Oceti Sakowin Writers Society

Program Opportunity Statement (Recommended 300 words or less) The Oceti Sakowin Writers Society began with retreats at the Oak Lake Field Station near the Minnesota border in Brookings County, SD. When we became a Native-run, Native-led 501(c)3 the staff and leadership envisioned moving the retreat around to the communities and reservations of the Oceti Sakowin Oyate. This has provided a logistical challenge for an organization still building staffing and organizational capacity. With this grant, we would be able to research and build relationships with new venues allowing us to do a rotation of He Sapa, Mni Sose and further East. Access to the land is the primary aspect, however this is gatekept by settler colonial institutions and Western capitalism. Money for staffing, venue deposits, fundraising and awareness would go along way in ensuring the sustainability of our annual retreat for Oceti Sakowin writers.