CRYP engages youth in spring programming focused on culture, education and the land

EAGLE BUTTE – This spring, the Cheyenne River Youth Project has been engaging children and teens across its Eagle Butte campus through a wide range of hands-on programming, including a college visit, cultural field trip, garden preparation, land stewardship activities and life-skills education. Together, these efforts reflect CRYP’s commitment to providing consistent, meaningful opportunities for young people at every stage of development.

On a crisp March day, a group of Lakota teens from the youth project stood at the edge of a pipestone quarry in southwestern Minnesota. They peered down into a place where generations of artisans have carefully dug through layers of earth to reach the soft red stone used for ceremonial pipes.

For many of the nine Indigenous Foods & Cooking interns on the trip, it was their first visit to Pipestone National Monument. They were amazed to see how far the artisans must go, sometimes 18 to 20 feet underground, to gather the stone by hand.

“It gave them a real sense of the time, effort and care that goes into something so meaningful,” said Jerica Jones, CRYP’s programs director. “It’s not just material. It’s a connection.”

The March 19-20 field trip, funded by Newman’s Own Foundation, included a visit to South Dakota State University in Brookings. The teens toured campus facilities, met with staff at the American Indian Student Center and learned about academic programs, scholarships and student life.

Jones said the visit gave students a chance to see new possibilities for themselves, from agriculture and entrepreneurship programs to nursing and health sciences. Touring student housing and campus spaces helped make those opportunities feel more tangible.

“They thought the whole experience was really cool,” Jones said. “It’s important for our kids to visit places like SDSU and be able to picture themselves there.”

The group’s visit to Pipestone the next day added a cultural dimension to the trip. In addition to touring the quarry, the teens met a fourth-generation pipe maker and learned about the stone’s significance. What was expected to be a relatively short hike stretched longer as the group paused frequently along the 1.25-mile trail to take photos and absorb their surroundings.

That memorable day also created new opportunities back home. CRYP received pipestone pieces and a slab that will be incorporated into future art projects, allowing youth to create items such as pendants, buttons and smudge bowls while continuing to learn about the stone and its meaning for Lakota people.

That sense of connection is carrying into the spring growing season. CRYP’s Food Sovereignty interns have been busy in the Winyan Toka Win (Leading Lady) Garden, building mounds, testing soil and preparing the land for planting as part of their internship curriculum, which runs from April 16 to May 8. They’re also learning canning techniques and indoor growing methods.

“It’s wonderful to see our teen interns out in the garden, getting their hands in the earth and building mounds for our future harvest,” Jones said. “There is nothing like the energy of young leaders connecting with the land.”

At The Main, CRYP’s dropin youth center for children ages 4-12, spring programming has focused on building foundational skills through movement, creativity and hands-on learning. During Walking Club, participants track their progress each week as they work toward a shared goal of “walking across South Dakota,” logging miles on the playground, in the garden and in the gym depending on the weather.

“It’s been a great way to get them moving and working toward something together,” said Hayley Dupris, CRYP’s youth programs manager at The Main.

Through Garden Club, the youth project’s younger participants have been helping the teen interns in the big garden, working on their own sensory garden and planting wildflowers. At the end of April, they were looking forward to making seed balls with guest instructor Lauren Clown.

While Tuesdays and Thursdays are all about the clubs, the other three days of the week have been dedicated to Main University, founded in 2002 by Tracie Farrell and a recipient of a “Champion for Children” award from the South Dakota Coalition for Children. It is designed to give children opportunities to take short courses that allow them to explore subjects that might not be offered in school.

This edition of Main University included basic first aid, cooking and daily living. The children had additional opportunities to learn Lakota language and culture with elders Renee and Manny Iron Hawk, who also provide instruction at the Cokata Wiconi (Center of Life) Teen Center next door.

“Twelve children graduated from Main University on April 28,” Dupris said. “They each completed eight classes to earn their certificates. These incredible kids showed positive attitudes, curiosity and a willingness to learn. We are so proud of them and can’t wait to see how they use what they’ve learned.”

In an exciting development this spring, Dupris has been offering Open Saturdays at The Main on select weekends, giving children additional time for creative projects and outdoor play. One recent Saturday included bird feeder construction, salt painting and time outside.

Another new initiative, Late Night at The Main, gave children a special night out on April 17.

“It was a hit,” Dupris said. “Our youth enjoyed relaxing spa stations with foot baths and a nail salon for painting nails, and they got creative making sensory bags. Our Little Chefs baked delicious brownies, and we ended the night with a movie, popcorn and pizza. It was a fun-filled evening with lots of laughter and positive energy.”

The CRYP team also recently wrapped up an action-packed Earth Week. Teens participated in hands-on projects and discussions while younger children explored gardening, art and environmental awareness through age-appropriate activities designed to connect them with the natural world.

These efforts will continue in May. CRYP will host a garden blessing ceremony on May 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. Youth of all ages will lead the ceremony in the garden, after which the community will gather for a shared meal.

To learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project and its programs, and for information about making donations and volunteering, call (605) 964-8200 or visit lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Vimeo and YouTube.

The Cheyenne River Youth Project, founded in 1988, is a grassroots, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the youth of the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation with access to a vibrant and secure future through a wide variety of culturally sensitive and enduring programs, projects and facilities that ensure strong, self-sufficient families and communities.

(Contact Heather Steinberger at steinbergerheatherco@gmail.com)

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