100 Horses Women’s Society revives Lakota matrilineal leadership

“A woman is worth 100 horses,” according to an unknown Lakota author. Medina Matonis (enrolled Cheyenne River Lakota) and her respected matriarchal relatives remember reading the quote but they don’t remember exactly where they read it or who wrote it. They just remember the quote and agree so strongly with it that they named their recently created 501(C)3 non-profit organization the 100 Horses Women’s Society (100HWS) (www.100horseswomenssociety.org/).

Matonis was born in San Francisco, CA, but grew up in Red Scaffold, SD. She says, “South Dakota has always been home.” Though she moved away for years, she returned to Cheyenne River in 2013.

She said, “I am very passionate about our youth. In 2016, the youth at Dupree School asked for a space to learn and practice their culture. …I founded the after school Lakota Club and have been bringing cultural education to the students since.” Matonis invited guest speakers including Lakota artists and others who helped the Lakota Club participants form a positive image of themselves and their traditional culture.

Medina has been enriched and strengthened throughout her adult life with the positive influences of her mother Rosalita Roach, her hunka aunt Sandra Frazier, and elder Darlene Dupree Vance. She refers to them as “the three grandmothers.”

About twenty years ago Roach and Frazier, then in later middle age, asked themselves, “What can we do in the rest of our lives that will still be making a positive difference for our people in 150 years?” They began with research, then took on the mission of restoring matrilineal leadership to modern Lakota society. Darlene Vance and her husband Steve Vance (Cultural Preservation Officer for the Cheyenne River Lakota) joined them in their mission.

For more than fifteen years the three grandmothers worked intensively with dozens of Lakota women of all ages and their families teaching traditional matrilineal leadership principles and practices. From the beginning, they received guidance and support from the Spirit Aligned Leadership Program (spiritaligned.org) which works to support Indigenous women Elders who transfer their cultural values, knowledge, and experience to younger women in their communities. Matonis has been actively involved in the mission for over ten years.

Frazier is now eighty years old and Roach is in her mid-seventies with serious health challenges. They recently agreed that it’s now time for the next generation to step up and continue the work. Matonis laughingly says, “I was ‘volun-told’ (that this is now my responsibility.)” On a more serious note, she says, “Tunwin (Aunt) Sandy and Ina (Mother) Rosie gifted me with a leadership role for the Society.”

Matonis has no formal education beyond her high school degree, but she says, “I have a Ph.D. in (surviving) childhood trauma, self-care, and youth advocacy.” She says her message to youth is, “You have a choice. You can break the cycle (of intergenerational trauma).”

Since stepping up, Matonis coordinated the task of filing for the 501(c)3 non-profit status in April of 2022. Frazier is her Board treasurer. Other board members and officers are exemplary Lakota women of achievement, including Tori Thunder (Board Chairwoman), Julie Taylor (Vice-Chairwoman), and Kateri Matonis (Board Secretary).

Frazier said, “We are currently in the planning and community engagement stage of launching our grassroots Matrilineal Leadership Empowerment Program. … Once we have compiled and identified the core teachings of our program, we will host pre-launch introductory events in 5 Cheyenne River communities: Dupree, Takini, LaPlant, Timberlake and Eagle Butte. Please be on the lookout for updates sent home with students from the five identified community schools, posted in community spaces, and on our website and social media.”

Since receiving their non-profit status, the organization secured funding from a variety of grant sources to purchase a 4-wheel drive crew cab pick-up truck as well as a van, both suitable for the unique needs of 100HWS.

The group has also used grant funding to purchase a building in Dupree and 3 adjoining city blocks of vacant property to serve as a centralized location for the programming of the 100HWS. The building is undergoing complete renovation. When the work is completed, the building will include a 25’ x 30’ classroom teaching space, a 15’ x 22’ teaching kitchen with both gas and electric ovens, 2 offices, a coffee bar, 2 bathrooms, an honor wall, storage space, and a studio apartment for live-in staff.

The vacant lots will be fenced and used as gardening space and a playground for the children of program participants. Also, 2 tiny houses will be built on the property for staff. Matonis’ overarching goal is to create a space for 100HWS that is comfortable and private. She foresees that eventually there will be similar 100 HWS facilities in all Cheyenne River communities.

The vision statement for 100 HWS states, “If the youth know and choose healthy relationships, we can see the end of domestic violence and sexual assault against our relatives, the end of violence against women and children, along with the end of a continued systematic breakdown of indigenous families. Our work with the girls and young women through our women’s society are planting the roots and further building the foundation to an even brighter, safer future. A future where our youth today and the future generations in 50 years will have chosen to raise their children in alcohol free, nonviolent homes filled with love and culture, and modeling the Lakota values.”

Metonis adds, “Creator puts you where you are supposed to be and has led me on a path of supporting and serving our youth. You are never where you are by mistake. There is a purpose and one must be open to receive the message. My 150-year goal is to help create culturally rooted mothers, sisters, aunts, and grandmothers that lead their youth to success.”

The completion of the 100HWS building renovation and a celebratory open house is projected for the first or second quarter of 2024. A wish list will soon be posted on the website. For more information, contact the 100HWS office at 605-365-5340 or email 100horseswomenssociety@gmail.com.

(Contact Grace Terry at grace@angelsabide.com

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