Lakota Well-Being Project

06/05/2026

The West Regional Native American Language Resource Center (WRNALRC) offers a certificate pathway rooted in Indigenous language revitalization to address access gaps in services, infrastructure, and opportunities for language learners, educators, communities, and programs in the WRNALRC service areas. The Certificate Programs content focuses on the broader spectrum of Language Revitalization and application of Oral Immersion methods, respectively, toward development of actionable plans, skills, and tools that participants can apply in their own communities.

For more information and to apply, follow the link below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_WmirDlIBNYmdUPud48sSbJdndvCy8Rw/view

06/04/2026

Ookiye Owas Iyekiyewicak̇iyapi
“Recognizing All the Staff Helping with the Wacipi”

Dianne Desrosiers - Head Women's Judge

Dianne Desrosiers is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate (Sioux Tribe) of the Lake Traverse Reservation. She is the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Historic Preservation Officer. She has held this position since 2006 and has been instrumental in the development of internal controls and methodology that have shaped the Cultural Resource Protection program to what it is today. Desrosiers holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology and Native American studies from the University of Minnesota Morris. Dancing has been a major part of her life, and she has danced with the “Foxwoods Dance Troupe," the “Dakota Ojibway Dance Troupe,” and the “Lakota Sioux Dance Theatre.” She has travelled extensively throughout the Unites States and abroad educating and advocating for the truth-telling of Native American history and culture. Desrosiers has danced since a very young age in both the traditional and jingle dress categories and has participated in powwows and ceremonies throughout her life.

06/03/2026

🫶🏽

06/01/2026

Last week, our President Ervin Carlson (Blackfeet Nation) stood before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs to testify in support of HR 7954 the Don Young Doug LaMalfa Indian Buffalo Management Act.

For thousands of years, buffalo sustained our people by providing food, shelter, clothing, and spiritual connection. Their near-extinction was no accident. It was a deliberate strategy to erase our way of life. But we never stopped dreaming of them and their return.

Today, the InterTribal Buffalo Council represents 90 federally recognized Tribes across 23 states and nearly 60 buffalo herds - and we are just getting started!

HR 7954 would formalize the Federal government's commitment to buffalo restoration, and help Tribes build self-sustaining herds that feed our communities, create jobs, and restore our culture.

The buffalo are coming home. 🦬 Stand with us.

05/31/2026

05/30/2026

05/29/2026

🌟 First Peoples Fund is NOW ACCEPTING nominations for the Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award!

➕ ABOUT JENNIFER EASTON COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD
Named after First Peoples Fund’s founder, this annual award recognizes Native artists + culture bearers who embody cultural generosity, use their ancestral knowledge and artistic talents to uplift their Native communities. Recipients receive an award grant of up to $50,000.

Open to practicing Native artists of all mediums, including music, dance, clothing design, basketry, beading, storytelling, and more. This award recognizes both traditional and contemporary cultural practice.

✅ ELIGIBILITY
• An enrolled member of, or descendancy from, a U.S. federally or U.S. state recognized tribe, or be able to provide proof of ancestry as an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian.
• Work with art mediums that are rooted in the traditions of their Native culture(s).
• Active within a Native community and/or lives within a tribal community.
• Actively involved in sharing their artistic and/or cultural knowledge with community members.
• Nominees must be practicing and engaged in their medium for at least 10 years.
• Self-nominations are not accepted.

Anyone can nominate Native artists who embody Community Spirit. Students, mentors, colleagues, and tribal members are encouraged to uplift these artists who are also cultural leaders.

📆 Deadline: Wednesday, June 17 at 5:59 PM MT
📌 Learn more & nominate: bit.ly/fpf-csa | LINK IN BIO

Are you interested in funding a First Peoples Fund program, like the Community Spirit Award? Visit: bit.ly/FPF-Give

Photo features 2025 CSA Honorees, Silver Galleto (Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians), Lisa Morehead-Hillman (Karuk and Yurok), Sonya Moody-Jurado (Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians) & Janie Verret Luster (United Houma Nation).

05/27/2026

05/26/2026

The Wiyutapi - Hand Talk Presentation Series is free and open to the public. The virtual presentation Zoom link is available here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85017971946