History of the South Dakota General Convention of Sioux YMCAs

The MISSION of the Sioux YMCAs is to develop and strengthen the children and families in our reservation communities so they can fulfill their greatest individual and collective spiritual, mental and physical potential. The goals of the program and services are to: develop leadership in youth and adults; wellness of spirit, mind and body; strengthen families to better cope with problems; promote cultural understanding and encourage better understanding among all people locally, nationally and internationally.

1862          Santee Sioux men were imprisoned in Minnesota after the Little Crow’s war. These 160 men were sentenced to hang. President Lincoln, pressured by the

 Quakers and Young Men’s Christian Association outreach workers, commuted the sentences of 120 of the men. The outreach workers from the YMCA, founded

 in the United States in 1851, visited with the men, brought clothing, taught English and discussed the Bible and teachings of Jesus. After their release, the Santee

 men returned to their families at Flandreau in the Dakota Territory and asked the Indian pastor of their church to help them organize a YMCA.

1869    On the banks of the Sioux River, the men organized the first “Koska Okodakeciye”, Young Men’s Association. Two quotes from the Bible were

 fundamental part of the by-laws. One quote from John 17:21, “That they may all be one.”  is very similar to a Lakota saying, “Mitakuye Oyasin”, all my relations,

 stated to end most traditional prayers, and another, St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 4:13, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son

 of God, unto a perfect man, unto the stature of the fullness of Christ.” interpreted by the YMCA movement as a call to develop the total man in spirit, mind and

 body.

1879          April 27^th, Thomas Wakeman, son of Chief Little Crow, was elected leader of the first Sioux YMCA. The name of the organization was changed to the

 Young Man’s Christian Association. At the meeting the members took a collection to pay the expenses for one of their members to travel to other reservations

 and spread the good news.

1885        The National YMCA learns of the YMCA (Koska Okodakiciye).

1886        The YMCA yearbook listed 10 associations with 159 members.

1889    Charles Alexander Eastman (Ohiyesa), son of John Eastman, a Dakota war prisoner, returned with a medical degree from Boston University. His first

 assignment was with the Indian Department at the Agency at Pine Ridge.

1890          Dr. Eastman was the attending physician for the Lakota at the Wounded Knee Massacre at Pine Ridge. He

became very angry and disenchanted with the Indian Department and went on to devote himself to the YMCA from 1890-1898. By this time, there were YMCAs

in villages throughout North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Montana.

1894          The International Committee of the YMCA appointed traveling Secretaries from 1894 – WWI.

1898          Village YMCAs had joined together and formed the General Convention of Sioux YMCAs.  Arthur “Walking

Horse” Tibbets was the first General Secretary with fifty YMCAs under his care. The region was divided into four districts: District 1 was Ponca Creek, Yankton

 and Fort Thompson. District 2 was Sisseton, District 3 was Pine Ridge and District 4 was Cheyenne River and southern Standing Rock Reservation.

1901        Log cabins were built for YMCA meetings. Today, one cabin in poor condition remains in Ziebach County. In

addition to Bible study, the YMCA continued to provide many non-denominational activities, including youth sports and community development projects,

 Members were expected to assume a leadership role in their communities, live a life of example and support the YMCA. A general convention was called in a

 different community each year. People gathered to share food, join in fellowship and discuss issues. Each association was governed by a local board.

 Membership was now 1,300.

1907            Stephen Jones, a graduate of Springfield College, serves as general Secretary.

1918         YMCA work was impacted with 75% of its members enlisted to fight in WWI.

1926            The YMCA National Council Committee on Home, Mission and Pioneer fields appointed a sub-committee on

Indian work with a directive to “develop and sustain Indian work.” W. H. T. Foster of Sioux Falls was named chairman with men from South Dakota, North Dakota,

Michigan, Kansas, Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut were on the committee.

1930              Isaac Grey Earth leads the Sioux Indian YMCAs into serving vital positions within communities during the

Depression. The Sub-committee on Indian work was phased out and responsibility was transferred to the new North Central Area in 1935.

1940              W.H.T. Foster chaired an area advisory committee for Indian work. Fourteen Indian YMCAs  and five Hi-Y

Clubs were active. Sioux Indian YMCAs support WWII efforts in Europe and  Japan.

1958              Members, lead by General Secretary Nathan Little Wounded, attend a meeting of the North Central Area

Board to request staff, support for salaries and financial assistance.

1965            David Lindstrom, was hired as the Executive Director, helping to revitalize the YMCAs. He worked out of an

extension office in Pierre, SD developing local leadership and new programs. The budget for this work was subsidized by the North Central Area Board.

1970            The Sioux YMCAs voted to become a family association, operating to serve the needs of  men, women, boys

and girls. Dwight Call comes on as Executive Director and leads a period of expansion on the Cheyenne River, Pine Ridge and Standing Rock Reservations.

  Nathan  Little Wounded is hired as Staff Associate. His family is still active in the Sioux YMCA.

1973            Leslie J. Marrowbone Memorial Summer Camp is founded on the shore of the Oahe Reservoir near Swiftbird,

SD. Volunteers from the reservation communities and college students from off the reservation are utilized to staff the camp and, later on, in the communities.

1975     An annual cultural exchange program for youth was begun with the Yamanashi YMCA of Japan. Funds from the John Wyle Memorial provided the seed money.

1977     The International division of the National Council of YMCAs undertakes a basic financial commitment.

1979       100 years of Sioux YMCA work was celebrated by local people and YMCA national staff.

1981            The current log cabin headquarters in Dupree was completed. Twenty-three communities in South Dakota are

listed on the amended Articles of Incorporation.

        1983     After consultation with the National YMCA, the Board of Trustees was founded and national financial

       development campaigns begin.

1990             Myrl Weaver assumed role as Executive Director, expanding the budget and services.

1993            Robert Randall becomes Executive Director. The volunteer program, services and budget expands with the

AmeriCorps grant, Artist Mentoring Project, Christian Children’s Fund and Y’s Men International Fund.

1997            Mark St. Pierre assumes role as Executive Director.

1998            AmeriCorps, Christian Children’s Fund and other grants are discontinued. This begins a period of several

Executive Directors serving for short periods of time. Under the leadership of Don  Kerr and dedicated Boards of Directors and Trustees, the Sioux YMCA began

 its financial reorganization. In 2000, Mike Burgett assumed the Executive Director position and stabilization of the organization, followed by Mark Mindt and

 Samantha Hack in 2002.

2004            On July 10^, 2004 the South Dakota General Convention of Sioux YMCAs celebrated 125 years of YMCA

programs and services for people living within the service area. Descendants of the founding families still actively serve on the Board of Directors. May, 2004

 Claudia Randall, a former volunteer and wife of past director Bob Randall, returned to serve as Executive Director with former director, Bob Randall as a volunteer.

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