Pine Ridge, South Dakota / USA (pew): For several years huge efforts have been taken by a Lakota non-profit corporation on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota to support their Children and youth. Under the leadership of its two chairmen Wendell Yellow Bull and Bam Brewer the “Lakota Horsemanship Organisation” is striving to preserve children and youth of its people from the perils of drugs and alcohol, by giving them the possibility to work with horses and to learn horseback riding. This way, the youth and children go back to the ancient horseback traditions of their people. These efforts have been quite successful, but they highly depend on financial support, which would allow such projects to take place further on.

The Lakota „Sunka Wakan Na Wakanyeja Awicaglipi“ means “Bring back the horse and the child”. This is the name of the organisation, whose members strive to prevent children and youth of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation from the dangerous slipping into drug and alcohol addiction.
On this way, the young Native Americans are being brought back to their traditional roots. From the end of the 19th century, the Lakota and many other Native tribes had been systematically refused access to their traditional roots. After the horrible massacre on the Wounded Knee creek in South Dakota in December 1890, where 300 defenceless Indians were killed, the resistance of the Plains Indians against the white invaders finally broke down. Crowded together within the boundaries of reservation ghettos and cut off from their ancient traditions, many of the tribes fell into deep resignation. What was left was the escape into the lethal illusionary world of alcohol and other drugs – which has resulted in a vicious circle for many years.

In the time after 1970 a shift in thinking began. On their search for a way out of the hopeless situation, the Leaders of the Sioux remembered their old traditions and their ancient spiritual perception of the unity of the world and all living beings. From that time, successes were achieved, especially for the youth, by uncovering the ancient cultural roots and by filling those roots with new life. The founders of „Sunka Wakan Na Wakanyeja Awicaglipi“ relied on the traditional love to horses, which had not been lost during the past time. For instance, they regularly organize participations in “Memorial Rides”, to honour important events in history or outstanding Leaders of the people. In June every year, Bam Brewer (among others) organizes a four-day Ride to honour Tasunka Witkó, the great warrior of the Oglala, whose name has simply been translated by the English speaking Americans into “Crazy Horse”. Every year, the Crazy Horse Memorial Ride counts more than 100 young men and women. They are escorted by spiritual leaders, who teach the young riders the cultural traditions and the language of their people.

During the whole year, the organisation offers workshops, study trips and instruction lessons into old craftsmenship and skills. This provides efficient alternatives for the young people. The traditionally manufactured commodities and cultural items are mostly offered for sale and thus are providing a financial basis for the next rides, workshops and study trips. All these efforts require financial resources, which cannot be raised by the organisers alone.

Their work depends from financial fundraising and donations, which are welcome from friends of the Indians from all over the world. Mrs. Andrea Cox from Mannheim, Germany, has been authorized by the Supervisory Board of the “Lakota Horsemanship” to collect funds and donations from German people to help accomplish the aims of the „Sunka Wakan Na Wakanyeja Awicaglipi“ Incorporation.