Oyate is a Native organization working to see that our lives and histories are portrayed honestly, and so that all people will know our stories belong to us. For Indian children, it is as important as it has ever been for them to know who they are and what they come from. For all children, it is time to know and acknowledge the truths of history. Only then will they come to have the understanding and respect for each other that now, more than ever, will be necessary for life to continue.

The great Lakota leader, Tatanka Iotanka—Sitting Bull—said, “Let us put our minds together and see what life we will make for our children.”  Our work is to nurture in our children a sense of self and community. Our hope is that they will grow up healthy and whole.

Our work includes critical evaluation of books and curricula with Indian themes, conducting of “Teaching Respect for Native Peoples” workshops and institutes; administration of a small resource center and reference library; and distribution of children’s, young adult, and teacher books and materials, with an emphasis on writing and illustration by Native people.

Our hope is that by making many excellent books available to encourage many more, especially from Native writers and artists. Oyate, our organiztion’s name, is the Dakota word for people. It was given to us by a Dakota friend.

Click here to read our policy statement.

Our website is a growing and changing thing. We thank River Abeje, Marco Palma, Ray Ryan, and Noam Szoke for their work and enthusiasm, guillermo prado for the new design and Max D'ambrosio for making it work. We thank and honor Paula Giese for insisting that we do this, Karen Rudolph for seeing that it got done, Rudolph & Sletten for initial funding, and Ted Wetherbee at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College for hosting our first website.

 

Oyate

330 East Thomson Ave.
Sonoma, California  95476
Telephone (707) 996-6700
Fax (707) 343-1311

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www.oyate.org

Oyate is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. If you value what we do, if you’ve benefited from our evaluative and educational work, please support us by purchasing books and materials directly from us and by making a tax-deductible donation today.

You can donate to Oyate securely online through Network For Good. Click HERE to support Oyate!

Thank you!