South Dakota

Reclaiming Futures Oyate Teca Owicakiya
("Oyate Teca Owicakiya" means "Helping Young People" in the Lakota language)

Contact

Marlies White Hat
Sicangu Policy Institute, P.O. Box 557
Mission, SD 57555
Phone: 605-856-8203
Email: Marlies.WhiteHat@sintegleska.edu

 

About Us

Reclaiming Futures Oyate Teca Owicakiya is located in the Sovereign Tribal Nation of Sicangu Lakota in Rosebud, SD. The Rosebud Reservation covers one million acres in south central South Dakota. The Sicangu Lakota living there face extreme economic and social hardships, including alcohol and other drug abuse. In 2003, more than 75 percent of Rosebud juvenile justice court cases were related to underage drinking. More than 125 of these teens received help for their drug and alcohol problems. Youth inpatient treatment services used to be located off the reservation.

Reclaiming Futures Oyate Teca Owicakiya has partnered with the community and more than 15 agencies and programs to increase alcohol and drug treatment, and prevention services to young people and their families to:

• Screen first time offenders, and assess and refer teens for treatment
• Use care teams for youth within its Wellness Court
• Have residential treatment for youth on the reservation
• Use innovative treatment approaches include equine therapy, archery and a range of Lakota cultural practices
• Involve members of the Sicangu Lakota Nation to share cultural traditions, spiritual knowledge and life experiences
• Promote indigenous practices such as peacemaking and family group decision making to repair harm and keep cases out of the court system
• Have youth business at the juvenile detention center to teach teens traditional values, work ethics and home-based business skills
• Include families in assessment, treatment and family recovery programs

Our Core Partners

• Native American Advocacy Program
• Oyate Networking Project
• Piya Mani Otipi
• Radio Station KINI
• Rosebud Indian Health Service-Mental Health
• Rosebud Sioux Tribal Court
• Rosebud Sioux Tribe Alcohol Program
• Rosebud Sioux Tribe Education Department
• RST Diabetes Program
• Sicangu Child and Family Services
• Sinte Gleska University
• St. Francis Indian School K-12
• St. Francis Mission
• Todd County School District No. 66-1
• Wanbli Wiconi Tipi (JDC)

Funding Sources

Reclaiming Futures Oyate Teca Owicakiya was one of 10 founding sites funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation between 2002 and 2007.