Serving the people of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (Lakota Nation) in South Dakota for nearly a century and a half.
The YMCA of the Seven Council Fires
The mission of the YMCA of the Seven Council Fires is "to develop and strengthen the children and families in our Reservation communities so they can fullfill their greatest individual and collective potential, spiritually, mentally, and physically."
The YMCA teaches and encourages the values of wawokiye (generosity), woksape (wisdom), ohitika (bravery) and w a o’hola (respect).
The Sioux YMCA has changed its name in 2022 to the "YMCA of the Oceti Šakowin" or "The YMCA of the Seven Council Fires."
The proper name for the people commonly known as the Sioux is Očeti Šakówiŋ, (Och-et-eeshak-oh-win) meaning Seven Council Fires. The original Sioux tribe was made up of Seven Council Fires. Each of these Council Fires was comprised of individual bands, based on kinship, dialect, and geographic proximity.
Unique in the world
The YMCA of the Seven Council Fires has a Lakota Board of Directors and is supported by a dedicated Board of Trustees. The Y is headquartered in Dupree, South Dakota. It operates youth, recreational and camping programs that serve families spread out among the isolated tribal communities of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation. The service area extends just under 5,000 square miles (about the size of the State of Connecticut). The YMCA of the Seven Council Fires is a member of YMCA of the USA.
Meet YMCA CEO
Andrew Corley
Andrew Corley is the Executive Director/CEO of the YMCA of the Seven Council Fires. He began his YMCA career at Camp Burgess on Cape Cod and has more than a decade of YMCA service. He enjoys running, hiking, biking and walking his dogs, Mello and Murphy.
Who will live in the Tiny Homes
and what exactly are the Twigs?
The YMCA Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, and YMCA staff have a detailed operating plan which includes tenant application and selection process, for the transitional housing, staff and volunteer roles, maintenance, partners and additional support services, safety and security, financial management, rental agreement, and operating manual.
What services will be provided to tenants? What programs will be offered in the Twigs? Click on the button below to read the answers to those questions and more.
Y programs make a difference
After school
The Y's after school program combines study with play, providing homework assistance as well as enrichment projects throughout the school year.
Field trips
The best way to learn about cultures, history, and places, is to go and see them. The Y provides members with those opportunities through field trips.
Day camp
Day camp programs in numerous communities throughout the widespread reaches of the Reservation are offered during the summer months.
For teens
The YMCA works with teenagers to ensure they are engaged, inspired, and encouraged. A summer program is designed to grow leadership skills.
Feeding program
The Y serves more than 18,000 nutritious meals to children and families on the Reservation during the summer months. The Y partners with Meals on Wheels to provide meals to elders in Dupree and other communities.
Global Indiginous Youth Conference
The Global Indigenous Youth Summit (GIYS) is a conference designed to create a safe environment for indigenous and under-represented youth.
YMCA Camp Marrowbone
YMCA Camp Marrowbone, now into its second half-century, provides a safe and supportive environment for kids to learn, explore and grow. The focus is on meeting each camper where they are and working with them to realize their greatest individual and collective potential. The goal is to teach life skills through the character traits of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility and traditional Lakota values. Each week-long camp experience results in new friendships, the opportunity to try a wide variety of activities, and a place to call home. Members of YMCA Alumni, under sponsorship of the Allen-Stone Chapter, send volunteers to camp in late spring each year to help ready the camp facilities for the summer and family campers.