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ISNA WICA OWAYAWA STUDENT AMBASSADORS IN ITALY






Loneman students had opportunities to interact with students from other cultures. Courtesy photo.

Loneman students had opportunities to interact with students from other cultures. Courtesy photo.

PINE RIDGE RESERVATION – The students of Isna Wica Owayawa (Loneman School) traveled over the pond to Rome, Italy to take part in the I CAN Global Summit.

The group was one of 15 Ambassador teams to represent the USA at the annual global conference I CAN Global Children’s Summit in Rome, Italy (Nov 27-30). Students were required to complete a Design For Change (DFC)/Design Sprint or Community Project. Students were a part of transforming their school and community in a big way! Organizers were thrilled to have received so many amazing projects from across the country addressing a variety of Global Goals.

Ambassador Teams had a once in a lifetime opportunity to share their project on a global stage, meet 4,000 children from around the world, and have a live audience with Pope Francis.

The Oglala Lakota Ambassador team chose the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline as their Design For Change project.

Honoring the Land: Fighting the Keystone XL Pipeline was the title of the project the Loneman students worked on.

Students with their Design for Change banner. Courtesy photo.

Students with their Design for Change banner. Courtesy photo.

This project was aimed at uncovering community thoughts and documenting those thoughts regarding the Keystone XL Pipeline while finding ways to insert student voices as advocates for their community by bringing concerns straight to state lawmakers. The students did research on the South Dakota Legislator and write letters to their representatives. The letters were part of the project and were presented at the summit.

Rakeen, a fourth-grade student at Loneman, wrote “we have been learning about SD bill 189 and the Keystone XL pipeline. I had a conversation with my grandma and she said all land is sacred and they shouldn’t put those pipelines on sacred land. It’s putting our land in danger. I hope you change your mind. It’s getting your water and other people’s water. It will continue climate change.”

Tyson, also in the fourth grade, wrote “I believe that land is sacred because it’s where we come from. I believe the Keystone XL pipeline will cause climate change. . .I also believe SD Bill 189 stops us from protesting. Without protesting we can’t have clean water. I know that you voted yes for SD bill 189 I hope that you change your mind because our land is sacred.”

Students acknowledge Native American Heritage Month while at the Vatican with a sign saying Native American History is American History. Courtesy photo.

Students acknowledge Native American Heritage Month while at the Vatican with a sign saying Native American History is American History. Courtesy photo.

SD Senate Bill 189 aimed to criminalize actions taken by people and supporters who choose to organize against companies building oil pipelines. Consequently, a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota was recently won in Court and South Dakota officials have promised not to enforce the laws resulting from SB 189.

Eight students and five adult chaperones reached their hotel in Rome, Italy 25 hours after leaving Oglala, SD.

The group of Oglala Lakota ambassadors attended the Design for Change I CAN global summit where they joined 2000 students from around the world in celebrating young people’s capacity to create transformational change in our communities. The group also spent time on their #NoKXL presentation, ready to share our story of fighting pipelines, racist laws and protecting sacred land.

Loneman students donned University of Roma hoodies. Courtesy photo.

Loneman students donned University of Roma hoodies. Courtesy photo.

The Isna Wica Owayawa students presented their project to other teams from Colorado, Minnesota, Chile, Ecuador and Italy. They also heard stories about how students around the world are solving issues in their community.

“Today absolutely filled my heart,” stated chaperone Kat Hyslop. “Watching my students during their presentation confirmed that, while we are thousands of miles from Oglala, being here in Italy is exactly where we need to be for the holidays, finding relatives in people from all over the world and inviting them to the fight back home.”

The group also listened to fellow change maker stories. There was good information in the lessons and ideas they could take back to Loneman School.

The students also visited the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. They were surprised to hear how old both places were, making comparisons to their ancestral lands back home.

Students participating in the trip were: Mylieh Blacksmith, Tyson Warrior, J’Cerrie Red Cloud, Cole Two Bulls, Hailey Jenkins, Patrick Brewer, Kaeton Bear Runner and Rakeem Plenty Wounds. Chaperones: Kat Hyslop (Teach For America, South Dakota), Melissa Blacksmith (Principal at Loneman School), Marian Poor Bear (Grandma to Rakeem and J’Cerrie), Crystal Brings Him Back (Mom to Kaeton) and Georgine Looks Twice (Grandma to Hailey).

Students had to find funding to pay for the trip and sponsors played a huge role in making the trip possible! The group received donations from various organizations, institutions and people, including the Oglala Sioux Tribe and NDN Collective, as well as a Go Fund Me page that was started back in August. Loneman Principal Melissa Blacksmith took the lead on organizing all finances for the trip. Design for change did not provide any funding for the trip.

“Our children are powerful and they believe that change is not only necessary but also possible,” stated Kat Hyslop, former TFA staff member are Loneman. “I think it’s our job to let them guide us forward. I’m really proud of them for representing their community and the Oglala Lakota Nation.”

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