Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation
Since 2012, Sisters for Peace joins Simple Smiles Inc. in their incredible life changing work with the Lakota People on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation in South Dakota. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) Reservation is an autonomous nation within the borders of the United States. It is home to four bands of Lakota Indians. In an area of 1.45 million acres (roughly the size of Connecticut), the CRST Reservation is home to approximately 10,000 residents.
The poverty there is staggering. The reasons are many and complex. Being on the ground, living and working side-by-side with the Lakota people, particularly the women & girls, only then did we begin to understand how important our presence is to the Lakota people. Most of the living conditions are unacceptable, suicide rate among children is by far the highest on Reservations, many families facing food insecurity, and the sadness and despair is epidemic.
During the past 5 years, the focus of our volunteer work has been joining Simply Smiles Inc., in community building, cultural preservation & appreciation, summer camps & youth support, food, garden & healthy living, presence & partnership, and building new homes. Returning 5 years in a row has given us the opportunity to build lasting relationships on the reservation, particularly with the women & girls. For example, bringing sewing machines to the reservation and doing group sewing project with the women & girls, making their traditional dresses for the upcoming Pow Wow.
In past years we have planned multiply art projects that helping our Lakota friends connect with their traditional values of sewing, pottery, beading and many others. We also purchase and bring all of the art supplies with us.
Please join us on the reservation. I promise you it will be a life changing opportunity for you!
To to learn more about volunteer opportunities please contact Caroline through the contact page.
Since 2012, Sisters for Peace joins Simple Smiles Inc. in their incredible life changing work with the Lakota People on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation in South Dakota. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) Reservation is an autonomous nation within the borders of the United States. It is home to four bands of Lakota Indians. In an area of 1.45 million acres (roughly the size of Connecticut), the CRST Reservation is home to approximately 10,000 residents.
The poverty there is staggering. The reasons are many and complex. Being on the ground, living and working side-by-side with the Lakota people, particularly the women & girls, only then did we begin to understand how important our presence is to the Lakota people. Most of the living conditions are unacceptable, suicide rate among children is by far the highest on Reservations, many families facing food insecurity, and the sadness and despair is epidemic.
During the past 5 years, the focus of our volunteer work has been joining Simply Smiles Inc., in community building, cultural preservation & appreciation, summer camps & youth support, food, garden & healthy living, presence & partnership, and building new homes. Returning 5 years in a row has given us the opportunity to build lasting relationships on the reservation, particularly with the women & girls. For example, bringing sewing machines to the reservation and doing group sewing project with the women & girls, making their traditional dresses for the upcoming Pow Wow.
In past years we have planned multiply art projects that helping our Lakota friends connect with their traditional values of sewing, pottery, beading and many others. We also purchase and bring all of the art supplies with us.
Please join us on the reservation. I promise you it will be a life changing opportunity for you!
To to learn more about volunteer opportunities please contact Caroline through the contact page.