Enhancing the Lakota Culture through Indigenous Science…

Featured photograph is of sun setting at camp 

Generations Indigenous Ways is a community based Native nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering American Indian youth with the knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education enhanced by Oglala Lakota values and way of life using Indigenous Sciences.  Click HERE to make a donation

About Generations Indigenous Ways
We provide year-round education programs for American Indian students from the large land base of the Seven Council Fires, which covers the state of South Dakota. We are

currently located near the community of Lost Dog, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Centered amid the Oglala people of the Titowan Oyate; the largest nation of the Seven Council Fires, our current range and focus encompasses the Pine Ridge reservation area. However, we welcome the participation of youth from all backgrounds, who have a desire to understand and strengthen the Oglala Lakota relationship with land through discovering and exploring the unique ecosystems and environmental issues of the area. 

Generations Indigenous Ways offers a K-12th grade Indigenous Science curriculum that incorporates Oglala Lakota Culture and Western Sciences. This curriculum is derived from the Medicine Wheel Model that was established by the successful outcomes of the Native Science Field Centers at Hopa Mountain and on the Blackfeet Reservation.

Click HERE to support Generations Indigenous Ways

Camps
The goal of the Lakota Summer Science Field Institute is to motivate youth to discover and explore science, technology, engineering, and math. Youth will learn how physics, mathematics, and the scientific method are required and used in designing a traditional

bow, harvesting traditional plants and foods, and creating traditional beadwork and quillwork. Other learning topics that supplement the STEM curriculum are Lakota Plant Sciences, Paleontology & Geology, and a Tipi erecting presentation.  

Lakota Summer Science Field Institute Click HERE to learn more about the Camps

 – “Lakota Physics Camp” June 5-9, 2017

 – “Journey through the our Ancestral Lands”

     June 26-29, 2017 & July 3-6, 2017

After School Program
Our afterschool program is called: “Ithacan Kigali” -Creating Leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

It is proven that a student’s willingness to engage in science activities increases when they are linked to the Oglala Lakota culture.

The programming is modeled to teach leadership skills, as well as, fundamental aspects of college preparation.

 The current locations are at the American Horse School in Allen, SD and the Crazy Horse School in Wanblee, SD. 

 Topics and Activities include:

Wolakota (Oglala Lakota way of life) Leadership (Oglala Lakota Kinship)

Community involvement-Service Learning Projects

Environmental Stewardship

Buffalo Sciences

Native Medicinal Plants

Oglala Lakota Traditional Foods 

Astronomy (Creation stories, constellations, special sky events)

Geology (Creation Stories, Lakota land uses)

Equine Sciences (Lakota Horsemanship)

Oglala Lakota Physics (Archery, Lodge building, Fluvial Morpholo

Let’s Connect

Executive Director – Helene Gaddie

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I first met Helene Gaddie, one of the founders, while teaching art at Little Wound School on Pine Ridge in 1992. Helene, an 8th grader at the time, exhibited leadership qualities, and has proven her ability to lead youth by developing this remarkable “Generations Indigenous Ways” science and culture program for k12 youth. Please take the time to read and view their video. Then, please support them with a donation.

Thank You,

Rachel Tilseth ~ author of WODCW Blog