About the Facility
Contributions
The Sanctuary: A Journey of Resilience
Transforming this house into a home for community healing has been no small feat. Like many of our own journeys, the path to completion wasn’t a straight line. After facing significant setbacks with our initial construction, we were left with a site that was stripped down but far from finished. For nearly a year, we searched for the right partners to help us reclaim the vision. Helping hands bridged the gap, bringing us closer to a completed facility that proves "accessible" can also be "stunning."
Investing in Our Shared Future
While we have come so far, our work to make this retreat whole is still in progress. To fully realize a sanctuary that honors every body and nourishes every guest, we are still finishing the interior spaces and vital accessibility features—from roll-in showers and accessible entries to the furniture and supplies that allow this space to reach its full potential.
We believe that when we nourish the person, we claim power for the community. We invite you to be a part of this final chapter. Your contributions allow us to complete this sanctuary, ensuring that everyone -- even and especially those who have been systemically overlooked -- have a space designed specifically to host the growth and expansion of their dignity, autonomy, and nourishment.
The Foundations of Healing: Land, Life, and Spirit
Interconnectedness in Action
Our sanctuary is a living ecosystem where the home, the land, and the plants and animals sharing this space are all focused on one goal: community healing.
We believe that healing begins by looking within. When we find what we need to be whole and nourished, we equip ourselves to reach far beyond our own lives. In a world where the interdependence between individuals and communities is becoming vital, we recognize that our connection to the living beings within the air, water, and land is more fundamental than ever. These grounds are dedicated to providing a safe space for that journey to begin—one person at a time—allowing the collective power of the community to determine its own destination.
Honoring the Land and Its Protectors
Our place of healing rests on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Iháŋktȟuŋwaŋ (Yankton) Dakota Oyate, the historic protectors of the sacred pipe. We acknowledge that our mission of empowerment is deeply intertwined with the history and spirit of this land.
A Connection to Sacred Traditions
A short drive from our site lies the Pipestone National Monument and Quarry, a site of profound spiritual significance. For the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Seven Council Fires) and many other ancestral lineages, these quarries are a vital gathering place. They serve as a sanctuary where tribal nations, justice seekers, and allies unite to honor the cultural practice of pipestone carving—a tradition of deep spiritual importance.
Aligning Our Values
The tradition of gathering to honor a sacred source reflects the very heartbeat of our work. We recognize that true community healing cannot happen without:
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Truth and Historical Accountability: Acknowledging the past to build a healthy and influential future;
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Shared Stewardship: Caring for our resources and each other with mutual respect;
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Justice and Collective Care: Ensuring that those who have been systemically overlooked are recognized as the rightful leaders and protectors of their own narratives.
By rooting ourselves in the values of this land, we commit to a path of change that honors those who came before us, empowers those who lead alongside us today, and creates space for those who have yet to emerge.
Use of Our Space
The land and property will be focused on the healing of community, one individual at a time. This may include retreats, workshops, and community forums. It may include space for meditation and reflection as well as the space to offer forth the skills that we all have to share through fostering community action.
We will focus on self-healing and inter-community collaborations in many forms. Focusing on ways to build community and create new visions collectively around the influence that each of us has to share.