Kyle Skate Park gets a FACE lift
By Ernestine Chasing Hawk
Native Sun News Today Editor
KYLE – The adage “It takes a village to raise a child” is a truism that a program at Little Wound School in Kyle on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation takes seriously.
For centuries traditional Lakota Tiyospaye (families) lived in close knit communities and the responsibility of raising the Wakanyeja (Sacred little ones) was a collaborative effort by everyone in the village.
In the late 1800’s and with the passing of the Dawes Act, Lakota families were subjected to the colonial concept of single family units and many no longer lived in villages. Many families were separated and isolated from each other when they were given individual land allotments.
Then with the onslaught of the boarding school era many children were separated from their parents and were no longer under the watchful eye of their extended family. All of these changes eventually led to the breakdown of the traditional Lakota Tiyospaye.
So 18 years ago, a group of innovative teachers and parents took on the task of regenerating the concept of raising healthy Lakota Wakanyeja (children) through community involvement.
In order to help their children reach their fullest potential they knew they needed the engagement of everyone in the community including parents, grandparents, students, teachers as well as Tribal and school administrators. They applied for and received a grant from the Family and Child Education (FACE) program and have been making a difference ever since.
Evidence of the FACE programs commitment to enriching the lives of the Wakanyeja and engagement with the community was a recent event that took place in Kyle.
On Wednesday, April 17, with help from the Little Wound FACE Pre-School students and their parents a ground breaking ceremony took place kicking off an upgrade to the Kyle Skate Park.
Jayce Helper, Isis Hamel, Alexia Spotted Eagle, Wacinksabaya Zephier, Paul Giago Jr. and Tyler Martinez each with a tiny little shovel, just their size, performed the ground breaking ceremony. On each shovel was the message: “Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may not remember. Involve me and I’ll understand.”
According to Lynn Hernandez, FACE Adult Education Teacher, the groundbreaking is the beginning of an upgrade project that will eventually lead to a completely developed family recreation area.
Hernandez said when students were asked what they wanted most for their community; many opted for an upgrade to the skate park. The first phase is building a fence around the skate park.
NATIVE SUN NEWS TODAY
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