News

The theme for the Winter Art Contest is IMAGINATION!

Deadline for submissions is February 1st.

We are happy to announce the winners of our 2017 Fall Art Contest!

There are so many ways to interpret this idea. While some of the work focused on color and incorporated color into the work – some submissions were about the absence of color and how that artistic choice made an impact.

 

Every student who submits artwork for a contest is automatically enrolled in our Creators Club. Every time they submit work they earn points to save up for prizes. We are most interested in keeping young people engaged in the creative process – and the Creators Club was born for that very purpose. It goes us a way to reward effort as well as merit and keep kids engaged in the ongoing process of creativity.

 

2017 was a busy year at Mitakuye!

We gave out hundreds of prizes and awards for our Monthly Art Contests and Creators Club.

 

We sponsored the 500 mile Sacred Hoop Run with over 130 runners

The Hoye Wayelo Arts Intensives brought teachers from all over the globe to work with young Lakota Artists in the fields of Dance, Music, Visual Arts, Filmmaking, and Traditional Arts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the 2017 Summer Films here:

Lakota Lady Warriors: https://vimeo.com/242417125

The Institution: https://vimeo.com/242418054

We sponsored the Thunder Lake Boxing Club for Boys and Girls in events all over the region:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We launched our LIFELINE posters – designed by winners of the poster contest.

We did a Spring School Tour in schools across the reservation. We brought art opportunities, handed out prizes for our Art Contest Winners and Creators Club participants, and shared posters and information for the LIFELINE and other suicide prevention programs run by the BEARS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We brought prom dresses and make up for kids going to prom!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We worked with the BEAR program to help get Pine Ridge Youth to the Unity Conference in Arizona:

 

 

 

 

 

Brian Sherman, one of the young people we mentor, was selected as a 2017 Running Strong For American Indian Youth DreanStarter! We helped Brian apply for the grant and developed a training program and curriculum for him to realize his goals of bringing dance to the Pine Ridge Reservation. We brought Brian to Los Angeles in June to train at studios all over Los Angeles and to receive his Zumba Certification so he can teach not only on the reservation but any where across the world.

 

 

 

 

 

And we are not done yet! Our New Year’s Safe Events for all ages will run from 6pm 12/31 to 6 am 1/1/18.

2018 is shaping up to be even more exciting! Thank you for all you do to help support these young people. Don’t forget to make your Year End Donations here: https://mitakuyefoundation.com/donate/

 

Submit to our Winter Art Contest!

What does the idea of IMAGINATION inspire you to create?

All forms of creativity are encouraged!

Deadline is February 1st 2018.

 

Today we are thankful for all of the beautiful and sacred young people we get to work with at Mitakuye!

Read Simon J Joseph’s beautiful post about Wakanyeja (Sacred Seed):

https://simonjjoseph.blogspot.com/2017/11/wakanyeja.html

And listen to Tee Iron Cloud’s haunting melody here:

 

It is with deep sadness today that we learned about the sudden passing of our friend and Mitakuye collaborator Joe Her Many Horses.

Joe wasn’t just a dad taking his kids to classes. He wasn’t just a coach bringing students to a learning experience. Joe was a member of the Mitakuye Family! Joe would trek students on the long journey from Oelrichs to Kyle or Pine Ridge or wherever we were holding class to bring the experience of art and creativity to young people.  And Joe didn’t just bring kids to our classes – he jumped in and participated! Whether it was helping out on a film set, or being part of the student music video, or getting involved in art classes – Joe embodied the spirit of learning and creativity we work to share with all of our young artists!

As a dad – Joe was a role model. So proud and encouraging of his kids. He cherished all of their hard work and accomplishments. Our hearts and prayers g out to his wife Jennifer and his kids Baylie, Amelia, Wyatt, and Jackie. Our Hoye Wayelo programs will not be the same with out Joe there – but we will work hard to continue to make him proud. Safe journey to you Joe!

What are you inspired to create when you think of COLOR? So many wonderful ways to interpret this idea! All forms of creativity are encouraged!

We are proud to be sponsoring a special memorial event in honor of our dear friend Eugene Reddest, who passed away in March 2002. Eugene was a Lakota (Sioux) elder who lived on the Pine Ridge Reservation. We started visiting Eugene in 1993 and developed a deep bond with him and his family. Every year the Reddest family helps organize and run the Potato Creek Pow Wow (Wacipi). We wanted to honor Eugene by sponsoring something at the Pow Wow which is such an integral part of the Reddest family tradition. Since Eugene was a gifted Grass Dancer in his youth, we all thought a special competition in his name would be a beautiful way to honor him. And so the Eugene Reddest Memorial Grass Dance competition was born! It will be held Saturday night, September 9th at the 69th Annual Potato Creek Pow Wow. We hope to make this an annual memorial prize! Our deep love, respect, and appreciation to the Reddest family!

So proud of Tee Iron Cloud – the first young artist we mentored at Mitakuye. Performing this weekend at Black Hills Unity Concert!!! Go Tee!!

We are so proud of all the young artists who created so much good work with us this summer. Here are the two films created by students during the intensive:

Our fist team decided to do a short documentary.  “Lakota Lady Warriors” was directed and edited by Juan De La Cruz and created by filmmakers Cole Black Crow, Jordyn Long, Daniel White Face and features Estina AmericanHorse and Britney No Leaf. These ladies are 2 of the young boxers in the Thunder Lake Boxing Club for Boys and Girls that we sponsor. Rick Gray Grass, one of our Advisory Council members, is the director of the club and does amazing work with these young people!

 

Our second team decided to work in the narrative format and were interested in creating a piece that had a film noir feel to it. “The Institution” is a short narrative film Directed by Baylie Her Many Horses, and was conceived and created by the filmmaking team: Amelia Her Many Horses, Koryn Hughson, Rory Marshall, Nora Marshall, Joey Hill, Emily Hill, and Katherine Plenty Bulls.