Culture camp a celebration of Sioux Valley

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This article was published 05/09/2019 (2294 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

By Chelsea Kemp

SIOUX VALLEY DAKOTA NATION—Celebrating the rich traditions of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and the families that serve as the foundation of the community, Dakota Tiwahe Services and Jordan’s Principal recently hosted a culture camp.

The three-day event persevered despite some cold and windy weather and featured a variety activities designed to engage youth and their families while promoting the services offered by Dakota Tiwahe Services and Jordan’s Principle in the community,cultural traditional worker Harold Blacksmith said.

The goal was to create awareness on the impetus they have placed on intervention and prevention in regards to child apprehensions.

“We’re working on a program to keep children within the community and keep children with their families,” Blacksmith said.

The camp was a success because it included the entire family unit, from grandchildren to grandparents, in the celebrations, he said, adding that it was incredible to see everyone come together.

“It makes you feel good,” Blacksmith said.

A highlight of the event was meeting people in the community, and those from sister nation Pheasant Rump Nakota, Sask., along with a visit from hometown boy Las Vegas Golden Knight Zach Whitecloud, Blacksmith said.

“This is my home community, I spent a lot of time here growing up,” Whitecloud said. “Every time I get a chance to come out here and speak to the community, especially the youth, I take every chance I have.”

Having the opportunity to speak with Sioux Valley youth and parents is important, he said, because he can share his inspirational message of being “the best version of you can be.”

During a speech to the crowd, Whitecloud touched on the importance of finding ones passion in life, and the importance of being kind to everyone— traits he learned to value growing up in Sioux Valley.

His parents were important role models for him, Whitecloud said, and their hard work in helping members of the community inspired him to care for others and make sure he does everything he can to share the message of being a good person.

“If you have good people in your community the community itself is going to be better for it,” Whitecloud said.

Whitecloud loves to get out and spread the word on, “Being kind, being truthful and being honest,” he said.

He explained his belief that people need to be kind is pivotal because it can allow one to grow their social circle.

He takes pride in encouraging kids to get out of their shell, explaining that he was shy when he was a kid, he said. Once he was able to bust out of his shell it opened up a world of new and exciting experiences, one he hopes kids in the community can also share.

“If he (Whitecloud) can reach out to our children… it gives you a really good feeling in terms of providing mentorship,” Blacksmith said.

Children need a good role model, and finding mentors in the community has been a task the community has set out to address, he said.

Dakota Tiwahe Services spoke with elders in the community and creating positive mentorship opportunities in the community was a key concern. The culture camp was a step in addressing this need as it served to connect different members of the community.

“Positive mentorship is so vital today, especially for our young kids,” Blacksmith said.

Part of making connections to build a positive community is reaching out to other bands have been a part of growing this positive social network, he added.

“We want to tell people what we are doing,” Blacksmith. “It’s unique and we want to go down that road collectively together,” Blacksmith said.

Juanita McArthur-Big Eagle from Pheasant Rump Sask. visited Sioux Valley with members from her Nakota community.

“We always try to bridge our communities,” McArthur-Big Eagle said.

She enjoyed culture days and the traditions and cultural practices it was able to impart to guests.

“We’re waking it up with the children,” McArthur-Big Eagle said. “They can feel that pride in their culture.”

McArthur-Big Eagle attended the event with her two grandchildren and three children— showcasing how the message can span generations.

The culture camp showed it was possible to focus on kids to strengthen the family unit by nurturing the pride they have in their identity and culture, she said.

“It wakes it up, that it’s nothing to be shy about,” McArthur-Big Eagle said.

Visiting different communities showcases the pride one can have and the strength that comes from bringing communities together, she said.

“We have a big web that’s going to grow,” McArthur-Big Eagle said.

As a residential school survivor she grew up feeling like her culture should be shunned, she said, explaining that it is an amazing feeling to see that message changing.

“I’m going to do everything I possibly can to strengthen those families,” she said.

The culture camp highlighted family activities including soccer, archery, horseshoes, a bouncy council, bike race, lacrosse and traditional hand games to promote an active lifestyle for youth. It also featured Dakota bingo and trivia events to help share knowledge about the nations history, culture and language, Dakota Tiwahe Services assistant director Misty Wasteste said.

“We want the families to work together, to be together,” Wasteste said.

The group has be actively working to utilize their own people and are seeing the positive ripples in the community.

“It’s a good feeling, you can hear the children laughing,” Wasteste said. “It’s a good positive feeling.”

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