Dakota Wicohan

Lifeway programs - to support and inspire a new generation of Dakota artists. The tawokaga program gives emerging and master artists opportunities to either develop or teach their respective art skill. This includes beading, brain tanning, horse regalia and quilling. This in turn increases appreciation of Dakota arts in the community and inspires new artists to get involved. Arts have long been a part of traditional Dakota culture and these art making practices have been passed down many generations. Dakota Wicohan continues this tradition with optimism.

Curriculum project - Dakota homelands curriculum project-this project makes available to schools around the region a high-quality ten-lesson curriculum that introduces Dakota environmental teachings and applies these teachings to Minnesota history. Through this educational resource, students learn about and integrate Dakota values of caring for the land as a relative. Teachers are supported through specialized training to appropriately implement the curriculum. The curriculum is accessible online where project staff can make updates and additions as more classrooms integrate the curriculum into their 6th grade classrooms.

Youth programs - to develop and support emerging leadership that leads with wo'dakota. Youth are provided with a proven after school program that helps revitalize their traditional culture while also teaching a substantial number of life skills. Youths participate in leadership building activities, suicide prevention efforts, language classes, financial literacy classes, take care of and learn to rides horses, learn to sing traditional Dakota songs, post-secondary counseling and also lead a native american 4h group. Our youth are the future leaders of the Dakota community and it is critical that they be mentored and developed with a foundation of traditional Dakota values.