Name: Emilee Swallow
I am from Pine Ridge SD, and I am Half native with Lakota on my dad's side, and half Latino from my mom's side. We used to tease my brother and I saying we’re Indian tacos. I grew up in a home on the pine ridge Indian reservation isolated from the “Rez Mentality” my parents made it apparent to attempt raising children's surrounded by Lakota culture. They did, I was born then put straight into sweat lodge, being baptized by the steam of the stones. From my dad I grew up learning how to hold myself in hard times, how to breathe and calm myself down, along with giving us purpose and reason through his Lakota teachings, stories and songs. From my mom I learned how to listen to myself, how to hear my heart, how to communicate and care for others, along with giving us the nurture we needed to grow. I knew that whatever I chose to do in my life, I can do it.
Why do you do what you do?
I am a creative curious little girl at heart. Growing up I’ve always observed how our people are the way they are now. I understood that our people need community to help each other grow, to be together with no judgment. I wanted to help people because my family created an environment where I couldn’t imagine seeing people without the love and care I received as a child, but I didn’t know how to help without running myself to the ground. Project venture has been an answer to my prayers, a community that helps each other grow by prioritizing healthy challenges.
As an Experiential Educator with Project Venture, I guide and facilitate the youth during all Project Venture programming in schools, after school, day trips, and multi day camps. SD crew and I currently work with Red Cloud Indian School and Wolf Creek Elementary School. Our focus is to implement the 12 Lakota values and culture into project venture programming for our community. Working with another nonprofit, Upijata Arts Community Center, who works with children as well but through the arts helps me understand more of what our children needs are for their emotional healing. Along with learning and expanding my vocabulary to fit the needs of the wonderful children we are with every week.
When I'm not at Project Venture, you can find me working towards my art business, Wani Wacin Art Studio and the nonprofit I mentioned above, Upijata arts Community Center. I am an all-around artist who specializes in mixed media arts, sculpting, drawing, photography, painting, and I am working towards getting better at acting, filming, animation, identifying plants, traditional arts, embroidery, guitar, writing and singing. My dream is to continue growing with children and help them at Upijata arts/Project venture. As well as creating my own cinematic studio on my homelands of pine ridge Indian reservation in Wani Wacin Art Studio.