Lower Brule Community College

This project will reinforce efforts to increase food security, consumption of healthier foods, and nutrition knowledge among youth in a school district serving a high number of Native American youth. Leveraging SDSU Extension staff will increase the amount of youth reached. This program cannot go forward without funding for food.

The ultimate purpose is to 1) create a language and culture mentoring program in Lower Brule which will 2) increase Lakota language and cultural proficiency in youth by utilizing the knowledge of elders and the academic training of instructors and students in Lakota studies. Group mentoring will establish relationships between youth, college students and elders and leverage the existing knowledge of elders, college students and excitement of youth to build cultural awareness and proficiency in the Lakota language. With fewer elders in the community, this format helps retain practices of culture and language knowledge through the community's youth.