{"id":2660,"date":"2020-04-13T12:28:16","date_gmt":"2020-04-13T16:28:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/covid19\/?p=2660"},"modified":"2020-04-13T12:31:58","modified_gmt":"2020-04-13T16:31:58","slug":"cheyenne-river-youth-project-cheyenne-river-sioux-reservation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/covid19\/2020\/04\/13\/cheyenne-river-youth-project-cheyenne-river-sioux-reservation\/","title":{"rendered":"Cheyenne River Youth Project (Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cheyenne River Youth Project’s teen art interns work on new projects in the Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Art Park, drawing inspiration from the challenges they and the Lakota Nation face from the Covid-19 crisis. In some of the murals, the kids painted traditional medicines like tea, red willow, and cedar to heal their community. Photo courtesy CRYP<\/p><\/div>\n

CRYP Continues Limited Programs & Services During Covid-19 Crisis<\/strong><\/p>\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/b><\/p>\n

EAGLE BUTTE, SD (Apr. 13, 2020) \u2014 The Cheyenne River Youth Project has seen a lot of ups and downs in its nearly 32-year history, including the Great Recession. Now it\u2019s facing what might be its biggest challenge yet: the global Covid-19 pandemic.<\/div>\n
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Yet this grassroots nonprofit youth organization is meeting that challenge head-on. Not only is CRYP continuing to offer modified internship programming, it also has devised new, creative ways to continue serving the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation community throughout the crisis.<\/div>\n
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\u201cRight now, we\u2019re continuing to welcome our teen interns to Cokata Wiconi (Center of Life) for education and instruction,\u201d said Julie Garreau, CRYP\u2019s executive director. \u201cOur cohorts are less than 10 kids each, and we have plenty of space, so we can adhere to social distancing guidelines while providing key pieces of our internship training. We also follow rigorous hygiene protocols to ensure the safety of our staff and our young people.\u201d<\/div>\n
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The Native Wellness interns are currently in the middle of their program, while the Art interns have completed theirs. CRYP staff already is recruiting to fill the spring Indigenous Cooking Internship Program and Art Internship Program; each program has room for six teen interns.<\/div>\n
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Cheyenne River Youth Project’s teen art interns work on new projects in the Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Art Park, drawing inspiration from the challenges they and the Lakota Nation face from the Covid-19 crisis. In some of the murals, the kids painted traditional medicines like tea, red willow, and cedar to heal their community. Photo courtesy CRYP<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cNot all of our kids are safer at home, unfortunately,\u201d Garreau said. \u201cThey rely on us to be there for them, and that\u2019s more important than ever during a public health emergency. They\u2019ve lost school, they\u2019ve lost after-school activities, they\u2019ve lost part-time jobs and access to positive role models\u2014they need us. And, to be honest, we need them! So we are willing to do whatever it takes to keep our doors open in some fashion.\u201d<\/div>\n
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The youth project\u2019s staff members share Garreau\u2019s dedication, and they employ impressive resourcefulness on a daily basis as they devise new approaches to programming. One of those staff members is Tyler Read, CRYP\u2019s art director.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019re absolutely dedicated to serving our youth against all odds, trials, and tribulations,\u201d he said. \u201cWe do this in a variety of ways. My role is to help them explore their creativity through art; as I read through our kids\u2019 journal entries, I see how critical this is right now, with all the chaos and uncertainty around us. Our kids need something to help reduce stress and anxiety, take them out of survival mode, and put them into a place where they can reconnect with their creative spirit so they don\u2019t burn out.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The teens have indeed been forthcoming in their journal entries, sharing thoughts such as, \u201cThe internship made me forget that I\u2019m alone,\u201d \u201cI love it here, because I have a little bit of purpose to my life,\u201d \u201cI never really thought one little drawing could have so much meaning,\u201d and \u201cBeing here felt great; seeing everyone and interacting was wonderful.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Cheyenne River Youth Project’s teen art interns work on new projects in the Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Art Park, drawing inspiration from the challenges they and the Lakota Nation face from the Covid-19 crisis. In some of the murals, the kids painted traditional medicines like tea, red willow, and cedar to heal their community. Photo courtesy CRYP<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Read also advised that he is researching additional options to help support his art interns, noting that CRYP needs to be prepared for what the future holds.<\/div>\n
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\u201cI\u2019m exploring what digital platforms are best for our interns, in sanitized computer spaces with strict social-distancing parameters,\u201d he explained. \u201cAnd as the weather improves, I\u2019m also looking at outdoor activities in the Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Art Park. However this unfolds, we are committed to offering our youth an outlet for the concerns they have during this difficult time.\u201d<\/div>\n
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In addition to the teen internship programs, CRYP is developing a space in its Cokata Wiconi gymnasium for young people to do their classwork while the schools are closed, and staff members are distributing balanced, hearty evening meals each day to ensure a degree of food security. <\/div>\n
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\u201cThose numbers are growing by the day,\u201d Garreau said. \u201cAs word spread through our community, we started seeing upward of 50 children each evening; and now, as we\u2019re reaching teens as well, we expect to see those numbers go to 100, 150, and perhaps even higher.\u201d<\/div>\n
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