Tokata Etuŋwaŋ Wakaŋyeža Owičakiyapi

04/14/2026

Relatives, Charisse Bordeaux, MS, LPC, NCC, QMHP is offering FREE presentations on understanding 988 as an extension of community in times of su***de, mental health, or substance use crisis, grounded in Medicine Wheel teachings and our cultural teachings.

If your school, program, or community space would like to host, please send a message. There is no cost to bring this to your space.

Wopila to Lost & Found and the Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board for developing this community presentation.

04/14/2026

We’re excited to invite parents, caregivers, and community members to join us for a Trauma-Informed Parenting session at the Horse Creek Community Building.

Many programs are working together to bring this event to the public, and we’re grateful to come together in a good way to support families and community wellness.

This space is open, supportive, and practical. We’ll talk about how trauma impacts children’s behavior, emotions, and development, and share tools you can actually use at home. We’ll also connect these ideas to Lakota values and the strengths already within our families and communities.

🗓 Wednesday, April 29th, 2026
⏰ Dinner at 5:30 PM | Presentation at 6:00 PM
📍 Horse Creek Community Building
There will be a vision board activity, door prizes, and resources you can take home.

All questions are welcome. Come as you are. Bring a friend or family member. We hope to see you there.

03/19/2026

Please join us today in St. Francis at 5pm! Open to the public.

Trauma-Informed Parenting presentation by Charisse Bordeaux, LPC, NCC, QMHP at the St Francis Community Building on March 19th from 5-8:30pm ❣️❣️

This session will help parents and caregivers understand how trauma affects children’s emotions, behavior, and development. Families will learn practical trauma-informed strategies they can use at home to support children’s emotional regulation, relationships, and decision-making, while connecting these ideas to Lakota values and community strengths. Families will also receive a resource folder with tools and information they can continue using at home.

There will also be a meal, door-prizes and a vision board making activity ❤️ feel free to pass this flyer along and we’ll see you there ❣️✨

In collaboration with Wiconi Wakan Health and Healing Center, RST Childcare, Tokata Etuŋwaŋ Wakaŋyeža Owičakiyapi and SFIS Project Aware

03/17/2026

Hello! Come see me today to share a meal and have some family fun. 🌸

This event has been POSTPONED to Tuesday, March 17th, 2026 ‼️

03/15/2026

Trauma-Informed Parenting presentation by Charisse Bordeaux, LPC, NCC, QMHP at the St Francis Community Building on March 19th from 5-8:30pm ❣️❣️

This session will help parents and caregivers understand how trauma affects children’s emotions, behavior, and development. Families will learn practical trauma-informed strategies they can use at home to support children’s emotional regulation, relationships, and decision-making, while connecting these ideas to Lakota values and community strengths. Families will also receive a resource folder with tools and information they can continue using at home.

There will also be a meal, door-prizes and a vision board making activity ❤️ feel free to pass this flyer along and we’ll see you there ❣️✨

In collaboration with Wiconi Wakan Health and Healing Center, RST Childcare, Tokata Etuŋwaŋ Wakaŋyeža Owičakiyapi and SFIS Project Aware

03/13/2026

TEWO is proud to share that several of its members have officially been selected to serve in leadership roles within the South Dakota Native American Counseling Association, holding the positions of President, President-Elect, and Recording Secretary.

The purpose of the South Dakota Native American Counseling Association is to provide an organization for counselors serving Native American students, promote unity and cooperation among Native American counselors, strengthen communication across all areas of Native American education, and create a forum for addressing counseling-related issues impacting Native American students, families, and communities.

These leadership appointments reflect a continued commitment to advocacy, collaboration, and the advancement of culturally grounded counseling practices. Notably, this association is the ONLY statewide Native American counseling association of its kind in the country, making this milestone especially meaningful.

TEWO is honored to have representation in these leadership roles and looks forward to standing alongside fellow counselors across the state, as well as seating additional officers at the upcoming annual SDCA Conference. Together, we will continue building strong relationships, uplifting Native voices in counseling, and moving this work forward for our students, families, and communities.

03/10/2026

TEWO is partnering with community organizations to offer two Trauma-Informed Parenting sessions for parents and caregivers.

Trauma-Informed Parenting: Understanding Trauma and Practical Strategies for Home will be presented by Charisse Bordeaux, LPC, NCC, QMHP.

These sessions will explore how trauma impacts children’s mind, body, emotions, and spirit, and how those impacts can show up in behavior, relationships, and development. Using a holistic perspective that aligns with Lakota values and community strengths, families will learn practical strategies they can use at home to support children’s emotional regulation, connection, and healing.

Dinner will be provided, and families will receive a resource folder with tools and ideas they can continue using at home. There will also be door prizes for participants.

📍 Monday, March 16, 2026
SGU Wakinyan Wanbli Multipurpose Student Center – Commons

📍 Thursday, March 19, 2026
St. Francis Community Building

⏰ 5:00 PM – Dinner
⏰ 6:00 PM – Presentation
⏰ 7:30 PM – Vision Board Activity
⏰ 8:30 PM – Closing

Families and caregivers are welcome to attend.

For more information contact:
Marlies White Hat – (605) 856-8203
Charisse Bordeaux – (605) 515-3511

02/25/2026

Relatives, Charisse Bordeaux, MS, LPC, NCC, QMHP is offering free presentations on understanding 988 as an extension of community in times of su***de, mental health, or substance use crisis, grounded in Medicine Wheel teachings and our cultural teachings.

If your school, program, or community space would like to host, message me. There is no cost to bring this to your space.

Wopila to Lost & Found and the Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board for developing this community presentation.

01/30/2026

TEWO is excited to share that we have officially secured office space on Main Street in Mission, SD! This is an important milestone as we move closer to a fully sustainable mental health program on the Rosebud Reservation.

This space will provide a private and welcoming environment that offers therapeutic services and meaningful one-on-one support with the relatives we will soon serve.

We are deeply grateful for the continued support, encouragement, and belief in this work. We are beyond excited to continue on this journey! Be on the lookout for more information!

01/29/2026

TEWO is honored to share that our own Charisse Bordeaux, MS, LPC, NCC, QMHP will be presenting during SGU Founder’s Week at 1:00 PM on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the Wakíŋyaŋ Waŋblí Multipurpose Center on the Sinte Gleska University campus.

“To Heal a Nation: Understanding Trauma, Grief, and Ways of Coping” will explore how trauma and grief impact individuals, families, and communities on our reservation, and highlight culturally grounded and trauma-informed ways of coping and healing.

This presentation is open to the community. We look forward to gathering in a good way. Please join us in person if you can.

⭐️⭐️ Here is some information for our "Education Day" being held during Founders Week Celebration. 📚🏫👨🏻‍🎓🎒
For more information, please call Scott Herman at (605) 856-8259.

01/06/2026

TEWO is grateful to have started the year off in Oglala Lakota Territory! A special thank you to Wounded Knee School District for welcoming us into your space. We appreciate the opportunity to share our knowledge, exchange classroom strategies, and engage in dialogue that encouraged reflection - not only about the students we serve but about ourselves as educators and helpers.

Our presentation focused on practical, culturally grounded skills that honor Lakota children and adolescents, while supporting educators in responding to behavior with compassion, structure, and connection. At the core of this work is the belief that when we understand behavior through relationship and context, we create stronger, more supportive learning environments.

Wópila to April Johnston for coordinating this opportunity, and to Carm Shouldis for mentioning our work. It truly takes a village to grow the hopes and dreams of a bigger, stronger program! 💜✨

01/01/2026

Ómaka Tȟéča Oíyokiphi! As we bring in a new year, we would like to say wopila tȟáŋka to each and every one of you who walks alongside Tokáta Etúŋwaŋ Wakȟáŋyeža Owíčhakhiyapi (TEWO). Your support—whether through encouragement, sharing our work, or believing in our vision—means more than words can express. This program was born from love for the youth, our families, and our community, and it continues to grow because of the trust and care you place in us.

This work is not done alone. It continues through meaningful relationships and a collective belief that healing, education, and wellness are strongest when rooted in culture and community. Thank you to our supporters for standing with us and helping shape what TEWO has become.

Today, we honor the relationships, growth, and shared commitment that brought us where we are today and look forward to what 2026 will bring us 🌻✨