Cheyenne River Youth Project prepares for holiday events

The last months of the year are a time for gathering and giving. While Christmas isn't a traditional Lakota holiday, places like the Cheyenne River Youth Project are working to make the season special for kids.

In honor of the Lakota value of caring for others CRYP is hosting a solstice celebration as well as its annual Wo Otúh’an Wi (Moon of Giving Away Presents) Toy Drive.

The annual winter solstice party for children ages 4 to12 will be held Thursday, Nov. 30 at "The Main" youth center in Eagle Butte. The annual party for teens will be held on Friday, Dec. 1 at the Čhokáta Wičhóni (Center of Life) teen center. Both parties are scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m., and they will feature a “Grinch” theme.

“Christmas is not a traditional Lakota holiday, but we all can relate to the spirit of joy, magic and fun that infuses this time of year,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director, in a press release. “Traditionally, the winter solstice was time for us to gather with family and friends to enjoy good food, tell stories, and simply be together."

During the parities green eggs and ham will be served alongside mashed potatoes and vegetables. A special Grinch Punch will also be available. Kids can play Grinch themed games and bingo will be available for parents.

The next night, teens can play special holiday editions of pong and bingo and participate in a “winter fishing pond” activity.

The parties will conclude youth programming for the year so staff can focus on the Wo Otúh’an Wi Toy Drive. The toy drive serves more than 1,000 children annually in the 20 communities across the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.

“It’s a large undertaking, organizing and distributing thousands of gifts for so many hundreds of families,” Garreau said. “We are coordinating with partners and individual donors across the country, so it’s a lot of moving parts, but we love doing it.

Each child shares their dreams through a wish list. Presents can be purchased from their lists by donors and volunteers. Children then receive carefully selected gifts with their names on them.

“Our kids deserve to be seen, and to know how treasured they are," Garreau said.

Children's wish lists can be viewed and purchased directly from the project's website. The e-store can be found at lakotayouth.org/toy-drive/adopt-a-childs-wish-list/ .

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