Wo'Takuye Oyate: Kinship Nation Inter-Tribal Network
Our Mission
With our partners, it is our aim as community relatives to support native youth and their families, especially those in the juvenile diversion program.
The mission of the Wo’takuye Oyate Kinship Nation Inter-Tribal Network is to foster a community kinship system that creates a sense of interconnectedness, mutual support, cultural vitality, and holistic wellbeing for Native Americans through grassroots collaboration and cultural engagement.
Our Guiding Principles
Our Purpose & Values
Purpose
To provide opportunities for Indigenous peoples to come together as relatives, engage in cultural practices, and support community wellbeing.
Our purpose is actionable through the promotion of ceremonies, cultural activities, celebrations, and other programs selected and developed through the servant leadership of community members.
Values
Kinship, sovereignty, & respect for all our relations
As an inter-tribal community, moving forward with the values of kinship, sovereignty, and respect will promote healthy relationships among our diverse population. Furthermore, we seek to continually develop our vision in such a way as to define practices, expectations and actions that promote traditional values, ways of thinking, and healthy relationships.
Practices & Guidelines
Our values inform our practice guidelines
Expectations
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It is the expectation that people be treated with respect regardless of religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, or tribal affiliation.
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Respect for our non-human relatives will be incorporated into our practices in a way that creates a system of care for the environment and community.
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As peoples with diverse backgrounds and tribal affiliations/practices we recognize that spiritual, familial, and cultural traditions are similarly diverse.
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Our practices and programs will promote emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing.
Actions
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Respectful actions include refraining from harassing or threatening behavior, exclusion on the basis of religion, sexual orientation, gender, or race, or the use of discriminatory language.
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We will be mindful of our environmental impact when planning and promoting events and constructing programs.
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We will work to link one another to community resources and services.
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(kinship) We will work to build a bridge of kinship and promote a sense of belonging in the broader Aberdeen community through engagement with city events and organizations.
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We will honor the sovereignty of our peers by refraining from coercive practices that may infringe upon their autonomy.
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As a community, we seek to preserve and redefining spiritual and cultural traditions, language, stories, songs, ceremonies.
Youth Leadership Circle
Youth who are part of the diversion court program would integrate and graduate into a youth leadership circle on a voluntary basis.
Open to students in grades 7-12, this group offers guidance for personal growth and acts as a continuing care program for graduates of the juvenile diversion initiative, ensuring ongoing mentorship and resources.
All circles are led by intergenerational community members, emphasizing grassroots participation and cultural ownership.
Maske Circle (Female Friends)
This circle creates spaces for Native women to come together, share experiences through cultural activities, arts circles, events, and mutual support.
All circles are led by intergenerational community members, emphasizing grassroots participation and cultural ownership.
Kola Circle (Male Friends)
This circle creates spaces for Native women to come together, share experiences through cultural activities, arts circles, events, and support one another.
All circles are led by intergenerational community members, emphasizing grassroots participation and cultural ownership.
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