hand sign by Zoltán Kodály
Lakota Family Opens Home to Youth In Need
His Lakota name is Wanbli Oyakpa, Golden Eagle. He is 13 yrs old and no longer lives at home. He is small and looks much younger than his age. When he showed up at the "safe house" on the reservation, he didn't talk much and mostly stayed by himself. Now he sometimes laughs or smiles. He helps take care of the horses and does chores. Recently his grandmother called, the first contact from the family. Wanbli doesn't see his mother or father much. They don't live together. They both have drinking problems. He came to the Safe House for food and stayed because he was given so much more.
Wanbli is not in foster care nor does he receive any help from the state. Billy and Donna provide food, shelter and clothing from their own pockets. They teach him traditional ways and values. And, they support his staying in school and away from drugs, alcohol, and gangs.
Billy and Donna have 17 kids living with them. In addition, they work with other Lakota adults to design camping experiences and equine therapy for 50 teen-agers at risk of becoming involved with drugs, alcohol, and gangs. The programs will provide the kids with the experiences most needed to shape their hopes and interests - cultural values and traditions, a sense of belonging and accomplishment, responsibility, leadership, a spirit of adventure, and fun and excitement.
Your donation to One Spirit will provide Billy, Donna and the kids with some of their urgent needs: One Spirit is dedicated to supporting crucial community programs created by the Lakota themselves. The youth programs are critical for the young people who desperately need food, shelter, and loving care. To make a monetary donation: Via Paypal: By check - One Spirit, P.O. Box 416, Holyoke, CO 80734 To donate new tents, sleeping bags and mats, or lanterns: Love and Peace, Names have been changed to protect the children's privacy. Photographs are not associated with youth at Safe House. One Spirit WEBSITE Visit us on the web at www.nativeprogress.org Paypal: onespirit@nativeprogress.org “Let us put our minds together and see what life we CONFIDENTIALITY All identifying information or photos of families, children, and elders are confidential. Identifying information includes names, addresses, telephone numbers, and descriptive information that would lead to identity. Any photos that come into the possession of sponsors or others connected with One Spirit are confidential and may not be published in any form or through any medium of communication without the express written permission of the parent, elder, AND, if a child, the child in question if he/she is old enough to understand and give permission. Names and demographic information of a family or elder is given to sponsors or others on an as needed basis with the consent of the family or elders and cannot be re-released in any form without further permission.
Contact Jeri Baker
The One Spirit Staff
One Spirit BLOG
One Spirit YAHOO GROUP
P.O. Box 416
Holyoke, CO 80734
can make for our children.”
-Sitting Bull-
