Tusweca Tiospaye

Project Support: Permanent Shade - Preserving Natural Resources
In addition to hosting the Annual Lakota Dakota Nakota Language Conference, attended by over 400 participants each year, Tusweca Tiospaye provides language and cultural programming to Pine Ridge reservation youth.  Funds will be used to build a permanent shade "test site".  The shade would be used as an outdoor classroom, a gathering place for elders and women during Sun Dance, and for shelter to aid in ceremonies during the winter months.  The permanent shade would replace the need to annually harvest timbers on the reservation, a natural resource that is in short supply.