Aŋpétu Záptaŋ iyúškiŋyaŋ yuhá po ye! I wish you a happy and joyful Friday!
We just launched the seventh-annual Tatanka Trot!🏃🏽
Aiglus̄taƞ Iyankal (Run Wild)! This years' Tatanka Trot will encourage you to RUN WILD! Explore the outdoors, appreciate the land we have, honor the living things that make the wild WILD!
More than a run/walk, it's a gathering to honor and recognize the history of our land, appreciate the outdoors, and uplift Indigenous knowledge. This event is exemplified by our very-own Wolakota Buffalo Range, the largest Native-managed buffalo herd IN THE WORLD at 1,200+ head, and the inspiration behind this event!
As a participant, you are encouraged to run or walk on Thanksgiving day and share with us the Indigenous name of the land in which you run today. Every participant that donates $40, receives their very own 2026 Tatanka Trot cap!🧢
Donations support Sicangu CDC, whose Native-led solutions are revitalizing the economy and culture of the Sicangu Oyate, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and creating models for place-based systems transformation. Learn more about our interconnected approach to transforming our food, health, education, and housing systems on our website.
Walking Trails at Keya Wakpala🌳
Trails and walking paths are one of the community's top priorities for the Keya Wakpala Housing Development. This update shares what the community told Trust for Public Land and our team at in-person events, in an online survey, in focus groups, and on a feedback form.
Through our conversations with the community, these six led the list:
Community gathering space
Community nature walks
Public restrooms
Trail ground lighting
Hydration stations
Outdoor education
What We Heard
Community members want a space for walking, biking, running, climbing, reading, picnics, and sitting quietly by the water. For kids and families, we were asked for playgrounds, splash pads, climbing walls, picnic tables, soft play surfaces, and parking close to play areas. To keep the park welcoming in all four seasons, it was suggested a splash pad that turns into an ice rink in winter, plus lights, shelters, sledding, and movie nights. Many community members want food and plants, including sage, timpsila, sweetgrass, chokecherry, chansasa (red willow), berries and fruit trees, along with medicine gardens, a food forest, and a permanent home for the farmers market. Additionally, it was noted that there were asks for stories and traditions, such as storytelling, a rotating story walk along the trail, drum and dance, star knowledge, beading, and powwows.
Making It Safe
People told us they need to feel safe before they will stay at a park. These ideas included good lighting, such as solar-powered trail lights and emergency call poles, along with clear sight lines and cameras. Also mentioned were regular patrols, clean spaces with trash cans, restrooms, and water stations. Our community has asked for a drug- and alcohol-free space where dogs and people can share the trails safely, with shade, windbreaks, and comfortable seating. Elders and kids need this space most, so it was noted to make these trails accessible for elders and boardwalks that are friendly to kids.
Caring for the Land
This land has a long history of commercial farming, so restoring it is part of the plan. Ideas include native plantings, wetland restoration, a native plant nursery, bat boxes, and education about birds, pollinators, and how wetlands clean water.
A Promise to Keep
Our community has heard many promises over the years, and some teens doubt the plans. We will keep sharing what we hear, show how your input shapes the design, and keep the community updated at every step.
We appreciate all of the feedback and participation from community members to ensure that this space is built by the community, for the community. Wopila!