Our Story
Oyáte Wóokiye, meaning “For the People” in the Lakota language, was founded with a deep commitment to supporting the well-being, confidence, leadership, and holistic health of Lakota youth of the Oglala Lakota Nation, both on and off the Pine Ridge community. Our mission is to reduce fatalities and suicides among Lakota youth by providing recreational sports and alternative programming opportunities in underserved areas across Indian Country, while also strengthening families by reconnecting them to the rich Lakota culture and virtues.
The organization was founded in honor of Toby Ray Eagle Bull, a young Lakota man whose vision of a skateboard park in the community came to life after his tragic passing in 2002. In his memory, Toby’s family and community began the first annual “Toby Classic” skateboard competition in 2003, which has since become a major annual event. In 2011, Oyáte Wóokiye helped establish the first and largest skate park in South Dakota, the Toby Eagle Bull Memorial Skate Park – Wounded Knee 4-Directions, providing a safe and positive space for youth. The “Toby Classic” has grown to include over 50 skaters, ages 5 to 30+, and attracts hundreds of community members each year.
In addition to youth development through skateboarding, Oyáte Wóokiye also operates the Wicozani Wellness Program, which promotes holistic wellness through practices such as yoga, meditation, reiki, and the Lakota Way of Life. The program addresses historical and generational trauma while nurturing physical, emotional, and spiritual healing among youth and veterans of the Oglala Lakota Nation.
Our newest initiative, Wóyute ki Etaŋ Pežúta Oyáye – Journey with Food as Medicine, merges cultural heritage with health education by teaching youth the importance of traditional foods for holistic wellness, infusing modern cuisine with Indigenous ingredients and sovereign nourishment. The program empowers participants to prepare and learn the value of foods such as bison, chokecherries, wild rice, corn, and turnips — strengthening cultural connection and promoting health.
At the heart of all our programs is Wíčozani (good health and spiritual wealth) — a Lakota philosophy that teaches the balance of mind, body, and spirit for true wellness. By integrating these traditional teachings with contemporary wellness practices, Oyáte Wóokiye supports resilience, healing, and transformation, empowering the Lakota community to reclaim health and identity.
“Today when you come and see the competition in person at the Toby Eagle Bull Memorial Skate Park, you see children laughing, a community working together to protect the beauty of the event, and you see a family and community who refused to allow tragedy to define them, instead choosing to celebrate the love they had for their relative.” – Lakota community member.
We are humbled to have been invited to share Oyáte Wóokiye's mission with the Hot Springs community. This new chapter is built on partnership with the individuals, families, and local advocates who have welcomed this work. We are deeply grateful for their collaboration and trust, and we look forward to walking forward together—building bridges through wellness, uplifting all youth, and fostering kinship in a spirit of shared hope