JOIN THE MOVEMENT
At Rooted Winds, our mission is to honor and preserve the rich heritage of indigenous culture while empowering youth, families, and communities through a holistic approach to mind, body, and soul wellness. We cultivate a deeper connection to the land and our roots by providing programs in farming, education, and agricultural training, and offering transformative experiences in holistic health, earth building, and spiritual healing retreats.
Through the power of movement, art, yoga, indigenous dance, and animal therapy, we inspire healing and self-expression for all ages. Rooted Winds is committed to uplifting our indigenous communities, addressing critical issues like human trafficking and poverty by securing funds and resources. We also promote sustainable tourism in Colorado, sharing our traditions and the beauty of our culture with visitors from around the world, while fostering a compassionate environment for animal rescue and welfare. Together, we grow stronger, more connected, and rooted in the winds of our ancestors.
DONATE TODAY
-2.png)
Warmth for Pine Ridge: Winter 2025 Campaign
This winter we are setting the intention to raise $10,000 by November 15th to keep lights and heat on for Lakota families and elders on Pine Ridge Reservation.
Why?
Because Pine Ridge is facing one of the harshest realities in North America.
With unemployment at 97%, many households are left without reliable heat or electricity during freezing winters.
Corruption has stripped away promised resources, forcing the most vulnerable elders, children, and families, to risk frostbite, illness, and even death.
Your gift changes that.
Every contribution directly provides warmth and survival essentials such as propane, kerosene, heaters, blankets, gloves, socks, caps, boots, hand warmers, canned goods, water, and basic toiletries.
Each dollar brings light, heat, and hope to someone who would otherwise be left in the cold.
But this is about more than survival.
It is about legacy.
When you give, you are not only helping keep the Lakota people safe this winter.
You are also joining us in restoring cultural programs, food sovereignty projects, holistic health initiatives, and education rooted in the Lakota way of life.
This is the heartbeat of Rooted Winds, weaving healing, art, and job creation between Pine Ridge and Colorado to uplift the next generation.
Here is how you can help right now
-
Donate today. Every $50 keeps a family warm for a week. Every $100 lights up a home.
-
Set up a recurring donation so your support continues beyond DECEMBER 15th, fueling cultural revitalization and long term healing.
-
Share this campaign. Your voice amplifies their voice.
✨ Imagine this: you open your heart now, and by winter’s first snow, an elder is sitting in a warm room, safe, because of you.
We need you.
The Lakota Nation needs you.
Let us raise $10,000 by DECEMBER 15th so together we can ensure that no elder, no child, and no family is left without heat or light this winter.
Your gift is not just charity.
It is medicine.
It is justice.
It is remembrance.
THE TRUTH IS THE LAKOTA NATION ARE THE KEEPERS OF MOST CULTURE (SONG, DRUM, DANCE, PRAYERS, INIPI, SUNDANCE & WE PRACTICE IN NORTH AMERICA DUE TO THE HEART OF SHARING THEIR CULTURE WITH ALL RELATIONS. ROOTED WINDS IS DEDICATED TO ENSURING THE FUTURE FOR NOT JUST THE LAKOTA BUT ALL SEEKERS OF THIS WAY OF LIFE, ESPECIALLY RELATIVES WHO ARE SEEKING REMBERANCE AND REMOVED FROM THEIR CULTURE.
Services
SUPPORT SUNDANCE
SUNDANCE 2026
Support the Sacred Sundance and Hąblečeya
The Sundance is the living heart of the Lakota Nation, a sacred ceremony of prayer, endurance, and renewal for the people, the land, and all beings.
At its center stands the Tree of Life, symbolizing the connection between Heaven and Earth.
Dancers fast, sing, and offer their bodies in prayer for the healing of humanity.
For generations, this ceremony was banned by the U.S. government. From 1883 until 1978, the Sundance and Vision Quest were outlawed, forcing families to pray in secret.
Yet the people never stopped.
They hid sacred pipes, whispered songs, and carried these ways through unimaginable hardship.
When the American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed, the songs rose again as proof that prayer can never die.
Today, the Swallow family including David Swallow Jr., Nyla Helper, Alfred Swallow, and Jarrett Jealous of Him continue to protect and host the Sundance and Hąblečeya on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Their commitment is service to the Creator and the people. They receive no institutional funding and rely fully on community support to prepare, feed, and sustain hundreds of participants who come to pray.
We are raising $24,100 to fund both ceremonies this year. Each requires groceries, wood, water, sanitation, tobacco, drumming, herbs, sewing materials, and fuel. Every dollar goes directly to the family and the ceremonial grounds with no overhead or outside administration.
Budget and Supplies Needed:
for One Ceremony Axes $500
Ropes $200
Groceries for 400 people $3,000
Porta potties and sanitation $1,200
Electric lights, cords, generators $400
Drummers $2,000
Miscellaneous supplies $1,500
Tobacco $900
Wood $1,000
Water $500
Herbs $200
First Aid $150
Sewing materials $700
Gas and fuel $800
These ceremonies are not events.
They are living prayers that sustain the balance of life.
Your contribution, whether financial or material, is an act of reciprocity.
You help keep the sacred fire burning and ensure the next generation stays connected to their culture and Creator.
Every gift is prayer in motion.
Every offering keeps the circle alive.
Mission
Our Vision
Rooted Winds is dedicated to bridging nations through the sharing of the Lakota way of life. Our focus is on promoting understanding and respect for indigenous cultures.
Projects
Our Initiatives
Our projects focus on cultural preservation, educational programs, and community engagement designed to highlight the beauty of the Lakota way of life.
Cultural Workshops
These workshops teach the Lakota language and traditions to both Native and non-Native participants.
Community Events
We organize events that foster community interaction and celebrate diverse heritages.
Scholarship Programs
Supporting young Lakota students in their educational journeys through funded scholarships.
Awareness Campaigns
Promoting awareness of indigenous issues through local and national campaigns.