Our Story

Oyáte Wóokiye: For the People

Our Mission:  To strengthen families and connect communities through wellness—yoga, skateboarding, meditation, Reiki, and the Lakota way of life—to empower and uplift our Native youth.

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. Our vision 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.

Today, when you come to the competition at the Toby Eagle Bull Memorial Skate Park, you see children laughing, a community working together, and a family and community who chose to celebrate love in the face of tragedy ~ Pine Ridge, SD Community Member 

Our Programs:

- Wíčozani Wellness Program:  Promotes holistic wellness through yoga, meditation, reiki, and Lakota teachings to address historical and generational trauma while nurturing healing among youth and veterans.

- Wóyute ki Etaŋ Pežúta Oyáye – Journey with Food as Medicine:  Merges cultural heritage with health education by teaching youth the importance of traditional foods such as bison, chokecherries, wild rice, corn, and turnips, empowering them through sovereign nourishment and cultural connection.

Our Heart:

At the core of all we do is Wíčozani—the Lakota philosophy of good health and spiritual wealth—teaching 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.

Coming to Mni Kata (Hot Springs):

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.