MNI-LUTA TRANSLATES TO RED WATER. THIS IS A CREEK TUCKED AWAY IN A WOOD ENCLOSED AREA. IT IS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIOUX NATION ON THE PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION. THE CAMP AREA IS IN THE MIDDLE OF CHIEF BULL BEARS ANCESTRAL LANDS. THERE ARE STILL MANY DESCENDANTS LIVING IN AND AROUND THE AREA.

MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER ONCE WALKED THIS LAND. IT IS DURING THIS TIME THAT SHE HAS SCATTERED MANY PLANT SEEDS THAT HAVE GROWN HERE SINCE HER TIME. THERE ARE MANY WILD FRUIT TREES SUCH AS CHOKE CHERRIES, BUFFALO BERRIES, JUNE BERRIES AND WILD PLUMS THAT GROW HERE. MEDICINAL PLANTS ARE PLENTY ALSO.

SO IT IS HERE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE OF THE NATIVE TRADITION AND CULTURE. THERE WILL BE SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE ALL DURING THE TIME YOU ARE HERE. THERE WILL BE A TRIP TO THE BLACK HILLS AND BADLANDS. IN EVERY TRIP WE TAKE THERE IS LEARNING AND REALIZATIONS.

THERE IS NO BOOK LEARNING AT THE CAMP. BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE KNOW IS PASSED ON IN AN ORAL FASHION, I WILL CONTINUE THAT TRADITION. THERE IS NO NEED FOR WATCHES, CELL PHONES OR COMPUTERS. BEFORE ONE COMES ONTO MY LAND ONE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE THE PRESENT DAY AS YOU KNOW IT AT THE GATE. WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT MY PLACE YOU WILL BE STEPPING INTO ANOTHER TIME, THE TRADITIONAL WAY.

THERE IS A PROTOCOL THAT WE FOLLOW IN OUR CULTURE AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED, THIS INCLUDES RESPECT, HUMILITY, HONOR, UNDERSTANDING, LISTENING, HEARING AND SEEING, WHAT THIS MEANS IS THIS, IF YOU ARE THE KIND OF PERSON THAT KNOWS IT ALL, THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT THE PLACE FOR YOU, BECAUSE IN CAMP NOT ONE OF US KNOWS IT ALL. WE ARE COMMON AND SIMPLE HUMAN BEINGS HERE. IT JUST IS!!!!!

EACH PERSON SHOULD BRING THE FOLLOWING;

ONE PERSON TENT- ONE SLEEPING BAG--ONE SLEEPING MAT. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ROLL THE TENT AND BAG INTO THE MAT AND TIE WITH A ROPE.

BACK PACK SHOULD CONTAIN 4 BLUE JEANS---4 TEE SHIRTS--LIGHT JACKET--SHORTS-TOWEL--SMALL TUBE OF TOOTH PASTE--FOLD UP TOOTH BRUSH--SMALL BOTTLES OF SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER---BUG SPRAY, AND WATER BAG NOT A BOTTLE.

THINGS NOT TO USE IN CAMP;

COMPUTERS--CAMERAS--BRAND NAME CLOTHES--DRESS SHOES--RECORDERS--MP3'S--I-PODS.

NO PERFUMES OR MAKE-UP

AWARENESS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, I CAN'T STRESS IT ENOUGH, YOU WILL BE ASKED QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGED AS TO WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN AND NOT. THIS IS THE WAY WE ARE RAISED.

YOU WILL BE WALKING ON RUGGED GROUND, SO IF YOU WANT TO STAY BALANCED YOU NEED TO EITHER HEAR AND SEE OR BUY SOME BALANCED SHOES. WE LEARN TO WALK ON ROUGH GROUND BEFORE WE LEARN HOW TO WALK.

HUMOR

HUMOR IS A BIG PART OF OUR LIFE. LAUGHTER IS GOOD MEDICINE. IT IS A WAY FOR US TO HEAL. GOOD HUMOR IS REQUIRED.

FOOD

I WILL SHARE WITH YOU OUR TRADITIONAL FOOD, EVERYONE WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE PREPARATION OF FOOD. THIS INCLUDES GATHERING WOOD AND LEARINING TO MAKE FIRE.

CLEANLINESS IF REALLY IMPORTANT TO US. WE WILL BUILD AN OUTDOOR SHOWER WHEN YOU ARRIVE.

TRAVEL

IF YOU ARE FLYING YOU WILL FLY INTO RAPID CITY SOUTH DAKOTA . THERE IS ALSO A BUS THAT COMES TO RAPID CITY. EVERYONE WILL NEED TO ARRIVE THE SAME DAY AS IT IS 100 MILES TO MY HOUSE FROM RAPID CITY. THE DEPARTURE WILL BE FROM RAPID CITY ALSO.

WHEN THE FUN BEGINS

JUNE---2009 ARRIVE JULY 1ST AND DEPART JULY 10TH

JULY---2009 ARRIVE JULY 30TH AND DEPART AUGUST 7TH

THESE PRICES AND DATES ARE FOR STUDENTS ONLY…NON STUDENTS E-MAIL FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND PRICES. NO EXCEPTIONS

COST

$500.00 A PERSON FOR THE 10 DAYS

MINIMUM OF 10 PEOPLE

CONTACT NAMES & NUMBERS

ROSE

E-MAIL---tateopaotawin@gmail.com

PHONE

605-441-5041

ALEX

E-MAIL---alexcendrowskiod@hotmail.com

PHONE

519-907-0084