The purse giveaway impacted people of all ages at Roosevelt Park in Rapid City, South Dakota. Photo by Nataie Hand

Purses filled with necessities and hope
By Natalie Hand

RAPID CITY, SD -- On any given Sunday, people gather at Roosevelt Park to receive in-kind assistance from their neighbors. Tables are set up, offering warm coats, socks and usually a hot cup of soup for the homeless and needy residents of Rapid City.

However, on December 13, 2015, females of all ages gathered at the park to await the arrival of a young Lakota mother who has launched a campaign to offer purses to women in need.

Deemed the “Help a Sister Out” event on Facebook, coordinator Karin Eagle, Oglala Lakota, has a goal to help women who might need a hand up. The idea came to her when she noticed that she had several purses in her closet that she was no longer using.

Event Coordinator Karin Eagle and two of her children, Miguel and Maya, who volunteered at the giveaway. Photo by Natalie Hand

“I thought of some of my nieces that walk around with these little drawstring bags. Some will remark how pretty my purses are, so I offer it to them. To take it a step further, I thought it would be nice to offer something pretty to our female relatives that are struggling. It may not be life-changing, but I just wanted to share," stated Eagle.

Approximately twenty women and children made a circle around the pile of purses and a prayer and “woksape’” or words of encouragement, was offered by Belva Janis.

“I began this prayer with asking everyone to put their right foot forward, so that no matter whatever happens in their life, when an obstacle is put before them, they will have the strength to take that step forward and continue walking on," Janis said. "You can easily be “stuck” if you don’t have the tools to help yourself. With women helping each other like this, we regain our power."

Rapid City resident Belva Janis offered woksape’ na wocekiya -- words of encouragement -- at the event. Photo by Natalie Hand

"When you walk with compassion and prayer, you strengthen yourself spiritually. Then your physical, mental and emotional well-being comes back together. I know what some of these women are going through. I have been in the dumps. I was a drunk," Janis continued. "But I brought myself back together with sobriety. I offered my prayers for the missing and murdered indigenous women and for the girls and women that are struggling with addiction and abuse."

The donated purses, totes and backpacks came in all sizes and colors and many were filled with welcome necessities such as toothbrushes/toothpaste; hair brush; soap; warm socks; deodorant; nail polish; makeup; feminine care products; note pad/pen, etc.

"The purse giveaway today was done to celebrate the sisterhood that exists among the Lakota and Non-Lakota women in our community," Eagle said. "We all have that sacred and powerful element in common that can't be defined or explained, but it is present. That presence needs to be acknowledged and fed and celebrated."

The pile of purses dwindled very quickly. The remaining bags were donated to a local women’s shelter in Rapid City. Photo by Natalie Hand

"A purse is just an object to many people but to women it can be a shield, a help, a symbol of success, a badge of honor or something totally utilitarian. However we use them, they can be of great importance to us," Eagle continued. "To share our “pretties” with others is an act of sharing our pride with each other. I hope that all the women who walked away with a purse today remember that those purses came from their sisters, nieces, aunties and grandmas, not because they were needy or pitiful, but because they are women, as we all are. We are all of that sisterhood”,

“Today, this woman here showed that she has a big compassionate heart," noted Janis. "She shared her Lakota values amongst our relatives today. What Karin is doing is empowering women. She is a strong, humble woman, raising three children. She is always present at events here in Rapid City and offers to help others."

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“I want to thank all of the amazing women who gave the best of the best of their purse collections. The generosity I have witnessed here makes me feel that I am the most blessed person to come out of this. I am truly humbled," noted Eagle.

To donate to future giveaways, contact Karin Eagle at (605) 415-6820 or via email at 73wambli@gmail.com.

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