Winyan Maka/Tiyospaye

Promoting Social Justice For Indigenous Women and Families

Mission Statement                        

The mission of Winyan Maka/Tiyospaye is to promote awareness of  Native American culture and to educate the Front Range population of northern Colorado to the third world conditions that are manifest among the indigenous peoples living on reservations throughout one of the richest nations on earth. We are continuously striving to create a support network to encourage self help, healing and a sustainable lifestyle for indigenous women, youth, and families; with special concentration on Lakotas whether living off or on the reservation.

 

 

Please come out and support this benefit concert!!

 

 

  

“Our purpose is to inspire them to embrace their own history and culture. Without them, we Indians have no future”.

Floyd Red Crow Westerman – referring to native youths.

                                                                           

 Consider these statistics for Pine Ridge:

  • Median income is between $2,600 and $3,500 per year
  • Unemployment rates between 83-85%
  • Life expectancy: 48 years for men and 52 for women
  • Teenage suicide rates are 150% higher than the U.S. national average; the infant mortality rate is 300% higher.
  • More than 50% of adults battle addiction and disease while alcoholism affects 8 out of 10 families.
  • Diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and malnutrition are pervasive.
  • A federal commodity food program is active but supplies mostly inappropriate foods (high in carbohydrate and/or sugar)
  • School drop-out rate is over 70%.
  • According to a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) report, Pine Ridge Reservation schools are in the bottom 10% of school funding by U.S. Dep’t. of Education and the BIA.
  • Teacher turnover is 800% above national average, and finally,
  • According to a 2003 report from South Dakota State University, 26% of the housing units on the Reservation are mobile homes, often purchased used, or obtained through donations, are low-value units with negative-value equity.

From: “The Arrogance of Ignorance” by Stephanie M. Schwartz at http://www.nativevillage.org/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

♦♦ Urgent:

We need your help!

We are going to be starting the construction of the Earth bag Dome Homes on the Sioux Reservations!  

◊The American Horse family Sustainable Living Project.  (One of the families  of the Earth bag Dome Homes)

    

 We are still in great need of donations & volunteers to move forward with this Special Project to help the American Horse children to get the help and home they deserve. Please visit our "Projects" page for more information on how to help this young and wonderful family!

 

***Winyan Maka/Tiyospaye is one of the 2009 Microbreweries for the environment winners!***

The Brewfest will be held at the Boulder Theater (in Boulder) on April 24th from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.  We will need ten volunteers to attend and they will get their tickets for $20 each as opposed to $23 to the general public.  They will also recieve three free beer tickets for each hour they volunteer.  So two hours equals six free beers.  They can volunteer for one hour or as many as they would like.
 

The benefit is a zero-waste and carbon-neutral event.  We encourage people to walk, bike, or bus to the event.  Doors open and beer tasting starts at 8:00pm.  Admission costs $23 inclusive of tax and service charges.  Tickets are available at the Boulder Theater Box Office (303-786-7030 or www.bouldertheater.com).  This event traditionally sells out in advance!

 The band is a group called the Kyle Hollingsworth Band and they are a funk (not sure what that means) group.  They are anticipating around 1,000 people that night (hopefully).  We will have a table about 4x4 to set up a small display, hand out brocures and flyers and accept donations.

Please contact us ASAP if you are interested in volunteering or know of someone who might be.

Even if you can't volunteer for the event, please come out and support this wonderful cause! Thank you.