2026 Service & Learning Trip
Cheyenne River Reservation

Our participants have been called by God to serve our neighbors in Dupree, South Dakota through the YMCA of the Seven Council Fires, working on the Cheyenne River Reservation with the Lakota people. Please keep this mission team of Winnetka Presbyterian Church in your prayers as they enter this new community of friends, working alongside them, glorifying God and showing the limitless love of God. This team looks forward to sharing with our congregation all that they learn from this transformative experience. ​

Videos and Resources

Sioux YMCA  Cultural Guide for  Volunteers 
One of the biggest hurdles for volunteers to overcome is learning to appreciate cultural differences. Functioning in a new culture can initially be very difficult but education and seeking understanding makes the transition much easier. 

Resources from the YMCA Seven Council Fires
The YMCA Seven Council Fires has great resources if you want to learn a little more about the Sioux culture, as well as Native American culture. 
Life Lakota
Like Lakota captures the state of the Cheyenne River Reservation today. The Lakota culture is fading and their voices must be heard. Local leaders are taking action to educate the youth while organizations like the YMCA are helping kids stay above the influence of many of the extreme adversities that the reservation presents. Lakota people are humble, proud and full of faith, we are honored to help tell their story. 
Aaron Hurley: America's Native Prisoners of War
​Here is a 15-minute YouTube video of Aaron Huey who has photographed and documented poverty in America. This talk is from his 5 years on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and his relationship with the Lakota people. Pine Ridge is also in South Dakota about 180 miles from the Cheyenne River Reservation. You can also find it on YouTube.
Many and Great
"Many and Great" is a beautiful hymn about God's creation, but it also has a history that many people don't know. It's known as the "Dakota Hymn" and was sung by 38 Dakota prisoners of war as they were led to their execution.
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On December 26, 1862, U.S. forces hanged 38 Dakota men in Mankato, Minnesota. President Abraham Lincoln ordered the executions following the Dakota War of 1862, a six-week uprising of Dakota people against white settlers after the U.S. broke its promise to deliver food and supplies to local tribes in exchange for the surrender of tribal land. Read more about it here ... https://calendar.eji.org/racial-injustice/dec/26

What is the YMCA of the Seven Council Fires?

Watch the video for a short talk by Andy Corley, former Director of the YMCA of the Seven Council Fires. Andy describes the good work that is taking place there, and gives some insight into what our mission trip might entail.