Whistling Winds Counseling and Therapy Services Inc

Shane Patterson did his second MDP Field Placement with Whistling Winds Counseling and Therapy Services Inc. This field placement undertook a cultural approach to use the Sundance teachings, ceremonies, as well as the preparation and planning as a method and framework to integrate community based therapeutic engagement with Whistling Winds participants.

This occurred through activities through building and nurturing relationships with youth, land-based learning, participation in pledge meetings, harvesting wood-rocks-medicines, listening to (Dakota) narratives about the Wiwang Waci (Dancing to The Sun Ceremony), helping with the sweat lodge ceremonies, keeping the sacred fire burning for eight days, helping in the kitchen, assisting elders and knowledge keepers, making tobacco ties and prayer sticks for the lodge, preparing the arbor to mention respectively. 

"The diligence and robust actions of the youth in their efforts were so admired. I observed the collective actions of youth, volunteers, Action Therapists, Sundancer’s, and overall community coming together to make the Sundance a success...Bringing relatives together in a good way and being a good relative are important fundamentals for keeping the sacredness of the Sundance Way of Life"