LAKOTA YOUTH SOLSTICE CAMP
Lakota Youth Solstice Camp
Norma Rendon, an elder with the Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe and Founder/CEO of Where All Women Are Honored, recognized a need for Lakota-based education that builds youth skills, knowledge, and awareness to prevent violence. Along with her team, Norma developed a curriculum grounded in storytelling and Lakota culture to address prevention of sexual assault, domestic violence, teen dating violence, and sex trafficking.
The curriculum was implemented at Lakota Tech High School in Pine Ridge, SD during the 2022–2023 school year. While focused on violence prevention, the classes also taught culture, language, and creation stories to help youth build strong cultural connections. By the end of the school year, many students expressed interest in continuing the learning.
Background
Due to strong youth interest and ongoing challenges facing tribal youth, Norma and her team decided to create a summer camp to continue the education. In partnership with the South Dakota Network Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault, the Rape Prevention Education (RPE) grant, and the South Dakota Department of Health, tipis and supplies were purchased to support the camp.
The camp was designed to honor traditional ways of teaching tribal values through cultural and spiritual activities. It was named Aku Icu (Taking It Back) to promote the concept of being a good relative and teaching youth how to be good relatives to their families, friends, and communities.
Program summary
Originally planned as a single camp, high interest led to the creation of three separate four-day camps in Summer 2023. The camps were held on sacred land of the Oglala Sioux Tribe near Kyle, SD. A total of 127 youth between the ages of 11 and 15 attended.
Youth explored traditional roles of the Koskala (young man) and Koskalaka Win (young woman) and reviewed Lakota kinship terms to recognize and honor relatives within the community. Cultural mentors provided spiritual, cultural, and traditional teachings that promoted pride, history, and connection.
Learning experiences
Many important lessons were taught throughout the camps. Youth learned the story of Pte San Win, which emphasizes that sexual assault is against natural law, that harmful thoughts are damaging, and that thoughts become actions.
Youth also participated in age-appropriate anatomy discussions, with young women meeting with elder women in one tipi and young men meeting separately. Following this, mentors facilitated discussions on teen dating violence, including recognizing red flags, gaslighting, and early warning signs in relationships.
Additional activities included learning to set up tipis, playing hand games, gathering healing plants, archery practice, and lacrosse. Each activity was designed to carry lessons that youth could take with them beyond the camp.
Lessons learned and next steps
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Youth enjoyed praying together in their language and cultural ways, honoring one another, sharing family stories of empowerment, and practicing lessons learned—such as reminding one another to feed their relatives during mealtimes.
Norma and her team identified which lessons and activities should continue or be refined for future camps. Due to high interest and positive outcomes, another solstice camp was planned for December 2023.
At the end of camp, youth set goals for the year, many of which included continuing cultural activities and committing to being good relatives. Some youth even asked to extend their time at camp. Youth were also provided resources to take home, including materials on the boarding school experience and guidance on sharing stories with trusted individuals.
Outcomes and contact
For more information on Solstice Camp opportunities, contact
Tanya Grassel-Kreitlow, FAST Coordinator
605-731-0041 | tanya@sdnafvsa.com
For more information on RPE programming, contact
Sarah Barclay, Adolescent Health Coordinator
605-367-5212 | sarah.barclay@state.sd.us