Thanks to the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous People, the Cheyenne River Youth Project® has recorded and released a 13-minute video that tells the story of this unique, not-for-profit, nearly 25-year-old youth organization. Production took place in May, with a little three-minute trailer serving as a teaser on the CRYP website.
Until a few days ago. The full video is now public; DVDs are available, and the video also can be viewed on CRYP’s home page at www.lakotayouth.org.
Shot, edited and produced by Chris “Mo” Hollis, media director for Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous People, the video shares CRYP’s history, describes the grassroots organization’s holistic approach to children’s well-being and walks the viewer through its facilities, services and variety of youth programs. Staff, volunteers and community members appear in the video, discussing the issues facing Cheyenne River’s youth and how CRYP addresses those issues.
Hollis says that shooting and editing the film was a great experience.
“CRYP is an inspiring example from Indian Country of what a small organization of talented staff and dedicated volunteers can do for youth and the local community with little resources,” he said. “This is what we hope to see going on in the indigenous communities we serve. There is an incredible, positive drive here to do something great, and I think that is evident in this short film.”
For their part, CRYP staff and volunteers are thrilled with the new video.
“We know that CRYP is special, because things like this don’t often happen in Indian Country, but it happened here,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director. “We call ourselves ‘the little nonprofit that did, and continues to do’… we have limited resources, but we have boundless creativity and inspiration, and we’re willing to work hard.
“We want to demonstrate what a community can do for itself,” she continued, “and we want to share our story with the world. Now, thanks to generous assistance of Mo Hollis and Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous People, we can.”
To watch the new CRYP video, visit www.lakotayouth.org and scroll to the bottom of the home page.
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 visitwww.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.