Hau Mitakuyapi Cante waste nape ciyuzapi Wakiyan Maza el wathi na lakota caze Cekpa Olepe Win na English caze Tina Shields emaciyapi wounspe wankatuya wablawa el united tribes technical college Ate na Ina Wakinyan Peta eciyapi na ina Denise Lightning Fire eciyapi Pilamayapi

Hello, my friends and relatives. I shake your hand with a good heart. My english name is Tina Shields, and my Lakota name is Cekpa Olepe Win (Curious Woman). My parents are Wakinyan Peta and Denise Lightning Fire. I am enrolled in the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe but grew up here on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, where I am a proud member of the Iron Lightning family. I graduated from Cheyenne-Eagle Butte High School in 2023 and am continuing my education at United Tribes Technical College. I am pursuing a degree in welding.

Growing up, I spent time at CRYP’s “The Main” youth center and Čhokáta Wičhóni teen center, where I also participated in the Teen Internship Program. Now that I am older, I would like to give back to my community through serving as a CRYP programs assistant. I love working with the youth here on the reservation, whether that means planning parties, helping with homework, preparing food, teaching Lakota, or just hanging out. It is all part of youth programming! As a teacher/mentor for the kids, I want to give them the experiences I had as a child — and give them the opportunities I had to gain life skills and knowledge, especially about our Lakota culture and heritage. I love this work and what we are doing together for our upcoming generations. Philámayeye.