Native Food Sovereignty Internships
This was the first internship track CRYP developed, graduating 10 teen interns in 2013. In this internship, teens learn to plant, maintain and harvest CRYP’s 2.5-acre, naturally grown Winyan Toka Win (Leading Lady) Garden and process food in Cokata Wiconi’s commercial kitchen. Along the way, they learn about indigenous foods, their relationships to traditional Lakota medicines and ceremonies, their contemporary uses, and how to prepare and preserve them. They also spend time in the classroom, learning from expert speakers and strengthening their connection with Lakota traditions, values and life ways.
Social Enterprise Internships
In this internship track, teens work within and even manage CRYP’s social enterprise initiatives, which include the Keya (Turtle) Cafe, Keya Gift Shop, and seasonal Leading Lady Farm Stand. They learn to prepare food and beverages, handle money and serve customers in real operating businesses, earning their Customer Service, CPR, Financial Literacy and Food Handler’s certifications along the way.
Native Wellness Internships
These interns focus on how to nurture healthy minds and bodies through physical fitness, nutrition, diabetes prevention, healthy lifestyle choices and, perhaps most importantly, Lakota values and life ways. Through ongoing trainings, the interns learn about Native wellness, traditional values and leadership, historical trauma, healthy communication and relationships, sexuality, and decision-making. These trainings prepare the interns for active youth mentorship within the community.
Art Internships
Offered through CRYP’s Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Lakota Arts institute, the Art Internships allow teens to explore graffiti and street art, fine art, and traditional Lakota arts, and to learn about opportunities for advanced arts education and professional development. As LAI continues to expand, we plan to add instruction in performance arts and commercial arts, as well as a peer mentor program.
Lakota Culture Internships
Many Lakota youth do not have access to cultural resources, or they are losing these resources as elders pass on. The purpose of this internship is to mentor our young people as they strengthen and deepen their connection to their Lakota culture. Interns learn our traditional Lakota values and life ways, which create a toolbox that will serve them well all their lives — and will give them the ability to walk in two worlds. At its heart, this internship is about the reclamation and revitalization of Lakota culture.