Remaking the Sacred Hoop
Who We Are: An Idea Born of Protest
The Salt Creek Basin in Lancaster County, Nebraska, was once home to many tribes who traveled there to gather salt. The UmonHon, or Omaha people, called the area Niskithe ToNwoN, or Salt Village. The traditional name for the Salt Creek Basin has become the name for a collective of Indigenous and non-Indigenous allies who united in 2022 to protest a housing development to be built across the road from a sacred sweat lodge.
The Niskithe Prayer Camp’s members weren’t successful in stopping construction of the development but came away from the protest with a vision of continuing their efforts to educate others about Indigenous spiritual practices and, more importantly, teaching themselves about what it means to be Indigenous.
In October 2024, the Niskithe Prayer Camp hosted its first bi-annual tipi encampment near Lincoln, Nebraska. The gathering brought Native and non-Native people together to learn about Indigenous values, history and craft-making. They participated in nightly sweat lodge ceremonies and began to imagine a lifestyle built on reconnection with Unci Maka, the Lakota term for Mother Earth.Following the fall 2024 encampment, Niskithe’s members began working to establish an ecovillage near Lincoln where they and other like-minded people could live and pray the way they want on land of their own.
— We Find & Contribute
Where we can we search out opportunities to serve our community.
— We Build Networks
We have been diligent to assist Indigenous individuals and groups throughout Turtle Island.
— We Strengthen
We’re eager to advance actions that contribute to Justice for the Land, for the People and for the Next Generation.
What We Do
— We Educate
We host Intertribal biennial camps meant to be a place where we can be back in relationship to the Land, to each other and to Traditional Knowledge.
— We Respect Elder Wisdom
We put an emphasis on our Elders as they possess the knowledge and wisdom to propel us into the future
— We Consult
Just reach out!
Impact Stories
Talking Circles - How we make Relations
During Camp many talking circles happened, some planned and some spontanious. All have been healing, dealing with issues confronting contemporary indigenous realities. In these times friendship and kinship have been forged through open and honest reflection.
A Brighter Future — For Indigenous Youth
Children, our future, running and screaming, laughing and playing; making memories at camp. It’s a joy to watch our youth reconnecting to the environment, elders and ceremony through play and togetherness…away from the concrete jungle.
Partners
