September 3, 2009 - The Cheyenne River Youth Project

Cheyenne River
Youth Project
®
®
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cheyenne River Youth Project
Contact: East Lincoln Street
P.O. Box 410
Eagle Butte, SD 57625
Julie Garreau
(605) 964-8200
julie@indianyouth.org
CHEYENNE RIVER YOUTH PROJECT® VOLUNTEERS HOST
INTERNATIONAL FAIR AT COKATA WICONI TEEN CENTER
EAGLE BUTTE, SD (September 3, 2009) — Volunteering
with the Cheyenne River Youth Project® (CRYP) in Eagle
Butte, South Dakota, provides men and women from
around the world with the opportunity to learn about
and experience Lakota culture. It also gives the local
community a chance to learn about diverse world cultures
— and cuisines.
On Thursday, August 20, long-term CRYP volunteers
hosted the Cokata Wiconi International Fair at the youth
project’s East Lincoln Street campus. Held in the Cokata
Wiconi Teen Center’s Internet Cafe, the international
fair featured a selection of “stalls” where guests could
learn about the featured country or region and sample its
cuisine.
All ages turned out for the first-time event.
“We were thrilled, because we got families and young children as well as teenagers,” said Alexandra Meador,
youth programs director. “It was fun to watch everyone trying the different foods, asking questions and
socializing with the volunteers.”
At the Germany display, Sophia Tauber, Karla Harms, Anna Pallaske, Henrike Kahl, Linda Zech and Alina
Nagel tempted passers-by with such culinary offerings as pasta salad, meatballs and potato pancakes with
applesauce. At the New Zealand table, guests could indulge a sweet tooth with homemade trifle — or take a
walk on the adventurous side with Kiwi volunteers Kieran Buckham, Petrina Hennessy and Carole Spice, who
wielded a tube of Vegemite.
“All the kids have tried it,” Hennessy and Spice commented at the event, observing that the dark brown, salty,
yeasty concoction is deeply beloved Down Under but is not fully appreciated in this hemisphere.
At Megan “Jasper” McCallister’s table, guests could sample South American thanks to her study-abroad
experiences. They could also discover an all-American treat: Buckeye candy, since McCallister hails from Ohio.
Wiyaka Chasing Hawk, CRYP’s wellness coordinator, had a table as well. Here, guests could sample the
traditionally prepared, pounded, dried buffalo meat that was a staple for Lakota warriors. As they tasted,
Chasing Hawk talked about related Lakota culture and history.
CRYP’s staff and volunteers came up with the Cokata Wiconi
International Fair concept as a direct result of planning for the
organization’s first annual board of directors meeting, held August 22.
“Our PR manager’s husband, Richard Steinberger, was coming to town
for the meeting as well, and he volunteered to prepare a fancy fourcourse meal for the staff and board members that would be served the
night before,” explained Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director.
“He’s from Germany, so his dishes have a European flair. We got to
thinking, wouldn’t it be great to share these different foods and flavors
with the kids?”
She said the volunteers loved the idea and immediately began
preparing menus and shopping lists for their own special event.
“So much of what we do on a daily basis develops organically like
this,” Garreau said. “We planned the dinner for the board and staff
as a special icebreaker before the meeting, but also as a dry run for a
potential fundraising dinner at Cokata Wiconi. We never expected to
generate a new youth event as well, but here we are — and due to its
success, international fairs are here to stay.”
Meador observed that future fairs may focus on one
country at a time.
“That way, we can spend more time and resources on
each country, offering more foods as well as a more
well-rounded educational experience,” she explained.
“And each volunteer will have a chance to lead
his or her own project, with the other volunteers in
supporting roles. It’ll develop leadership and teamwork
in our volunteer corps, and it’ll be so much fun for our
youth participants and their families because we can
host the fairs on a regular basis. We’re all very excited
about the possibilities.”
Garreau agreed.
“The international fair proved, once again, that our
volunteers are more than young people providing a service — they are ambassadors,” she said. “They come
from countries around the world, and they share their cultures with us as they’re learning about ours.
“So many of our volunteers are returning for the second and third times, maybe more,” she continued.
“Volunteering here builds connections, and it takes you in directions that you never expected. And that’s very
exciting to all of us here.”
To learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project® and its programs, and for information about making
donations and volunteering, call (605) 964-8200 or visit CRYP’s recently redesigned Web site at www.
lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, visit the youth project’s new
Facebook group page. All group members will receive regular updates through Facebook.
The Cheyenne River Youth Project, founded in 1988, is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing the youth of
the Cheyenne River reservation with access to a vibrant and secure future through a wide variety of culturally sensitive and enduring
programs, projects and facilities that ensure strong, self-sufficient families and communities.