July Update
We have been hard at work out in the community. The start of summer has brought dozens of volunteers each week and we couldn’t be happier about it! Multiple decks and ramps are being constructed weekly. Trailers are being skirted. Outhouses and beds are flowing from our shop and out to households and families across the reservation. Connections are being made, and relationships are being built. We’ve had great turnouts at our weekly Community Dinner and look forward to hosting the event weekly for the rest of summer.
It’s been a stormy several weeks, bringing strong winds and rain, but also green grass and gorgeous skies. We’ve been treated to rainbows, lightning shows and incredible cloud displays. We are grateful for the pop provided by the much-needed moisture, and we will enjoy it before the prairie returns to its inevitable array of browns, yellows and beiges.
Feather II is coming to life! In our four high-tunnel greenhouses seeds have sprouted and will be producing fresh herbs, fruits and veggies in the next few weeks. Our garden beds are healthy, growing and grateful for the recent rains. The beaver deceiver is still deceiving, and we are thrilled with the outcomes of the project. We hope to grow several thousand pounds of produce this summer, all of which will be distributed to folks in the community!
On June 25th, Victory Day was celebrated around Pine Ridge. This day celebrates the anniversary of the great Lakota victory over General George Armstrong Custer and his 7th Cavalry nearly 150 years ago. The event has commonly been referred to as Custer’s Last Stand or the Battle of the Little Bighorn, but it is known around the reservation as the Battle of the Grease Grass. Celebrations included Indian horse relays, a parade, youth horse games, concerts, cookouts, a hand game tournament and more.
There is a lot to be excited about at Re-Member and on Pine Ridge. We look forward to welcoming more folks to the reservation during the busy summer weeks to come!
Supporting Students on Pine Ridge!
We are collecting donations of school supplies for back-to-school backpacks. We support students and families in the community annually by collecting book bags and loading them with supplies for the upcoming school year. All donations are greatly appreciated!
Mailing and shipping information can be found here!
Introducing Mini Weeks! - Half the Program, Half the Price!
For two weeks in August, we will be piloting a new program opportunity – Mini Weeks!
These weeks will offer an abbreviated version of our standard program. A Sunday to Thursday experience that still offers a meaningful opportunity to learn, serve, and engage here on Pine Ridge. Mini Weeks will consist of a Sunday arrival, a tour day around the reservation, two days of work in the community, and a Thursday morning departure. At a discounted rate, Mini Weeks are a great option for those unable to commit to a full week's stay.
For those interested in further exploration after their stay, we can recommend self-guided driving tours or connect you with reputable local tour guides to visit the Black Hills or Badlands.
Check out the Re-Member Online Store!
The Re-Member online store inventory has recently been refreshed with many new items from the incredibly talented artisan community here on Pine Ridge. Shop jewelry, paintings, dreamcatchers, Re-Member merch and more.
Support local artists and shop the Re-Member Online Store today!
Summer is just getting started and we are so excited for all that is to come. We hope to see you on the Rez in 2025! Thank you for continuing to follow along with the Re-Member story as we continue to pursue a better today – and tomorrow – alongside the Oglala Lakota people!
Gratefully,
Will Paese
Executive Director