Reflections on Lakota Youthstay

I was with the 2024 YouthStay, and I personally loved it.  The experience was beautiful and definitely inspiring to me. I’ve been outside of South Dakota before but I’ve never been to Boston. I appreciate Joy & Bruce for opening my eyes more & showing me this perspective of the world. I will always appreciate my […]

If you are a Lakota youth, living on the Pine Ridge reservation and adventurous, curious about life off the reservation and interested in making new friends, this program is for YOU! The mission of the program is to build friendships and create cultural understanding and awareness between Lakota youth living on the Pine Ridge reservation and people in Eastern Massachusetts though participation in an enriched homestay program.

My name is Erica Clairmont. When I was 13, I first took part in the LYS program. I had the opportunity again in 2022 when I was 15. I’m from Wanblee SD, on the Pine Ridge reservation. I first heard about the YouthStay program from my  teacher, Christy Webber. I am so glad I heard about the program because I love traveling, meeting new people, and exploring new places.

Spending a week with ReMember in the summer of 2022 was eye opening and inspiring. I gained a deeper understanding of the culture of the Oglala Lakota Nation and the unique stressors that permeate their lives. Along with being able to make things and do things with my own hands that people wanted and needed, […]

This summer, the Dallin Museum once again had the pleasure of hosting a group of Lakota youth from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The visit was part of an eight-day, fun-filled trip to the Boston area organized by the Medford, Massachusetts-based Lakota YouthStay program. The children, ages ten to fifteen, enjoyed learning about […]

  Whew, what a week! Mark and I hosted 2 twelve year old Lakota girls, plus my eleven and thirteen year old nieces, because we thought it would be fun for everyone! And it was. Having 4 tween girls is a trip. Going into the host family experience, we really just hoped to provide a […]

  My name is Briley Ferguson.  I am 12 years old and live in Kyle, SD on the Pine Ridge reservation.  I heard about this program from my teacher, Miss Babette Thin Elk. When we got to Boston, it was 1:00 am because of all the delays but it was still fun to be on […]

I bravely boarded the plane in Rapid City to Boston, after delays. My first time on a plane, my heart was pounding so hard I could hear it, finally the plane took off down the runway, I closed my eyes for a minute then opened my eyes and thought wow!, I’m flying. Looking out my […]

Tsenesa Ducheneaux emáčiyapi.  Canté wasté napé čiyuzapelo. Ina wayé kin Tawa ečiyápi. Ate wayé kin Heath ečiyápi. Pejuta Haka emátahan. Mahpiya Luta el wablawa. My name is Tsenesa Ducheneaux. I shake your hand with a warm heart. My mother is Tawa. My father is Heath. I live in Medicine Root district. I am a student […]

  Maiden voyage approaches for Medford Lakota Youthstay program Lakota YouthStay to return to Medford next summer Lakota Youthstay to hold benefit, silent auction Lakota YouthStay returns to Medford Lakota YouthStay host tipi-raising event Lakota YouthStay program brings Native young people to Massachusetts for immersion experience Lakota YouthStay program visits the Dallin Museum in Arlington […]