Tiospaye [tee•oh•spy•ah] Extended Family
Photo: Vic Glover
The members of the Afraid of Bear – American Horse Tiospaye respect and practice the traditions of the Oglala Sioux.
We are determined that these ways of life remain sources of pride and strength to our family, our community, and the world.
Like our ancestors, we are willing to share our traditions and knowledge with the broader world – the four directions – and work with allies and supporters to celebrate and document our invaluable heritage and practices.
Vision
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We envision a unified, inclusive Tiospaye that brings the strength and inspiration of deep connection to ancestral knowledge and spiritual practice to solving problems faced daily by Oglala people and indigenous populations across the globe.
Upcoming Ceremonies & Events
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Welcoming Back the Thunders
March 20 2025
In the Wind Cave of the Black Hills, our point of origin and emergence, youth will offer sacred food to welcome back the Thunders and usher in the Spring.
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Elders Speak at Bioneers
March 27-30, 2025
Loretta Afraid of Bear and Katsi Cook will be speaking at the 36th annual Bioneers conference in Berkeley, CA
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Lakota Ceremony Songs
April 5 and 6, 2025
Tom Cook will hold 2 online sessions to explain the meaning and significance of Lakota Sun Dance songs — a virtual Song Fest!
Focus Areas
Our ancestors believed important things — like seasons, directions, winds, and peoples — came in fours. Our Tiospaye has chosen four focus areas through which we feel we can have the greatest and most lasting impact. We believe addressing critical needs in these areas is vital to the well-being of present and future generations of Oglala people and our broader community.
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Sun Dance
Continuing our tradition of the annual Sun Dance and bringing back the other six of our Seven Sacred Ceremonies, to preserve ceremonial knowledge and bring healing to present and future generations.
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Health
Improving health by promoting food security and access to medical care for people on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
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Stewardship
Sharing the knowledge that has come from generations of land stewardship, as we seek to reclaim the responsibility of stewardship for the Black Hills, the place most sacred to the Oglala Sioux.
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Legacy
Collecting, recording, and archiving our ancestral knowledge, ensuring that future generations know their legacy and can carry it forward.
