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Dakota Youth Today: Reclamation in Action! © Dakota Wicohan

Waduta Yuha Yanke Win

Waduta Yuha Yanke Win (Woman who keeps the red paint), also known as

Samantha Odegard, is a young woman from the place where they dig the yellow

medicine, Pezihutazizi K’api Oyate, also known as the Upper Sioux Community.

Sam is 31 years of age and graduated from Yellow Medicine East High School in

Granite Falls, Minnesota. She earned a degree in Graphic Design from the Art

Institutes International Minnesota in Minneapolis. Sam is currently the Gift Shop

Manager at Prairies Edge Casino Resort, at the Upper Sioux Community and

serves as a Dakota Language Teacher Apprentice at Dakota Wicohan in Morton,

Minnesota. Sam is owner of Waduta Design, a freelance graphic design business.

Sam shares with us how important the Dakota way of life is for her.

“I try to practice any way I can, it is more than just pow-wows, singing and dancing.

It’s more, it includes respecting and listening to our elders. Dakota wicohan is also cultural spirituality that I try to make

a part of my everyday life. For example, being involved in learning the language, the commemorative march – those

things that support my cultural spirituality.”

Sam emphasized some Dakota values that are important to her.

“Values in general are important. When you compare good people values, they are all kind of the same. Values give

you a guideline to live your life. Two of them that I’m striving towards are bravery and dependability. Bravery to me

means knowing when to speak and when not to. This is especially important when it comes to yourself and your family.

Having that bravery and knowing when to make a stand is important to me. That is one I’m trying to work towards.

Another value that I’m working towards is being a reliable and dependable person. It means that the people can count

on me. Those are two that at this time in my life, I’m striving or working towards.”

Some values are passed down and others we learn along the way. Sam shares some information on the people that

have influenced her life.

“I have a lot of people that have influenced my life. Some earlier ones were my great grandparents, Herbert and Bessie

Ironheart. They taught me that pride in being Dakota, my grandpa really encouraged that. Also, bravery and they were

hardworking. I can see how that was passed down through my grandma, kunsi, and my mom.

I’ve also been lucky enough to get to know some really good people, like Dottie Whipple from Lower Sioux. Dottie,

she’s a kind and good-hearted person. Several older Dakota women have influenced me that I can now see. Women

like Phyllis Red Day-Roberts, who gave me my name; Philomine Lakota from Pine Ridge, who I learned those woman

hood ceremonies from, and other ceremonies. These women fight for that Dakota way and live that way. They strive

to keep the language alive and follow those Dakota ways. They are the kind of kunsi I want to be.”

Sam reflects on what it means to be a good relative.

“Sometimes it’s hard to be a good relative, to be dependable, accountable, always be helpful and generous, all those

things. It is one thing to be a good relative but not all your relatives are being good relatives. You’re trying to do those


things, and sometimes others are not and might take advantage of you. It’s out of balance. Sometimes in order to be

a good relative, I have to put more of my energy towards the ones that are also trying to be a good relative. It doesn’t

mean I forget about those other ones, but I remember you have to also take good care of yourself. When I’m able to

do that, I can focus more on reclamation. Who we are as Dakota people, as Indigenous people of Turtle Island, I

remember we are here because of those sacrifices of all the things our ancestors have done for us. For now, in order

for us to be a good relative is to move forward, revitalize our language, our ways. We thrive now because they survived.

Our ancestors survived so that our children can thrive. Right now, being a good relative is telling those truths and

sharing knowledge.”

Waduta Yuha Yanke Win is currently the lead organizer of the Dakota Commemorative March. It is held every two

years in November to commemorate the women and children that were on the forced march in 1862. Today, the march

focuses on the healing of women and children and a reconnection of the Dakota oyate, the Oceti Sakowin.


Zitkadan Zi Win

Zitkadan Zi Win (Yellow Bird Woman), also known as Halie Wilhelmi is a young

woman from the Redwood Falls community. Susan is 18 years of age and graduated

from Redwood Falls High School in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. She also graduated

from the Wikoska (young woman) program at Dakota Wicohan. Her plans include

attending school in Vancouver to study film and acting.

Halie shares with us how important the Dakota way of life is for her.

“I enjoy dancing and singing. I like making regalia. We just made our ribbon dresses.

I was taught to include a mistake in the craft because it reminds us that not everyone

is perfect. These teachings really connect, they make sense. I am not Dakota but

have always been welcomed. That is what I like, no one is left out.”

Halie emphasized some Dakota values that are important to her.

“The way Dakota treat nature – that it is a part of all of us. We have to respect nature. It gives to you, takes care of

you, we have to give back too.”

Some values are passed down and others we learn along the way. Halie shares some information on the people that


“Laverne (Goodthunder) gives. She is always happy and wants you to be there. It makes me want to help too, to be

there. Vanessa (Goodthunder) has taught me a lot too. She’s always out there, setting goals. I want to reach for goals

too and succeed. Cindy Wittwer is another one. She taught me how to be with horses and yourself. We have to respect

ourselves too. Also Fern (Cloud). She taught us how to hoop dance. She taught us how the hoop represents the

universe, that we’re all one. It represents all these connections that we have, to each other, to everything in the

universe. Without all of these people, I wouldn’t have grown to be myself, who I am today.”

Halie reflects on what it means to be a good relative.

“There is always a connection to family, whether you’re blood relatives or not. I want to be there for them, it makes me

happy. Their happiness is my happiness. We need to work together, no matter what.”

Zitkadan Zi Win has been a part of Dakota Wicohan and Sunktanka for a number of years. She is pictured practicing

her hoop dancing in front of her home.


Snasna Win

Snasna Win (Jingling Woman), also known as Vanessa Goodthunder

is a young woman from the place where they paint the trees red,

Cansayapi Oyate, also known as the Lower Sioux Community.

Vanessa is 20 years of age and graduated from Redwood Falls High

School in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. Vanessa is a junior at the

University of Minnesota – twin cities campus, studying Dakota

language and teaching. She currently works as a Dakota Language

Teacher Apprentice at Dakota Wicohan in Morton, Minnesota. Her

career goal is to be a high school teacher.

Vanessa shares with us how important the Dakota way of life is for

her.

“It started with the language. I grew up with it. I learned how important

it is. I feel a huge weight on my shoulders to learn and pass it on, to

learn it and teach it. My goal is to learn so that I can have

conversations in the language. I’ve also been with the Sunktanka

(horse) program since the 4th grade. We were taught our ways

through the Dakota horse traditions. We just recently performed a

play on the story of how the horse came to us. I’ve also been involved in the wikoska (young woman) program as both

a participant and then as a mentor. It’s really important to know who you are. If you don’t know who you are, you don’t

know where you’re going.”

Vanessa emphasized some Dakota values that are important to her.

“On our journey, we are never by ourselves. It is always through the help of others. My sister reminds me of this. I can’t

do it alone. Sometimes I forget and try to do it alone.”

Some values are passed down and others we learn along the way. Vanessa shares some information on the people

that have influenced her life.

“Laverne (Goodthunder), my mom has influenced me because she wanted us to know the language of this land. She’s

Dine’ – the ways are similar to Dakota. She’s always made a priority to set goals, know who you are, and help others.

We have to work very hard to get to what we love. Cindy (Wittwer) too. She introduced us to horses. She’s always

been generous, with her horses, supplies needed, her time. She understands the importance of family. She’s like a

mom and Tunwin Yvonne (Leith), she taught us about the values, especially compassion. She was so sweet, nice to

us. Even when she was sick, she was just concerned about us, wanted us to talk about how we were doing. Also Glenn

(Wasicunna). He sees something in me that I don’t. He pushes me out of my comfort zone to learn and teach the

language.”

Vanessa reflects on what it means to be a good relative.


“It’s important to be a good relative because it is everything. It is never us as a single person but as a community. We

have to ask ourselves, what is my role, how can I help, when we give, how are others going to benefit. We don’t have

time to not get along.”

Snasna Win helps with the Wikoska and Sunktanka programs at Dakota Wicohan. She is an accomplished

horsewoman, studying to be a teacher, and is a great mentor to young women. She is pictured learning Lacrosse to

support starting a Wikoska (young woman) Lacrosse team.


Wiyohianpa Win

Wiyohianpa Win (East Woman), also known as Gianna Strong is

a young woman who lives near the Birch Coulee Battlefield site

near Morton, Minnesota. Gianna also has a second Dakota name

or a womanhood name - Makato Mahpiya Win (Blue Earth Cloud

Woman). She is from the dwellers of the fishing grounds and

dwellers among the leaves, or the Sisitonwan Wahpetonwan

Dakota Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota.

Gianna is 19 years of age and graduated from the Redwood Area

School in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. She is currently attending

the University of Minnesota Crookston for Equine Management.

She also works at the Dakota Ridge Golf Course of the Lower

Sioux Indian Community.

Gianna shares with us how important the Dakota way of life is for her.

“The Dakota way of life is important to me because we have a lot of traditions but not a lot of people know of them or

practice them. I participate in our ceremonies, including the sundance every summer, the inipi or sweatlodge, and I’m

a fancy shawl dancer and attend a lot of pow-wows throughout the year. These are the things that ground me as a

Dakota woman”.

Gianna emphasized some Dakota values that are important to her.

“Our ceremonies teach our values. By me being there, being a part of them, I will one day be able to teach them to my

children. Everything we do now – effects the younger generation. What we do now, impacts them. I carry one goal;

that these ways never die.”

Some values are passed down and others we learn along the way. Gianna shares some information on the people that


“My Kunsi Yvonne taught me a lot of these ways. She also shared her own experiences of her time with me; how things

were then and how they are now. She always said little things – like at pow-wow, she’d say, ‘We need to clean up and

leave this place like we were never here’. Everyone knew she was involved and passionate about our ways. Her stories

and lessons had a big impact on me. Like that little story to me explains how we should respect place and space. She

also had a lot of patience. She dealt with a lot of different people, but she never got frustrated or angry. I think with our

ways, you learn a lot of patience.”

Gianna reflects on what it means to be a good relative.

“Everything we do now impacts the next generation. I wanted to be involved in the KXL Pipeline protests because being

involved now will be helpful in how we treat the earth. Like people act and treat the earth like we have another place to


go – and we don’t. I want to help mother earth. The truth is, we don’t have another place to go. We deserve to have a

healthy and good life style. And so does our children and grandchildren.”

“Our horses are good relatives. They are very powerful animals – and in more than one way. They are bigger than us.

They are also powerful in a living sense. You can just be around them and not even ride them, like just standing around

them, pet them and you feel so calm. That is powerful. It is powerful in that they can make you feel that way. They are

teachers themselves. They teach patience. You have to be dedicated to have horses. You have to be dedicated to

them and work with them. You get what you give and it is true with horses too. If you keep up with them, it is a lot of

hard work but they are a teacher to you. They make you feel good and calm.”

Makato Mahpiya Win has been involved in the Wikoska (young woman) and Sunktanka (horse) program for many

years. She is now a mentor and teacher for the Sunktanka program and is an expert horsewoman. Gianna participates

in the annual Dakota 38 Wokiksuye Memorial Ride every December. Here she pictured riding in Washington D.C. at

the KXL Pipestone Protest Demonstration in 2014.


Tasunke Wakiyan Watogla

Tasunke Wakiyan Watogla (Wild Thunder Horse), also known as

Ryan Dixon is a young man from Titunwan, dwellers of the

prairies, also known as the Lakota. Ryan is 32 years of age and

is married to a Dakota woman from the Lower Sioux Community.

They have three daughters. He is a Dakota Language Teacher

Apprentice and the Koska (young man) Leader at Dakota

Wicohan.

Ryan shares with us how important the Dakota way of life is for

him.

“There are a number of things I practice – ceremonies, singing

at the drum, speaking my language, lacrosse. But the most important is just to live with Dakota values. That to me, is

the Dakota way of life.”

Ryan emphasized some Dakota values that are important to him.

“Kinship is a very important value to me. I try to be there for all of my relatives and treat my friends as relatives too. I

was taken in by the Lower Sioux Indian Community and I help them whenever possible.”

Some values are passed down and others we learn along the way. Ryan shares some information on the people that

have influenced his life.

“Deksi Joe Circle Bear has been a strong influence for me. He has helped me to understand the Dakota way of life and

the importance of our language. Ate’ Bob Larsen, Kunsi Vernell Wabasha, and Deksi Glenn Wasicunna have also been

strong influences on my journey through life.”

Ryan reflects on what it means to be a good relative.

“Treat others as if they are your relative. Set a good example for the younger generation and teach the Dakota way of

life in a good way.”

Tasunke Wakiyan Watogla is a great role model for boys and young men. He shares and teaches the Dakota way of

life to many Dakota boys and young men. Ryan is pictured above (left) playing Lacrosse at the Lower Sioux Indian

Community.


Dustin Arrendondo Jr.

Dustin Arrendondo Jr. is a young man from the place where

they paint the trees red, Cansayapi Oyate, also known as the

Lower Sioux Community. Dusty is 16 years of age and is in the

11th grade at Redwood Falls High School in Redwood Falls,

Minnesota. He currently is a Koska (young man) participant at

Dakota Wicohan in Morton, Minnesota.

Dusty shares with us how important the Dakota way of life is

for him.

“I’m a singer for the drum group, Dream Nation or Woihanbde

Oyate. Singing at the drum really does something for me. There’s a connection to it and it keeps me going. Sometimes

I get goosebumps when we’re singing at the drum because I feel something is with me, like in a spiritual way. Singing

at the drum really gives me that spiritual connection that I need.”

Dusty continues to discuss the importance of the drum and singing that demonstrate Dakota values.

“As I was saying, singing is really important to me. I even sing at home in my daily life. I’m constantly practicing. I want

to be able to sing for the community.”

Some values are passed down and others we learn along the way. Dusty shares some information on the people that

have influenced his life.

“Cindy Wittwer introduced me to horse camp. There were only two other boys. Then she brought Darwin Strong in after

school. I was in the 5th grade then. He taught me how to sing. Then there are so many people that encourage me to

continue to sing. Ryan (Dixon) he brings us together to sing at the drum now. I look up to him. And Franky (Jackson),

he encourages me to keep on going, keep on singing. Then there’s the Red Tree Singers, those guys, Joe Erler and

Dane (Nelson) that I look up to. Even my friends here, Denton and them, they influence me too.”

Dusty reflects on what it means to be a good relative.

“I think as a singer I can give to the community that way. I will go to events and sing. Sometimes we sing for someone.”

“I also rode in the Dakota 38 Ride last year. It was really cold. But I did it to do something for the 38 that were hung.

There’s a connection and you can feel it. You know it’s there.”

Dustin Arrendondo Jr (pictured above at left) is a singer for Woihanbde Oyate (Dream Nation). They sing for community

events, including Tiwahe nights at Dakota Wicohan.


Wambdi Howaste Win

Wambdi Howaste Win (Eagle Woman with a good voice), also known as Winona

Goodthunder is a young woman from the place where they paint the trees red,

Cansayapi Oyate, also known as the Lower Sioux Community. Winona is 21 years

of age and graduated from Redwood Falls High School in Redwood Falls,

Minnesota. She is a sophomore at the Minnesota State University Moorhead,

studying biology, chemistry, and psychology.

Winona shares with us how important the Dakota way of life is for her.

“I’ve been involved in the Dakota 38 ride for a number of years now. I’ve been riding

horse since the 5th grade”.

Winona emphasized some Dakota values that are important to her.

“I try to instill the seven core Dakota values in my daily life – to feel it. I accept and love everyone I meet. When I hear

our ancestor’s stories, I think that it taught us that, to love everyone. It didn’t matter if you were blood relatives, you

were accepted. If people showed the slightest interest, you were welcomed. Today, I have many brothers and sisters.

Love and accept is a big part of it for me. We shouldn’t be thinking, ‘oh, you’re wrong, you can’t do that.’ It shouldn’t

just be about tolerance. I don’t want to be just tolerant”.

Some values are passed down and others we learn along the way. Vanessa shares some information on the people


“My mom has had a big influence. She’s the crazy lady that takes people in to be a part of our family (laughter). For

example, when my boyfriend came home with me, she said, ‘welcome to the family, here’s your list of duties” (laughter).

My dad too. Even those he’s had problems, he has an unfaltering way of love and acceptance. He would never hurt

someone or take something. He taught me, I am related to everything in the world, including the animals. And Darwin

(Strong) taught me no matter what life throws at me, I don’t get to see myself as broken. I don’t have to be perfect. I

should never lose my spirit. He taught me to ask myself, ‘what do I want’ and still help others. Also Cindy (Wittwer).

She never gave up on us. She taught it is okay to designate others or to ask for help. It is not a sign of weakness to

ask for help. It’s getting easier, I’m not weak when I ask for help”.

Winona reflects on what it means to be a good relative.

“I’m the manager of my family (laughter). A conflict manager. If someone needs help, I listen, help, but not judge. I want

to be a doctor with a psychology minor. I want to be a healer. I have had some tough times myself. It was hard finding

help. I thought everything was my fault. I let myself go down a dark path. It’s important to have someone who genuinely

cares for you”.

Wambdi Howaste Win participates in the annual Dakota 38 Wokiksuye (Memorial) Ride in December. She is pictured

here with Blackjack.


Wakanazanzan Win

Wakanazanzan Win (Holy Lightning Woman), also known as Susan Bucholz

is a young woman from the place where they paint the trees red, Cansayapi

Oyate, also known as the Lower Sioux Community. Susan is 18 years of age

and graduated from Redwood Falls High School in Redwood Falls,

Minnesota. She currently works as an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow at Dakota

Wicohan in Morton, Minnesota.

Susan shares with us how important the Dakota way of life is for her.

“I’ve been in the Sunktanka (horse) program. I’ve participated in the wikoska (young woman) program for a number

of years where we learned Dakota leadership, women’s roles, and other traditional values. And I also sing songs, I

dance – I have a good time, it makes me happy. Now that I’ve graduated as a wikoska, I’m helping mentor others.”

Susan emphasized some Dakota values that are important to her.

“The most important Dakota values is to help others to better the community, not just for yourself. So, we need to

have compassion for others. Everyone comes with a different situation and we need to understand their point of view.

We also need to practice patience. For example, with new riders we have to take the time to explain. Sometimes that

has to be done in different ways that make sense for that person. Even with horses. Midnight hurt her leg and so we

have to work with the horse and their circumstances.”

Some values are passed down and others we learn along the way. Susan shares some information on the people


“Vernie (Laverne Goodthunder) is always for the children. She treats everyone as a relative and we need to do that,

even if we don’t like them. Yvonne (Leith) too. She pushed the Dakota way of life – for ourselves and for others so

that in the future we can pass it on. I think about all that she’s done in the community. As we get older, it’s important,

our culture informs the way we should act, like wikoska for the wiciyanna (younger girls).”

Susan reflects on what it means to be a good relative.

“To be a good relative is like karma. What you give comes back to you. It’s important to treat the land the same as

our relatives. For example, in order to have a good clean drinking source, we need to remember that. It’s like a circle,

if one thing is off, it effects everyone and everything. We all need to do our part.”

Wakanazanzan Win is an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow, supporting and mentoring young people in leadership through

Dakota cultural programming. She continues to ride horse in the Sunktanka program. She is pictured here with

Midnight.

Vincent Jackson is a young man from the dwellers of the fishing grounds and dwellers among the leaves, or the

Sisitonwan Wahpetonwan Dakota Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota. Vinnie, as he’s

commonly known is 14 years of age and is in the 9th grade at Redwood Falls High School in Redwood Falls,

Minnesota. He currently is a Koska (young man) participant at Dakota Wicohan in Morton, Minnesota.


Vincent Jackson

Vincent Jackson is a young man from the dwellers of the

fishing grounds and dwellers among the leaves, or the

Sisitonwan Wahpetonwan Dakota Oyate of the Lake Traverse

Reservation in South Dakota. Vinnie, as he’s commonly known

is 14 years of age and is in the 9th grade at Redwood Falls High

School in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. He currently is a Koska

(young man) participant at Dakota Wicohan in Morton,

Minnesota.

Vinnie shares with us how important the Dakota way of life is for him.

“I sing with Dream Nation, or Woihanbde Oyate. I’ve been singing

since the 1st grade. I like to be with my fellow singers learning new

songs and just joking around. I just like being there and singing.

“I also play lacrosse with Lightning Sticks of Morton, Minnesota. It’s a fun sport to play. Our ancestors played it and it

was kind of lost for a while. The last recorded game was in 1861 but now it’s back and it’s growing. I have fun times

with the team. We are playing for the Creator. The Creator put this game here for us to play.”

Vinnie emphasized some Dakota values that are important to him.

“You have to have patience and respect at the drum for your fellow drum mates. If you’re not catching on to a new

song, you have to keep learning. You need patience for new drum brothers. Being the leader, I need to wait on

others to catch on and learn. I can’t get mad at them, I remember I’ve been there.

“With lacrosse you need good sportsmanship. You can’t get mad at each other on the team or the other team. You

have to show that you’re a good player. As a team mate, I have to fix my mistakes, if I miss a shot, we have to work

together. We have to be good listeners and give direction to each other.”

Some values are passed down and others we learn along the way. Vincent shares some information on the people

that have influenced his life.

“I started learning how to sing from Joe Circle Bear at Tiospa Zina School in Sisseton. He wanted us to start and sing

and no one would. Finally I tried and I think he noticed that! He encouraged me to keep on singing. He gave me and

Denton our first hand drums. I also look up to the Red Tree Singers because they live around here and for a while I

had quit singing all the time. They brought it back for me. I went to practice with them and then I’ve been singing here

at Dakota Wicohan. I also look up to my older brother because at one point I wanted to quit lacrosse. He encouraged

me and I got better. Also my dad, he showed me this game and he practices with us and travels for our games and

camps. I also really look up to the Thompson Brothers. They’re my idols. They are Native players of lacrosse. They’re

Onondaga from New York.”

Vincent reflects on what it means to be a good relative.


“You have to have respect and honesty for your family. This is something I got to work on. To respect each other –

including my sister. Sometimes I yell at her. Without respect, a family would be out of control. And honesty is really

important. You want people to be you.”

Vincent Jackson (pictured above, right) is an avid lacrosse player for Lightning Sticks of Morton, Minnesota. He is

also a singer for Woihanbde Oyate (Dream Nation). They sing for community events, including Tiwahe nights at

Dakota Wicohan.


Htanipi

Htanipi (Hard Worker), also known as Tanner Peterson is

a young man from the place where they dig the yellow

medicine, Pezihutazizi K’api Oyate, also known as the

Upper Sioux Community. Tanner is 16 years of age and

is in 11th grade at the Echo Charter School, Echo

Minnesota. He is a Busser in the restaurant at Prairies

Edge Casino Resort, at the Upper Sioux Community.

Tanner shares with us how important the Dakota way of

life is for him.

“I practice by tanning and beading. I think these practices

are important because not many people do them anymore. I plan to pass it down to the next generation and hopefully

it’ll keep going. It’s a good product, not like commercial leather. This is better and there are not many who do it.”

Tanner emphasized some Dakota values that are important to him.

“You have to have a lot of patience and practice to do these things (tanning and beading). It doesn’t always come out

perfect. There are a number of things you have to do in the process of tanning. You just have to learn all of the steps,

practice and you’ll get better. I enjoy how everything turns out in the end.”

Some values are passed down and others we learn along the way. Tanner shares some information on the people


“Deksi Super. He’s affected my life a lot. First of all, he taught me how to do this (tanning and beading). He knows a

lot and he’s very wise. He’s been doing it a lot of years. My dad too. He’s also taught me a lot. Like life lessons, like

generosity. He’s always willing to help people out. Life’s better when you share it with people.”

Tanner reflects on what it means to be a good relative.

“I think that I’m usually nice. I try to treat people kindly. I listen to people, like their problems and try to help them.”

Htanipi (far right in the photo above) is currently an apprentice to Walter LaBatte, Jr, also known as Deksi (Uncle)

Super (center with hat). He is learning the tradition of brain tanning leather – a very long process with multiple steps

that requires hard work and a lot of patience. He is also learning how to bead his first pair of moccasins.


Winfred Denton Jackson IV

Winfred Denton Jackson IV is a young man from the dwellers of the fishing

grounds and dwellers among the leaves, or the Sisitonwan Wahpetonwan

Dakota Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota. Denton, as

he’s commonly known is 16 years of age and is in the 10th grade at Redwood

Falls High School in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. He currently is a Koska

(young man) participant at Dakota Wicohan in Morton, Minnesota. He is also

employed by Dakota Wicohan through the Sunktanka program.

Denton shares with us how important the Dakota way of life is for him.

“I play lacrosse. Lacrosse is a traditional Dakota game but also one from other

nations. I’ve been playing for five years now and it seems to come naturally

for me. It’s a great stress reliever.

“I also sing with the Dream Nation or Woihanbde Oyate drum group. I like singing with my friends. We have good

times and laugh a lot.”

Dusty emphasized some Dakota values that are important to him.

“Playing lacrosse is not an easy game to catch on to. You can get frustrated. And so, when new people join our team,

Lightning Sticks, we have to practice patience. It’s the same when learning new songs at the drum”.

Some values are passed down and others we learn along the way. Denton shares some information on the people


“My dad is the reason I first started playing lacrosse. He’s the reason why. After our first camp, he bought us the

needed gear and got us into playing games. He travels a lot for us so that we can play. He sacrifices a lot so that we

can play. He invests in me and many others. I also look up to my young brother, Vincent. He’s the singer in the

family.”

Denton reflects on what it means to be a good relative.

“I’m the oldest. Sometimes it’s hard. I have my younger siblings pestering me and sometimes I get annoyed. I have to

practice maturity. It’s hard to set an example. If you want to be a better relative, it takes patience and respect.”

Winfred Denton Jackson IV is an avid lacrosse player for Lightning Sticks of Morton, Minnesota. He is also a singer

for Woihanbde Oyate (Dream Nation). They sing for community events, including Tiwahe nights at Dakota Wicohan.

Waduta Yuha Yanke Win - Squarespace · Dakota Youth Today: ... Waduta Yuha Yanke Win is currently the lead organizer of the Dakota ... She is pictured learning Lacrosse to support

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