Siċaŋġu Co Tiwahe Embraces Kinship and Purpose
In many Native American cultures, kinship is broadly defined so that everyone within the band, clan, or tribe is considered a relative and plays a supportive role in caring for community members.
At Siċaŋġu Co, we believe in fostering a culture of genuine connection and kinship. Our values and our identity as Lakota people are intertwined with every part of our ecosystem. We do our best to include these practices in our day to day work. When we begin each meeting, we set aside formalities and titles to see each other as relatives. This is where we start off with a simple “check-in” question that allows us to connect with our colleagues or rather our relatives in a meaningful way. This simple act opens the door to vulnerability and authentic understanding, allowing us to treat each other as relatives rather than mere coworkers.
Many of us do our best to check-in utilizing our Lakota language to honor the importance of revitalizing our Native language.
There are times where we start with thought-provoking questions that unravel the depths of our beings and uncover why we do what we do. Other times, we keep it light and humorous, nurturing the spirit of joy and staying true to our sarcasm that brings us laughter. Through this exchange, we get to know one another on a deeper level, finding inspiration, passion, and shared purpose in our work. Many times these check-in questions have brought us closer together and have helped us take part in meaningful discussions that may not have happened otherwise.
The work we do at Siċaŋġu Co goes far beyond professional obligations. It is an integral part of who we are, the ecosystem is tied to our identities. From Lakota education, bison restoration, food sovereignty, language revitalization, to economic development, we are consistently reminded of the importance of our kinship system.
We are committed to being good relatives.
We acknowledge that our actions today impact the future, and this realization guides us in our commitment to creating positive change for the next seven generations.