Opening of a New Food Pantry on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
After much anticipation, the Oyate Ta Kola Ku Food Pantry is now almost ready to open its doors on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Announced
For Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, this Community Center is a 21,000 foot state of the art Center place where imaginations and dreams can thrive.
…Where excited children can shoot some hoops in state-of-the-art gymnasium for the very first time for the many years to come.
…Where adults and tribal elders can use the classrooms and teaching kitchen facilities to teach arts, language, beading, and traditional cooking classes they could soon teach.
…Where all in the community can feel welcome in a safe, healthy, accessible space for all.
In spring 2021, Running Strong for American Indian Youth® proudly announced our vision for the Oyate Ta Kola Ku Community Center to be constructed on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
The 21,000-square-foot center, named Oyate Ta Kola Ku – Friend of All Nations – in memory of the late Running Strong co-founder, Gene Krizek, is now providing more than triple the amount of programming space previously offered by our partner on the reservation, the Oyate Teca Project.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Oct. 14, the 58th anniversary of Running Strong co-founder Billy Mills’ historic gold medal win at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, he stated: “Our elders have the vision our youth have the dreams.”
As a leading Pine Ridge community center, Oyate Ta Kola Ku offers programs that foster cultural preservation, education, and well-being. These initiatives provide hands-on learning, food access, and essential resources to empower families and strengthen the community.
Teaching and community kitchens at the Center are each equipped for classes in Indigenous food preparation and preservation, while also providing easy access to healthy meals for residents living on the reservation. The 362-square-foot teaching kitchen has four cooking stations and a center island to accommodate lessons. Combined with the 1,400 square foot commercial kitchen—featuring walk-in freezers and coolers, double ovens, double sinks, and more—healthful cooking is a cornerstone of the Center. The produce used in the kitchen, directly supporting the families and community, comes directly from the gardens at Oyate Ta Kola Ku. The Center’s greenhouse, hoop house, and gardens provide the foundation for improving the nutritional lifestyle of youth, families, and the community.
Our organic gardens and food programs strive to tackle malnutrition by providing healthy meals and fresh produce to Native American children and their families. Medicine Root Garden is the community growing and teaching garden where tons of produce are grown each year.
The education classrooms are the site for after school mentoring, financial literacy classes, and so much more. The sewing room helps promote the preservation and renewal of traditional sewing craft, including traditional regalia, star quilts, and shawls. The sewing classroom accommodates up to 12 students stationed at sewing machines, and more on a longarm quilting machine, with a separate instructor’s stations, as well as 30 feet of floor to ceiling cabinets holding dozens of bolts of fabric and ample supplies. Youth and adults can take sewing and beading classes, practice their skills using our sewing and quiliting machines. Some have even been able to create enough of their handicraft to sell and generate much needed income!
The community center includes a full high-school size indoor gymnasium/multipurpose room to host sports, powwows, events and more to provide a safe and constructive environment for youth and their families, and build a vibrant community through sports and exercise.
Farmers’ market year-round to provide healthy food access points and income for seasonal growers
Warehouse and expanded storage for distribution of food, medical, educational, and clothing needs
Public Wi-Fi and computers help students succeed with reliable Internet connections
Teaching kitchen and cannery for home economics and mass food prep
Indoor gymnasium and multi-purpose room to host sports, powwows, events, and more
Multiple arts, music, and sewing classrooms allow for simultaneous classes
Outdoor area supports gardening, sports, social events, and more
The center is open to all members of the Pine Ridge community, including youth, adults, and elders.
We offer cultural education, food security programs, sports and recreation, financial literacy, sewing and beading classes, and much more.
You can support by volunteering, donating, or attending events. Visit our contact page for more information.
After much anticipation, the Oyate Ta Kola Ku Food Pantry is now almost ready to open its doors on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Announced
According to the planting calendar developed by The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the last spring frost of the year on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in
In 2023, the Medicine Root Garden program, operated by our partner on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, the Oyate Teca Project, trained or assisted 62
The Running Strong for American Indian Youth® Oyate Ta Kola Ku (Friend of All Nations) Community Center formally opened its doors to the residents of
Since the start of 2023, at least since the notoriously brutal and frigid weather on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation on the Great Plains of
The Oyate Teca Project on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation held a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training course on April 14, 15 and 16,
Address:
39 Wakpala Ave Kyle, SD, US 57752
Phone: +1 605-441-9892
Email: Sample@email.com
Opening Hour:
| Saturday | 10 AM–12 AM |
| Sunday | 10 AM–11 PM |
| Monday | 10 AM–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 10 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM–12 AM |
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🎄✨ Our Christmas Make & Take Was a Huge Success! ✨🎄
Thank you to everyone who came out tonight! We had people of all ages filling the Oyate Ta Kola Ku Center — making cool holiday crafts, playing games, winning sweet treats and prizes, and even getting to take pictures with Santa! We’re glad everyone enjoyed a fun, festive evening together. ❤️🎨🍬
A huge thank you to our amazing staff for all their hard work setting up, organizing, and making this event happen. We appreciate you! 🙌✨
We love seeing our community come together like this. Happy holidays, everyone! 🎅🏽🌟 ... See MoreSee Less
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
GREAT TURN OUT FOR THE MAKE AND TAKE! ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
We are setting up for the Christmas Make and Take!
So many fun things to do! Games! Prizes! Treats! Starting at 5:00pm! Bring the family over! Fun for all ages! ... See MoreSee Less
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🎄✨ TONIGHT! CHRISTMAS MAKE & TAKE ✨🎄
Join us tonight from 5–7 PM at the Oyate Ta Kola Ku Center for a cozy, creative evening of holiday fun!
Bring the family and come make festive Christmas crafts to kick off the season. ❤️🎨
PLUS — we’ll also have a couple little game booths with prizes and treats for the kids (and the kids at heart)! 🎁🍬✨
This is a fun, free community night, and we can’t wait to see everyone there! 🎅🏽🌟 ... See MoreSee Less
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🎄✨ THANK YOU, KYLE! ✨🎄
Thank you to everyone who entered the 7th Annual Parade of Lights! Although the parade was a little smaller this year, we truly appreciate every single entry and your commitment to bringing holiday magic to our little town. Your lights, creativity, and spirit mean so much to us. ❤️🌟 A special thank you to Corrine Z., and Alice J and family for always entering in all the parades and getting involved! As well as our MRD tribal council rep Jeremy Rosales! Your participation is truly appreciated!
A big thank you as well to everyone who bundled up and came out to watch. Your support keeps these traditions alive. We sincerely apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience on such a cold night. ❄️💛
🎨✨ And the holiday fun continues!
Join us TONIGHT for our Christmas Make & Take at the Oyate Ta Kola Ku Center — a warm, creative evening for all ages.
🏠🏢 PLUS — good news!
The Christmas House Decorating Contest and the Business Decorating Contest registration deadline has been extended until Wednesday!
There’s still time to enter and show off your holiday spirit — we’d love to see your lights and creativity shine! ✨
Thank you all for helping us light up Kyle! 🎅🏽🎄✨
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4 CommentsComment on Facebook
We have some great Prizes, come early, get something to eat, and enjoy an afternoon of bingo! ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
We have moved the house and business decorating contest registration deadline to Wednesday December 3rd. We will judge Wednesday night. Enter if you haven’t already! ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
We are waiting for a police escort then we’ll start the parade ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentsComment on Facebook