Rosebud Sioux Tribe, SD

Led by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Attorney General’s Office, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s Defending Childhood Initiative, Wakanyeja Ta Wiconi Ki Awayang Kuwapi, was a collaborative effort of roughly 36 organizations designed to prevent children’s exposure to violence, reduce its negative impact, and increase public awareness. The Initiative reached all of the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, which is made up of 20 different communities spanning 1,442 square miles in South Central South Dakota. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s enrollment statistics from 2009 show 28,375 enrolled members. The Rosebud Enrollment Office indicates there are 7,901 enrolled tribal members under the age of 18—838 of whom live on the reservation. The 2010 Census indicates that Todd County—which lies entirely within the reservation—is home to 8,468 total Native Americans and 3,857 individuals below the age of 18.

Leaders of the Rosebud Sioux Tibe concluded that a mixed approach to the issues facing children exposed to violence, rooted in Lakota values and administered by culturally competent and trauma-informed service providers, including education, law information and health care, would prevent, reduce and respond to children exposed to violence.The Rosebud Sioux Tribe addressed and prevented children exposed to violence by engaging both tribal programs and community members through robust strategies.

Visit the Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s Defending Childhood Initiative on Facebook.

Read the Process Evaluation Report for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s Defending Childhood Initiative.

Learn about the Strengthen Families, Prevent Violence public education campaign for Indian Country.