“Our Mission”
Wakanyeja Wokiciyaka is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reunifying foster children with their families while providing culturally grounded services that support their education, social development, mental health, and safety. Rooted in the Lakota way of life, we strive to create a nurturing environment where every child feels a deep sense of belonging and is empowered to develop a strong mind and honorable character.
Through our commitment to family unification and compassionate care, Wakanyeja Wokiciyaka seeks to brighten the future of all our indigenous children and strengthen our community as a whole. We serve as a safe haven where every child is valued, supported, and encouraged to grow within their culture and identity.
Harold G. Frazier Chief Executive Officer Executive Director Executive Director of Development
Lance J. Frazier Chief Executive Officer Assistant Executive Director
Who we are
Anpetu Waste!
My name is Harold G. Frazier, and I am an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
Anpetu Waste!
My name is Lance J. Frazier, and I am an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
Together, we are the proud founders of Wakanyeja Wokiciyaka, a nonprofit organization rooted in the Lakota values of family, community, and compassion. We have been happily married for five years and are blessed to be fathers to six wonderful children. Since October 2020, we have also served as foster fathers, an experience that has deepened our commitment to supporting children in need of love, stability, and cultural connection.
Through Wakanyeja Wokiciyaka, we strive to give back to our people by creating a safe and nurturing space where foster children can heal, grow, and reconnect with their Lakota heritage.
About Wakanyeja Wokiciyaka
Wakanyeja Wokiciyaka (Voices of Our Sacred Children) is a vital Indigenous-led initiative dedicated to healing and strengthening families across the South Dakota reservations. We are driven by a singular, sacred goal: to ensure the reunification of our children with their families and community, thereby interrupting the devastating legacy of generational trauma.
Our Approach: Healing Through Culture
We recognize that the crisis of family separation stems from historical trauma and systemic barriers. Our solution is rooted in the very fabric of the Lakota way of life. We provide more than just stability; we offer a powerful cultural immersion designed to restore identity, connection, and spiritual wellness for both the children and their families.
We break barriers of trauma by incorporating:
Comprehensive Care: We offer a continuum of safe and culturally appropriate long-term, short-term, and emergency placement options for all children from the South Dakota reservations.
Spiritual Foundation: We heal the spirit through ancient practice, hosting Inipi (Sweat Lodge) ceremonies and integrating essential ceremonial practices into daily life.
Traditional Skills & Sovereignty: We teach vital skills for self-sufficiency and respect for the land, including growing medicine, gardening, harvesting plants and traditional meat, and achieving self-food sovereignty.
Cultural Arts & Language: We restore pride and connection through hands-on education in making the drum, skinning and tanning a buffalo hide, sewing, creating ribbon skirts and dance regalia, and active instruction in the Lakota language.
Wakanyeja Wokiciyaka is not just an organization; it is a movement to bring our children home, secure their cultural identity, and restore the strength and sovereignty of the Lakota family.
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