This month, the Cheyenne River Youth Project is welcoming teens to its Cokata Wiconi (Center of Life) for fall internship programming. Open to ages 13-18, the Native Food Sovereignty internship will run from Oct. 9 to Nov. 15, while the Indigenous Cooking and Art internships will run from Oct. 14 to Nov. 22.
All five-week internships take place at 4-6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Not only will teens have opportunities to engage in hands-on learning, connect to their Lakota culture and build relationships with instructors, mentors and new friends, they will earn $10 per hour during their 50-hour session.
“An important part of each internship is financial literacy,” explained Jerica Widow, CRYP’s programs director. “We want our interns to have real-world work experience that allows them to develop a strong work ethic, earn their own money and plan for their future.”
CRYP launched its Teen Internship Program in 2013 with Native Food Sovereignty, which originally was called Sustainable Agriculture. Ten interns completed the inaugural internship; now, 11 years later, more than 2,000 teens have completed the program, earning more than $1 million.
During the fall months, Native Food Sovereignty interns learn to harvest CRYP’s 2.5-acre, pesticide-free Winyan Toka Win (Leading Lady) Garden and to process and preserve that food in Cokata Wiconi’s commercial kitchen. In Indigenous Cooking, interns learn about traditional Lakota foods and their relationships to medicines and ceremonies, they learn how to harvest and preserve them, and they learn how to prepare them from both traditional and contemporary perspectives.
Then there is the Art Internship. According to Wakinyan Chief, CRYP’s arts manager, no previous experience is necessary for teens to sign up for this cohort. They just need to be willing to show up, learn and do their best.
“Art interns will focus on learning art basics,” he said. “They will explore various mediums, develop their art skills through work on personal art projects, and build their confidence in being able to bring their vision to life.”
In all three internships, teens also will spend valuable time in the classroom learning from guest instructors and experts. In addition to financial literacy, CPR/First Aid, writing and public speaking, coursework also includes Lakota language and culture.
“Our internships aren’t only about the subject work,” Widow said. “They’re also about strengthening and deepening the connection our teens have to our culture and traditional lifeways. We ground everything we do in our Lakota values.”
Widow led the recent summer Native Food Sovereignty internship, which concluded on Sept. 27. Six interns completed the program.
“They were heavily involved in our harvest season, and they learned about the different types of processing we use, such as dehydrating and freeze-drying,” Widow said. “When we preserve our produce this way, not only will it last throughout the long winter months, we also can sell it in our Keya Gift Shop & E-Store to raise additional funds to support our programs and services.
“They also created posters that shared how they incorporate our Lakota values into their daily lives, and they presented those posters to their peers,” she continued. “In this way, they learn to take leadership roles and become peer mentors.”
Programs Assistant Danielle Reynolds led the summer Lakota Culture internship at CRYP, with eight interns completing that program. She said the culturally relevant and engaging lessons allowed the teens to explore the rich diversity of Lakota culture, from intricate art forms and storytelling traditions to profound spiritual beliefs and connection to nature.
“Students were introduced to the making of prayer ties, listened to and discussed the captivating teachings and storytelling of Joseph M. Marshall’s novel ‘The Lakota Way,’ and learned the basics of speaking Lakota,” Reynolds said. “The curriculum was designed to promote historical knowledge and cultural reconnection, and we were so pleased to be able to offer interactive workshops that incorporated traditional crafts, music and games. These immersive activities brought the material to life.”
CRYP also hosted Lakota cultural leaders Manny and Renee Iron Hawk, who shared their personal experiences, wisdom and knowledge. The youth project regularly invites elders and culture bearers to its campus to share their knowledge, giving young people new opportunities to learn about their language, culture, traditional society and societal norms.
“I’ve learned so much about my own culture that I never knew before,” one participant noted. “It’s important that we learn the Lakota ways so we can teach them to our families. I also could teach my friends.”
“During a lesson about the Lakota virtues, one student shared their practice of the virtue of prayer,” Reynolds recalled. “They said, “Every time I pray, I feel lighter. I pray when I feel a negative emotion that I don’t like.’”
“As we guide them through each internship, we are giving them more tools for their wellness toolbox,” Widow observed. “This toolbox — and that deeper understanding and respect for their own history, traditions and place in this world — will serve them well for the rest of their lives.”
In addition to Native Food Sovereignty, Indigenous Cooking, Art and Lakota Culture, CRYP also offers internships in Social Enterprise and Native Wellness. When the current internships conclude in November, CRYP will bring the 2024 Internship Program to a close so staff can focus on the upcoming Wo Otúh’an Wi Toy Drive; the next round of internships will begin in January 2025.
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.