Sunka Wakan Na
Wakanyeja Awicaglipi Incorporation
"Horsemanship Incorperation"
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is located in the south western part of the State of South Dakota. The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is the home of the Oglala’s. Who were the Oglala’s, they are families of Red Cloud, Little Wound, American horse, afraid of his horses, Loneman, and Crazy Horse, who were all native horseman.
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation has many natural areas, one is know as Badlands Country and 70 miles away is the Black Hills (Paha Sapa) was named, when the Oglala’s seen from a far blacken outline the hills..
The Sunka Wakan na Wakanyeja Awicaglipi a South Dakota non-profit organization started by a combination of people from different background. President Wendell Yellow bull is a former Police Officer. “ I started to work with Youths from the grade 5 to 8 teaching the D.A.R.E (Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education) in schools on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. I later started to Participate in cultural Horse Rides, Such as the Little Big Horn Cultural Rides and later in the Crazy Horse Cultural Rides.
The Vice- President Charlie “Bamm” Brewer operate a Buffalo Ranch located on the Pine ridge Indian Reservation He offers Buffalo tours and hunts to show the relationship of the Oglala’s; with Horse and Buffalo to school children,who offer cultural classes in their school. He also is the founder of the Crazy Horse Cultural Ride, he originally set out to promote the horse ride for four years and to fulfill his dream. He comment “was to bring the spirit Crazy Horse out of Fort Robison, which is located in Nebraska where he was killed”. The Crazy Horse Cultural Horse ride has grown into a large participation of members of the Oglala’s and non-members, so the horse ride continues for historical respect to a War Chief Crazy Horse.
The Secretary Rosie frier is originally from Germany, who was married to a tribal member, now is operating a Singing Horse Trading Post on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Who has horses that the community children were able to come ride, these horses and learn how to ride, she sponsors some of Wounded knee Community children on the cultural Rides.
The Treasurer William “Shorty” Brewer is former Police Officer and presently works for the Prairie Wind Casino. He also raises horse and work closely with the youths from the Township of Pine ridge, where the youths are more urban influence. Some have never had the opportunity to ever ride a horse. In a joking manner, they are referred to, as the urban horseman, but they have the heart to stay with the horsemanship training.
Members Eugenio White Hawk is presently working as police officer, here on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He has worked for many years to bring back original horse cultural games, that the Oglala’s Horseman used to sharpen their riding skill, these skills where used in hunting and defending their people. He was one of the founder of the Little Big Horn cultural Horse Ride back in the year of 1992.
Member Bryan Dean is a rancher on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Who trainings and raises horse most of his life. He has presented Horsemanship Training to youths on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Bryan And family also have been riding on the Crazy Horse Cultural Ride.
Member Bennet Serria is former rodeo member and who has work with horses, all his life. He trained as a Veterinary Technician. So he has formal education and hand-on skills, that he freely pass-on, to those, who wish to learn more about horses. Who also rides in the cultural Horse Rides.
The name Sunka Wakan na Wakanya Awicaglipi was chosen by the Board members, the meaning “to bring back the horse and child”. It was a long name and some of the board member still have trouble pronounce the name. When the organization filed to become non-profit, the word “sacred” was forgot to be place in the English translation, the board member comment it was okay, it would be know, only by the board members. But, they agreement that the name, was what they all had in vision, it was to back the horse and child together to create a relationship between both spirits of physical and emotional part of human being and the horse. The board member had reflection on the individual level with stories, who were they and were did they come from was missing from their lives. The board member agreed that many culture had influence their youths, and it would be a long process to look at themselves and create a relationship with a natural being the horse with today worlds. The weekly radio horse show on the local radio station KI.L.I would be the first line in creating the that relationship.
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Wendell W. Yellow Bull President
Contact & Donations in the USA
Roswitha Freier Singing Horse Trading Post HC 49 BOX 285 Porcupine, South Dakota, 57772
001)( 605 455 2143
Contact & Donations in Germany
Andrea Cox Derlacherstrasse 93/95 68219 Manheim Germany
0621 801116