Main University, one of the Cheyenne River Youth Project’s most popular programs for the community’s younger children, returned for a new term this fall. For the first time, it was dedicated to cultural health and wellness.
The four-week program took place at “The Main” youth center each day after school from 4 to 6 p.m. The program began on Monday, Sept. 23 and concluded with a special ceremony and cake for nine graduates on Thursday, Oct. 17.
“We had graduation caps and certificates for all the graduates, and each child walked down a ‘red carpet’ in front of the gathered crowd, which included staff and volunteers,” said CRYP Programs Assistant Hayley Dupris, who helped organize the program. “As we announced each child’s name, we awarded their certificate and shook their hand.”
Founded in 2002 by Tracie Farrell and a recipient of a “Champion for Children” award from the South Dakota Coalition for Children, Main University is one of longest-running programs at The Main, the youth project’s center for 4- to 12-year-olds. It is designed to give children opportunities to take short courses that allow them to explore subjects that might not be offered in school.
“That’s at the heart of every program here: offering opportunities to which our kids might not otherwise have access,” said Jerica Widow, CRYP’s programs director. “We also understand, after doing this work for 36 years and as Lakota people ourselves, that cultural health and creative expression are essential for our children’s development and well-being. So, we are excited to be able to provide Main University classes designed to engage them at multiple levels.”
This fall, the children started Main University with Diversity Week; not only did they learn about their own Lakota culture, French volunteer Eulalie Douce taught a class about French culture. Throughout the week, students also created multicultural decorations, paper dolls and a calendar that shares different cultural holidays.
“I asked one of our youth trainees, Sarah Berndt, to talk about oral storytelling,” Dupris said. “She told the kids our Lakota creation story and the North Star story. She also read a Lakota book out loud to them. She did an exceptional job connecting and engaging with the kids.
“I have seen so much growth during Sarah’s time with us,” she continued. “She really stepped up to help me during program hours.
Classes focused on Character Development during Week 2. The children discussed traits such as trustworthiness, made “Promise Cards” showing how they could be better friends, explored fairness scenarios and created a “Respect Tree” that incorporated the many ways they demonstrate respectfulness on a daily basis.
“We conducted confidence and self-esteem workshops as well,” Dupris said. “The kids wrote down positive affirmations, and each person picked one out of a jar to say out loud to themselves.”
At the end of that week, the children worked on environmental awareness by taking part in a trash pick-up in The Main’s playground and learning about composting in the Winyan Toka Win (Leading Lady) Garden. Then they had a special highlight: Career Day.
“We asked the kids to give us five different careers they wanted to learn more about, and we incorporated those careers into our teaching that day,” Dupris explained.
Week 3 focused on Social and Emotional Development. Staff and students discussed what bullying looks like — inside and outside the classroom, as well as online — and explored the different types of emotions through a “Feelings Chart.”
“I asked one of our volunteers, Louis Neagle, to teach the kids about feelings — in particular, developing healthy coping mechanisms to deal with tougher feelings,” Dupris said. “He did so well with the kids. They were really engaged.”
During that week, the children also created “Positive Silhouettes” by tracing themselves on large pieces of paper and then drawing and writing on the silhouettes, sharing who they are and what they feel best represents them. As a special bonus, they also enjoyed the movie “Inside Out” on CRYP’s big movie screen.
For the final week, the students enjoyed Lakota Arts. They learned about powwow regalia and ribbon skirts and shirts, and they explored their own creative side while connecting to their culture.
“I think the kids enjoyed the ‘Respect Tree” activity and designing their own ribbon skirts and shirts the most,” Dupris refected. “On those days, they spent most of their time creating and coming up with easy they could be more respectful to others and to themselves.”
Widow observed that the kids worked hard and brought positive attitudes to their classes throughout the Main University program.
“We were happy to celebrate their accomplishments with them at their graduation ceremony later that week,” she reflected. “We are so proud of them all.”
To learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project and its programs, and for information about making donations and volunteering, call (605) 964-8200 or visit www.lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
The Cheyenne River Youth Project, founded in 1988, is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing the youth of the Cheyenne River reservation with access to a vibrant and secure future through a wide variety of culturally sensitive and enduring programs, projects and facilities that ensure strong, self-sufficient families and communities.