Ama's Freedom School
Sept. 21, 2018 - by NATALIE HAND
Ama's Freedom School Fall Equinox weekend class. Tonight's topic was the Pte Oyate. The wakaneja were very attentive as cuwe Deb Wioweya Najin Win, and tojan Olowan Sara Martinez spoke. Sicesi Alex and Rocky Afraid of Hawk shared song and talk story in the tipi. Meal was scrumptious by Chef Wacinhin Rosebud White Plume and wicahka, sis Jenn Yankton. I prepped a fresh batch of ceyaka tea for the kids to enjoy with their breakfast of slow-roasted tace'ji! #raisingwarriors #eartharmy We are decolonizing our Minds.
About Ama's Freedom School
Ama's Freedom School is a school without walls that is designed to strengthen Lakota identity through the Lakota thought and philosophy as well as practical skill development, to develop and enhance existing critical thinking skills in Lakota children aged 7 to 14. While the children attend standard schools, Lakota way of life is minimal in the curriculum, creating a void for a lot of children who are interested in learning as much as they can about their ancestral way of life. Often parents and grandparents lack this knowledge and experience due to residential boarding schools and other government policies of early reservation life. The headquarters are located in the Pahin Sinte area on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in southwestern South Dakota.
The children and their parents meet with instructors and presenters for learning experiences scheduled according to the Lakota calendar that often correlate with seasons, equinoxes, solstices, and phases of the moon. Topics of the learning experiences include the tipi: how to make one, paint one, put one up, maintain one, pack one as well as what goes on inside the lodge in terms of Lakota conduct, roles and responsibilities. Lakota graphic arts and spiritual and social teachings are included in the curriculum. Another example of curriculum includes teaching ancient knowledge of our relationship with the Buffalo Nation. From honoring to harvesting. Actual kill ceremonies will be conducted which the cutting and drying of buffalo meat for food preservation will follow; the students learn these practical skills, as well as the social and spiritual teachings of Lakota relationship to the buffalo, and recipes. Instructors are tribal members with known expertise in their particular areas and who have a history of working with youth in these age groups. Each learning experience includes exercises in critical thinking skill development, and reflection and dialogue related to each respective workshop, seminar, conference the children are engaged in. Parental involvement is required to insure that the students can relate to their parents following the learning experiences in order to carry on the skills developed beyond the lessons, as well as to enhance the parental knowledge and skills. Strengthening the family within the context of pre-reservation Lakota life ways is a goal of Ama's Freedom School as well. Youth and family activities are rare on the reservation, Ama's Freedom School helps to fill this gap through our classes and activities to help the students combat the growing prevalence of alcohol/drug use and other mischief youth may engage in. Learning experiences the children engage in include Traditional Plant Knowledge and Use, including medicinal, ceremonial and nutritional uses of plants; archery; Lakota Foods; Lakota Games; Lakota Star Knowledge to name a few. There are 28 planned learning experiences during a 12 month period. |
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PROTECTING SACREDWATER
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Ama's Freedom School is dedicated to our children by providing decolonized educational programs based on traditional Lakota teachings and law.
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Crying Earth Rise Up!
The Video about our fight to stop uranium mining. Watch Trailer of Crying Earth Rise Up! |
An initiative of Owe Aku and Prairie Dust Films, the Lakota Media Project began in 2003 to mentor Lakota youth and women on documentary film-making.
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The Moccasins on the Ground, a grassroots resistance training, focuses on skills, tactics, and techniques of nonviolent direct action in three day training camps.
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