Tribal Wisdom Foundation provided financial
and physical support for the 2000 Black Hills Woksape (Wisdom) Ride.
Volunteers from TWF cooked, moved camp, and provided
support as needed on the
60 mile educational and spiritual journey conducted by riders on horseback
and bicycle. The ride began at Harney Peak on May 24th and ended at Bear
Butte on May 28th. The purpose of the ride was to create awareness and
educate the next generation of Lakota and other nations about their
history in the Black Hills. Students and teachers from Grass Mountain
School, a traditional Lakota education facility located on the Rosebud
Reservation, formed the core group of the ride, which provided an
opportunity for them to experience what the Lakota believe to be the
center of their land. Days were spent riding the Centennial Trail, where
the Black Hills served as the classroom. Each evening was spent listening
to teachings from elders in a traditional camp. According to Don Moccasin,
the Lakota teacher who coordinated the ride, the experience was a “healing
for all nations”, and created awareness of the Lakota’s land taken
when gold was discovered in 1874. The Lakota believe that the earth’s
survival is dependent upon the next generation learning the relatedness
that exists and stewardship required between man and the earth. The Wisdom
Ride was an opportunity to help create that awareness for all nations. The
next ride is scheduled for the Summer of 2002.
moved camp, and provided
support as needed on the
60 mile educational and spiritual journey conducted by riders on horseback
and bicycle. The ride began at Harney Peak on May 24th and ended at Bear
Butte on May 28th. The purpose of the ride was to create awareness and
educate the next generation of Lakota and other nations about their
history in the Black Hills. Students and teachers from Grass
Mountain
School, a traditional Lakota education facility located on the Rosebud
Reservation, formed the core group of the ride, which provided an
opportunity for them to experience what the Lakota believe to be the
center of their land. Days were spent riding the Centennial Trail, where
the Black Hills served as the classroom. Each evening was spent listening
to teachings from elders in a traditional camp. According to Don Moccasin,
the Lakota teacher who coordinated the ride, the experience was a “healing
for all nations”, and created awareness of the Lakota’s land taken
when gold was discovered in 1874. The Lakota believe that the earth’s 
survival is dependent upon the next generation learning the relatedness
that exists and stewardship required between man and the earth. The Wisdom
Ride was an opportunity to help create that awareness for all nations. The
next ride is scheduled for the Summer of 2002.