This Month, Teen Interns Also Participated in Roundtable Discussions Devoted to Cheyenne River’s Elders and to Suicide Prevention Efforts on the Reservation
The Cheyenne River Youth Project®, together with the teens who participate in the “Power of Four” internship program, will be hosting its annual Christmas Craft Fair on Sunday, December 2. Scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Cokata Wiconi Teen Center, the craft fair will feature work from a wide variety of Cheyenne River artists and craftspeople, as well as several special events.
One such event is the annual Christmas Bake-Off, with prizes for the winners in each category. The baked goods must be entered no later than 1 p.m. for the 1-3 p.m. competition; categories include Cookies, Cakes, Bars and Most Delicious.
In addition, children and families may visit with Santa Claus from noon until 3 pm. Families are welcome to bring cameras and take pictures with Santa.
“We’ll also have hot chocolate and cider on hand for our guests,” said Tammy Eagle Hunter, CRYP’s wellness coordinator.
And, in conjunction with the craft fair itself, CRYP also is hosting a variety of food vendors, a rummage sale and the Word Carrier’s Native American Book Sale. Proceeds from the day’s events and activities will support CRYP’s youth programming and services.
According to Eagle Hunter and Megan Guiliano, youth programs director, the Power of Four teen interns are taking a large role in planning and staffing the daylong festivities.
“The Power of Four teens actually came up with the idea of a Christmas Craft Fair last year, and they’ve worked so hard to create an annual event that the entire Cheyenne River community can look forward to,” Guiliano said. “In the process, they learn valuable business skills and life skills, as well as the importance of community organizing, all of which are essential for cultivating future leadership.”
In addition to making preparations for the Christmas Craft Fair, the Power of Four interns have been busy delving into their community on additional levels. On Wednesday, November 14, the interns participated in a roundtable discussion with members of the Kensington Women’s Club in Eagle Butte. The roundtable, held at 2-5 p.m. in the Cokata Wiconi library, gave the interns the opportunity to communicate and share ideas with community elders.
“The roundtable really fostered intergenerational bonding,” Guiliano explained. “It encouraged the teens to connect with the elders, and it gave them the chance to learn about the older generation’s way of life while practicing their interviewing skills.”
Next, on Friday, November 16, the teens participated in a roundtable discussion with Indian Country Today journalist Stephanie Woodard. The roundtable, which took place at 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Cokata Wiconi library, focused on suicide prevention methods on the Cheyenne River reservation.
“This discussion gave the teens a chance to express their opinions about suicide prevention methods, what’s being done and what’s not, and what methods are most effective,” Guiliano said. “The teens read Stephanie’s recent article on suicide in advance of the roundtable, and they prepared specific discussion questions.”
CRYP’s Power of Four program was designed to give teen interns the necessary training and support to learn how to represent their peers and to serve as advocates for their needs and the needs of others in productive, meaningful ways. All activities and events fall under the umbrellas of four key modules — leadership, life skills, job skills and wellness.
Power of Four’s primary focus is to build a 10-member youth advisory board that will represent local young people among CRYP’s board of directors. The council will continue in perpetuity, long after the official three-year internship program has ended. This year’s interns: Sierra Bobtail Bear, Meta Charger, Madison Gripne and Elijah Brown Wolf. We also will have some of our junior volunteers helping with this event, including Joseph White Eyes and several children who attend CRYP’s The Main youth center.
Each Cheyenne River teen in the Power of Four program serves 16 hours per month and, for this service, receives an $88 monthly stipend. The 16-hour service requirement includes regular meetings at the Cokata Wiconi Teen Center. And it’s not too late to get involved: To learn more about the Power of Four and to apply for an internship position, contact Guiliano at (605) 964-8200 or send email to megan.cryp@gmail.com.
To follow the progress of the Power of Four teens, visit their blog at http://cheyenneriveryouthprojectpo4.wordpress.com.
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, visit the youth project’s Facebook “Cause” page. All Cause members will receive regular updates through Facebook.
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.