Owe Aku works to bring back our way of life which includes humanity's role in nature: we are a part of it, not outside of it, not having dominion over it. To achieve this Owe Aku works to stop mining that contaminates our water and land. Owe Aku has reestablished programs that utilize the wisdom of our ancestors in combatting the effects of inter-generational trauma caused by colonization and the intentional attempts for hundreds of years to destroy our culture.
In the Lakota Language Owe Aku means Bring Back the Way. In bringing back the way, we strive to offer alternatives, based on traditional knowledge, that respect the changing environmental conditions of Mother Earth, and which will ultimately benefit the peoples and ecosystems of the planet. The environment, upon which we are all dependent, is no longer just an issue for Indigenous peoples. On every continent, Indigenous cultures offer viable alternatives because we recognize the Earth, not as a commodity to be exploited, but as a relative that protects and preserves our very existence and the existence of future human generations.
Decisions are always made collectively first with the grassroots leaders of our tiyospaye (extended family or clan) and our direct allies. The people of our tiyospaye founded Owe Aku Bring Back the Way and have continued to direct its activities and make decisions based on the traditional Lakota principle of consensus.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR WORK, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.OWEAKUINTERNATIONAL.ORG AND CLICK ON THE DONATE BUTTON ON THE HOME PAGE. WOPILA!
Owe Aku's work is centered on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in present-day South Dakota, the home of the Oglala Lakota people. For information on any of our program work please contact:
For administrative and development please contact:
Our approach is local, from within the tiyospaye and, as a result, our reach is international.
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