Reflecting On Our All-Staff Training!
Lemoine and Thorne LaPointe hosted a training for all Sicangu Co staff that was geared toward creating wholeness within Sicangu Co by embodying Lakota values, collaborating as team members, and strengthening community. Everyone thought through some incredibly powerful and meaningful questions. Below, we share the thoughts that our staff had after this wonderful training.
Mayce Low Dog
Hau Mitakuyepi! Mayce Low Dog emaciyapi. Eyuha cante waste nape ciyuzapi! I am a 24 year old enrolled member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Fort Peck, Montana and was raised on Lakota makoce in Valentine, NE. I have been with the organization since May 2023 where I started as the Admin Assistant and have transitioned into my current role as the Food Sovereignty Initiative’s Community Outreach Coordinator in November 2023. I am an ina to micinksi who is 2 years old and am currently pursuing my AA in Environmental Science as well as an AA in Business Management. Pilamaya.
1.You were asked "In what way could Sicangu Co invigorate a restorative culture of "wholeness" that emanates outward from the organization, to strengthen the community and galvanize inactive elements of possibility to contribute to a more robust and flourishing community?"; how did you answer?
M: Sicangu Co is a projecting and illuminating movement. What we start here can influence others and get carried on to influence even more. To do that, we practice our language by speaking Lakota in our day-to-day operations, come together for inipi (sweat lodge) and ceremony, normalize traditions within our work life, and do community collaboration with all ages and communities. These practices will carry energy into every encounter and space we go to and get others more involved to stay in that traditional mindset. Seeing everything followed through with what we talk about will show that everything we wish for is possible.
2. You were asked "Imagine all of the possibilities for new and enhanced collaboration within our ecosystem and organization. What are the most compelling opportunities that promise unprecedented results for our work?"; how did you answer?
M: There are endless opportunities for collaboration within the ecosystem. If we came together more intentionally and collectively, we’d be able to offer support where it’s needed for our initiatives so that we’re then able to show up for the people at 100%. Gathering in past, present, and future terms would ground us in our vision while also looking forward through that traditional Lakota lens. Just showing up for each other inside and outside of the workspace builds that strong sense of community from the inside out.
3. You were asked "Imagine all the possibilities for new and enhanced collaborations “outside” of our organization. In what collaborative way could Sicangu Co spark our Sicangu Oyate to transition into a thriving future?"; how did you answer?
M: If we were to collab outside of our organization, we could continue to share positive influences within the entire community by sharing our resources and knowledge. Establishing a healthy relationship with the tribe and it’s programs would benefit us all greatly; we just want our home to be a safe and positive environment. That could bring healing to all and bring us together to move forward in a good way.
4. Is there anything that you learned and/or anything that stood out to you from this training?
M: I’ve learned that there is so much room for opportunity. Not only do I have big dreams and aspirations for healing our homelands, but so do many others. It feels good to be with like-minded people who are all helping to get us to that envisioned future, while closely carrying our morals and traditions. One thing I’ve recognized is that even though some of our ideas are hard to reach, we have made it happen, and we are working on next steps. Another thing I’ve been able to recognize, is that our teachings and traditions that shaped us will forever continue to do so in the best ways. Living in these ways is what has made us resilient for centuries and will continue to do so for centuries to come. I’m excited to see what’s next and what our future will look like.
Amanda Morrisette
Han Mitakuyepi, Amanda Morrisette emaciyapi. Oglala Lakota Oyate makoce ematanhan na lehanl Sicangu Lakota Oyate makoce. Hello relatives, my name is Amanda Morrisette. I’m from Oglala Lakota Oyate, and live with Sicangu Lakota Oyate. I was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Reservation & am an enrolled member. I have lineal descent to the Sicangu Lakota. I’m a mom to 4 children and aunt to many. I started as the Community Outreach Coordinator for Keya Wakpala Community Development in October 2023 and find the work of Sicangu Co to be healthy and healing. I am honored and blessed to be apart of the Sicangu Co Tiwahe and am excited to share healthy and healing ways with our Sicangu Lakota!
You were asked "In what way could Sicangu Co invigorate a restorative culture of "wholeness" that emanates outward from the organization, to strengthen the community and galvanize inactive elements of possibility to contribute to a more robust and flourishing community?"; how did you answer?
A: Sicangu Co can do this by modeling the values and ways of life that our Lakota leaders once displayed to gain their people’s trust, respect, and support. Sicangu Co will be valued by choosing to live a life of honesty, integrity, and accountability. With recognizing and respecting the work of our relatives before us, as well as working towards the revitalization of our Lakota language, values, culture, and way of life, we can then emanate the healing work being done at Sicangu Co outward to our Tiwahe, Tiospiyae, and Oyate.
2. You were asked "Imagine all of the possibilities for new and enhanced collaboration within our ecosystem and organization. What are the most compelling opportunities that promise unprecedented results for our work?"; how did you answer?
A: The most compelling opportunities for Sicangu Co look like consistent communication, weekly team check ins, strategic planning, and the implementation of collaboration between all programs and entities working for the people. With the Lakota language and Lakota culture at the forefront, we can create a world of opportunity and possibility that involves and impacts our entire Oyate.
3. You were asked "Imagine all the possibilities for new and enhanced collaborations “outside” of our organization. In what collaborative way could Sicangu Co spark our Sicangu Oyate to transition into a thriving future?"; how did you answer?
A: Sicangu Co and our Sicangu Oyate’s collaboration can spark transition into a thriving future by firstly reminding our Oyate we are still here! Recognizing our Oceti Sakowin and the power within it ignites endless opportunities for our People to work towards a thriving future together. Collective knowledge sharing, and action planning/implementing, across our Indigenous Nations, is a powerful possibility waiting to be explored!
4. Is there anything that you learned and/or anything that stood out to you from this training?
A: Lemoine Lapointe and his training provided to Sicangu Co has taught me how to look at the past, present and future in ways that will impact our People as a whole. Asking ourselves these “powerful questions” that are rarely being asked in our lifetimes is a game changer! Being able to discover the best parts of the past and the present, to dreaming and imaging a positive future that currently does not exist allows us to look at designing a structure to bring the future into the present, and lastly to deliver and implement this work healthy and healing work being done by Sicangu Co.