Over the past winter the Lale Gurel Metzinger project, a project of
Pathways to Spirit, helped the Wambli Wiconi Tipi (Juvenile Detention
Center on Rosebud Reservation) to purchase new, sturdy canvas tarps
for their women's and men's sweat lodges. The lodges are now well
covered and up and running and four traditional Lakota leaders are
leading these ceremonies at the center. Their participation has made
it possible for the the young people incarcerated there and staff
members to sweat and pray together.

The youth at Wambli Wiconi Tipi are now being given "creative project
time." One of the projects now available to them is sewing
instruction and practice. The youth are first learning hand sewing
from an experienced sewing teacher in preparation to learn to sew on
the donated sewing machines. For those of you who don't sew, sewing
machines are now computerized, and in these times learning to sew on
a computerized machine is a valuable life skill for both women and
men. One of the possible directions for this to go is for the youth
to make their own traditional Lakota dance outfits. Another is
projects that combine sewing and beading skills.

Thank you to Peter Metzinger, who recently held the second
anniversary memorial of his wife Lale's death. If you didn't have
the good fortune to meet Lale Gurel Metzinger during her life (she
died when she was 33), she was a lifelong Greenpeace worker, teacher,
advocate of active, cheerful life, of all children and a friend of
many families on the Rosebud Reservation. The projects funded by her
friends and also by many who never met Lale are given in respect and
in the firm belief in the ability of mankind to bring about world
peace and healing.

Pathways would like to give the Wambli Wiconi Tipi some carpeting to
cover the inside of their sweat lodges. Carpeting, usually remnants
and odd pieces, is used in most lodges these days and over time
becomes worn and damaged by mildew. If you can donate for this
project please do so through PayPal and ear mark your donation for
the Lale Project.