The YMCA gives free books to youth and teens to encourage

and enhance reading skills at the YMCA, at home and throughout the year. There are no  public libraries on the Reservation except in the schools. In 2005, we'll give over 666 books to children, teens and adults. Arts and Crafts are a favorite activity.

 

 Lakota Achievers

The purpose of the Lakota Achievers program is to support and positively impact youth’s desire and ability to value a dream for their future, achieve in school, graduate from high school and qualify for additional education or employment. The Lakota Achievers are comprised of males and females in grades fifth through high school.  There is no grade point average qualification to be in the program.  The youth must be attend school. Youth gather for monthly meetings and quarterly leadership training conferences. During the year they take trips to a variety of places of employment, shadow people working in an area of interest and tour community colleges, tech schools and colleges/universities both on and off the Reservation. The overall design of the Lakota Achievers program supports the premise that “students who choose what they want, rather than settling for what comes their way, take responsibility and do better.”

 

Visit the MVP Gallery and see some of the student's work.

Photography Emily Schiffer, a professional photographer from New York, volunteered her time and talent to teach thirty-two youth, ages six to sixteen, photography as a tool for self exploration and to support pride in culture and community. This project was supported by a grant from the Congregational Church in South Glastonbury, CT.  To further support the project, Emily registered the Sioux YMCA on the B & H Photo.com web registry and obtained cameras, darkroom equipment and supplies. She also contacted numerous generous friends. The YMCA received enough donations to setup a darkroom, provide cameras, film and most importantly, make this an on-going project with future volunteers from New York and, with additional funding, a local instructor. Emily will return in 2006 for one month and bring another volunteer. We are currently seeking additional support to expand this program to a weekly schedule.

 

Game Room

 

Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the Board of Directors of the Missouri Valley Family YMCA, teens and youth have a new game room with pool, foosball, air hockey and ping pong tables. These games are also very popular with adults and families, providing no cost entertainment in a non-pool hall environment.

 

Soup & Social

 

 

Photos: Bonita makes wonderful fry bread. The community comes together to enjoy a bowl of homemade soup and fry bread during a Soup & Social. We'll serve 2,912 meals in 2005.

 

Elders and others enjoy a bowl of home-made soup and bread every Tuesday and Thursday at noon. The conversation turns lively, sometimes the crafts come out and many stories are told and enjoyed. On Thursdays we play BINGO for soap, towels, toothpaste, and other items.  Elders who cannot physically come to the Y can have their soup and bread delivered. Left overs - watecha are taken home to be enjoyed for another meal. At Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, we prepare special feasts of ham, turkey and all the trimmings. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe provides us with the beef or buffalo, Lakota Thrifty Mart butchers the meat and American Indian Relief Council provides ingredients for the soup and bread.

 

Fitness

The YMCA houses various fitness equipment for the community.

 Diabetes is very prevalent within all ages of the population. Lights were added to our field making it safer and usable year round. We also setup teather ball, soccer and volleyball in the field area. Donated ice skates add an opportunity for exercise outside during the winter.

 

Special Events

The Sioux YMCA offers seasonal events such as Halloween at the YMCA, Christmas Parties, Easter Egg Hunts and Founders Day.  In 2005, we'll distribute 1,428 Christmas gifts to youth and 335 to elders.

 

Photos: Virginia Bonavia, takes on the role as "Santa's helper" with two friends from Red Scaffold. Dupree Head Start youth love hand knit hats and mittens. Santa "twins".

 

See left-hand column for link to Halloween photos.

 

Photos: Halloween Party. Is the Y really haunted?     

Look at the Easter eggs I found!        

 

Arts & Crafts Project

This program helps encourage and support  members who practice traditional Lakota arts.  The Sioux YMCA markets and resells these pieces. Funds are reinvested in the project's purchasing budget, enabling us to purchase more pieces and further support traditional arts and those who practice them. We currently work with 18 artists on a regular basis. The income from the sale of their crafts is a critical part of their monthly income.