A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION recognizing the nonprofit Oaye Luta Okolakiciye "Moving Forward in a Sacred Way."

WHEREAS, Oaye Luta Okolakiciye is a non-profit organization dedicated to healing and strengthening the communities of Lakota people by collaborating with tribal programs, state agencies, and others to deliver trauma-informed care based in Lakota spirituality, language, and kinship systems to support families and behavioral health on the reservations and surrounding communities in this state; and

WHEREAS, Oaye Luta Okolakiciye's volunteer-driven model delivers selfless service, elder guidance, and commitment to walking alongside those in need with humility, compassion, and belief in the power of sacred recovery; and

WHEREAS, the success of Oaye Luta Okolakiciye demonstrates, through its emphasis on peer support, prevention, and long-term healing over short-term fixes, the strength and resilience of Lakota leadership and the positive impact that culturally appropriate non-profit work can have on individual lives, tribal nations, and the state of South Dakota;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the One Hundred First Legislature of the State of South Dakota, that the state recognizes the transformative contributions of Oaye Luta Okolakiciye, "Moving Forward in a Sacred Way," to Lakota wellness, family stability, and cultural continuity, and commends the organization's faithful service to the people of South Dakota.