit, a Native American service organization founded to assist and support the Oglala Lakota invites the press to the grand opening of the Charging Buffalo Facility. This FDA-approved processing facility for buffalo and game produced on the Pine Ridge Reservation represents a new opportunity to help the Lakota gain healthful food independence and potentially make products for sale to the public, thus enhancing the economic progress of the Reservation.
The Pine Ridge Reservation is located in the two poorest counties in the United States, with chronic problems that range from poor nutrition to disease, alcoholism, unemployment, and high rates of suicide. One Spirit operates programs to provide healthful food options, youth programs, athletic programs and cultural awareness to the Oglala Lakota, in order to help them maintain their unique and proud native culture.
We invite you to come and see the beauty and culture of the Lakota and the pride of the people during this grand opening. You can learn about traditional meat carving, watch dancing and drumming and get a tour of the Allen Youth Center and meet the next generation of Lakota.
Building Community where Conditions are dire
Everyone except the most die-hard introvert or hermit among us feels a desire for some sort of community.
Among the Oglala Lakota, traditional culture has always placed paramount value on wacantognaka (generosity), which means sharing and giving freely among one's people (oyate). In other words, building community by caring for one another is an important value for the Lakota.
Helping the Oglala Lakota achieve better lives, whether through our food programs, athletic programs, and cultural development that respects and build pride among the people: all of these have been guideposts for how One Spirit tries to help the oyate help themselves. When we first realized that community facilities providing a place to foster good health, education, activities, and cultural involvement were needed---especially for the youth---we decided to begin our efforts to meet this need in the town of Allen, with the One Spirit Allen Youth Center.