He Sapa Otipi - Incorporated

HE SAPA OTIPI BUILDS SELF-DETERMINATION, HOPE, AND HEALING OF MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT BY RECLAIMING INDIGENOUS TRADITIONS AND VALUES. THE VISION OF HE SAPA OTIPI IS A PLACE WHERE THE PEOPLE AND FUTURE GENERATIONS LIVE IN A THRIVING INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY THAT RECONNECTS OUR SPIRITS TO CEREMONY, FAMILY, COMMUNITY, CULTURAL IDENTITY AND AWARENESS, WITH ALL NEEDED RESOURCES INCLUDING LAND, FOOD, AND WATER.

IN LAKOTA, HE SAPA TRANSLATES TO "SACRED BLACK HILLS." OTIPI TRANSLATES TO "THE CENTER." HE SAPA OTIPI IS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY TO REVITALIZE TRADITIONAL KINSHIPS AND TO FOSTER A SENSE OF BELONGING WITHIN CULTURAL WELLNESS AND COMMUNITY. THE PURPOSE OF HE SAPA OTIPI IS:A. TO BUILD A COMMUNITY CENTER THAT PROVIDES A SAFE PLACE FOR RECONNECTING LAKOTA WELL-BEING TO CHARACTER, CEREMONY, COMMUNITY, CULTURAL AWARENESS, AND IDENTITY.B. TO WORK AS A HUB OF RESOURCES TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE NATIVE POPULATIONS AS WELL AS TO CELEBRATE THE RICHNESS OF OUR SHARED VALUES AND HERITAGE.C. TO ENCOURAGE A BROADER CULTURE OF UNITY AND RESPECT WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY, AND PROMOTE HEALING BETWEEN NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE PEOPLES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.D. TO BE A DEDICATED AND EVOLVING VOICE ADVOCATING FOR THE BEST INTEREST AND WELCOMING PEOPLE OF ALL CULTURES.E. TO PROMOTE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR TRANSITIONING COMMUNITY MEMBERS BY OVERCOMING OBSTACLES TO EMPLOYMENT.HE SAPA OTIPI IS ACTIVELY WORKING TOWARD BRINGING AN INDIGENOUS-HOSTED COMMUNITY CENTER TO RAPID CITY (MNILUZAHAN OTUNWAHE). THE ORGANIZATION IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN AN ONGOING COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND CO-DESIGN PROCESS THAT CENTERS THE VOICE OF THE RAPID CITY INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY. THIS PROCESS INCLUDES COMMUNITY SURVEYS, INTERVIEWS, TALKING CIRCLES, ACTIVITIES, AND WORKSHOPS.