On Saturday, November 21, the Cheyenne River Youth Project® will do more than host its 5th annual Holiday Artists’ Market. It will unveil its first-ever Festival of Trees, and Cheyenne River community members may purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win one of five Christmas trees decorated by local businesses and artisans.
The market is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Cokata Wiconi (“Center of Life”) teen center’s gymnasium. It will feature community artisans, craftspeople, chefs and bakers from around the community, as well as wares from CRYP’s Keya Gift Shop. In addition, the Keya Cafe & Coffeeshop will be open to the public throughout market day, with special menu items and baked goods; CRYP will be taking orders for holiday goodie boxes; and Santa Claus will spend the afternoon meeting children and posing for photographs.
The Festival of Trees will be a special highlight. CRYP is providing the trees, while participating local businesses, organizations and individuals will bring their own lights and decorations so they can decorate their trees as they see fit. After the November 21 premiere, the trees will be available for public viewing from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Christmas Eve. CRYP might provide later evening hours between mid-December and the holiday, depending on public demand.
But there’s more.
“For the first time, some of our young people have signed up to sell their artwork at our Holiday Artists’ Market this year,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director. “We’re thrilled that we can help encourage these young entrepreneurs.”
And, the Word Carrier Trading Post will be on site that day for its CRYP Book Fair, offering a large selection of Native American literature and an array of fair-trade products — including vintage clothing and jewelry — for purchase. All books will be available at a 20-percent discount to Cheyenne River community members.
Since 2007, the Word Carrier has partnered with Rapid City, South Dakota-based Dakota West Books to bring the best selection of Native American, indigenous and multicultural titles to communities, schools and households that might not otherwise have access to them. The business is owned and operated by Lily Mendoza y Ducheneaux and Darin Ducheneaux, both enrolled members of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
Garreau noted that there is still time for local craftspeople and artisans to sign up for the Holiday Artists’ Market.
“For $15, you’ll have your own table in the marketplace,” she advised. “We’re limiting food vendors to three, so if you would like to sell your food items or baked goods, please contact us right away at (606) 964-8200.”
Table fees — and raffle tickets from the Festival of Trees — will benefit CRYP’s youth programming and services. Vendors keep all their own proceeds.
To find out more about the Holiday Artists’ Market and the new Festival of Trees, call the youth project’s East Lincoln Street campus at (605) 964-8200.
There’s also still time to support CRYP through its annual Star Quilt Raffle. Tickets are on sale until Thursday, December 24, and on Saturday, December 26, CRYP staff will announce the lucky winner who will be receiving a handmade, queen-size Lakota star quilt titled “Winter Watercolors,” handmade by Cheyenne River Sioux tribal member Bonnie LeBeau.
The public can support this important fundraiser in three ways: buy tickets, offer to sell tickets, and help spread the word by telling family and friends and by sharing raffle details through social media.
Tickets are $1 each or $5 for a six-ticket packet. To purchase tickets, send cash, checks or money orders to: Cheyenne River Youth Project, Attn: Winter Watercolors Quilt, P.O. Box 410, Eagle Butte, SD 57625. You also may pay online at www.lakotayouth.org. Simply click the “Donate Now” button on the home page, and put “Winter Watercolors” in the notes section when paying with a credit card. Do not write the word “raffle” anywhere in the payment.
To sell tickets, please send an email to Tammy Eagle Hunter, CRYP’s youth programs director, at tammy.cryp@gmail.com. She will send as many tickets as you request; they come in books of six. Once you receive your tickets, along a quilt photo and information sheet, you will be responsible for selling those tickets. All tickets need to be turned in by December 24 so CRYP can conduct the drawing as planned on December 26.
All funds raised through the raffle will benefit CRYP’s Christmas Toy Drive program. For details about this year’s toy drive and how you can help, visit www.lakotayouth.org
To stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook (/LakotaYouth), Twitter (@LakotaYouth) and Instagram (@waniyetuwowapi).
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.