~ Since 1992 ~
Our grassroots Native non-profit has served the people of the tribal nations in South Dakota.
Lakotas Transitioning to Culturally Grounded Lifestyles
NATIVE AMERICAN ADVOCACY PROGRAM
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Youth Programs
Our goal is to re-establish and support a Hocoka (Sacred Circle) for the Oyate (people) to facilitate positive direction in their lives through Lakota Language, culture values and spirituality with our horse nation relatives. We do this through afterschool and summer programs using culturally specific strategies and curriculum. These activities offer the opportunity for: leadership development, social skills development, relationship building, healing from trauma and fear management, all leading toward increased self esteem and confidence.
¨ June 6-9 Ceremony camp
¨ June 27-30 Leadership camp
¨ July 11-14 Lakota Bow and Arrow Camp
¨ August 1-4 Summer Harvest Camp
¨ August 20-21 Hunt safe Certification
¨ October 14-16 Fall Hunt weekend Camp
Summer Camps
Nacan Iyecel Opi'iciyapi
The purpose of the youth gatherings is to develop and build on the necessary cultural skills of effective Lakota Youth Leadership and recovery that empower them and their peers to acquire the cultural resiliency and leadership qualities and skills needed to support re-establishment of Lakota youth societies.
The seven principals that will drive these experiences are embodied in the following:
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While the hands are busy the mind is open
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Knowing your place in the camp circle is the foundation for knowing your place in the community, tribal nation, and world
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Personal, character and spiritual strengths once identified can be refined and developed to enhance youth life skills and personal growth.
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Only when we know who we are and where our people have been can we go forward into the future. (i.e. personal, family, and tribal history)
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Developments of cognitive problem solving skills are an integral part of “full circle” Lakota problem solving and decision making. (i.e. thought, emotions, physical investment, and spiritual consultation)
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Lakota virtues and teachings must be shared and translated into today’s world experiences for youth to grasp their value
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Adults must demonstrate commitment, respect, caring, support and protection for youth to have the needed environment for developmental and personal growth.
Social
Entrepreneurism
Knowing that they needed to look beyond bake sales and raffles to fund their own activities, the Mato Tasunka Wakinyan Okolakiciye, Bear Horse Thunder Youth Society, began discussing actual business ideas that could fund programming to fit their needs and desires and not be beholden to the funding organization. The Society wanted to develop their own social enterprises that reflect work they are interested in and capable of doing to support activities they design and desire. Out of these discussions the Society, with NAAP's consensus, came up with 3 realistic and feasible ideas: Cultural Tourism, Bee Keeping and honey sales, and a Medicinal Herb Trail and sales. Read more...
Afterschool
Oko Iyohi Mniciyapi
Research has shown that between the hours of 3 and 6pm after school is when youth are prone to more high risk behaviors. This is the time that our afterschool programming takes place for up to 3 hours once a week.
The youth are given a wide variety of choices of hands on activities to chose from during these sessions: Regalia making, Hand Drum Making, Beading, Quill Work, Traditional Games, Team Dancing, Tipi Painting, Learning how to put up a Tipi, Story-telling from Elders, and more.
While the youth are working on their projects, culturally specific Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug (ATOD) Prevention is woven into the activitby sharing of cultural perspective and values through Lakota Story telling. All finished projects are for the youths to take home, so they have tangible reminders of their learning.
Project Venture afterschool and out of school programs are offered for youth
in Gregory, Todd, Mellette and Tripp Counties in South Dakota.
Bear Horse Thunder Society
Maţo Tašuŋka Wakiŋyaŋ Okolakičye
Youth Leadership
This Youth Leadership Society was formed by a group of participants in our cultural youth camps. They organized themselves in order to have a youth voice related to our alcohol and drug prevention programming.
Members utilize the Lakota society structure as a peer mentorship and leadership system to promote Lakota language development, increase participation in Lakota spirituality and ceremonies and live an alcohol and drug free life style.
Equestrian Program
Sunka Wakan Otakuye
The Horse Nation has been a part of Lakota culture for thousands of years. It seems only natural for NAAP to move towards bringing back those relationships with the Horse Nation and native youth.
Sunka Wakan Otakuye Curriculum is hands on learning with the horses, opening the door for Lakota youth to re-unite with the Horse Nation. The horses interact with the youth in ways that help youth better understand their own actions and behaviors. Read More...
