Sexual Assault Recovery Retreat for Advocates set for fall

Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains is planning a third Sexual Assault Recovery Retreat for NWSGP member advocates for September 2, 3 & 4, 2026 at the Outlaw Ranch in the Black Hills. The retreat is geared for advocates who work with domestic and sexual violence survivors and will learn cultural connections to healing. They in turn can take these lessons back to their organizations and communities to work with survivors.

A later sexual assault recovery retreat for survivors will be on October 2, 3 & 4, 2026 in the Black Hills.  Advocates who participated in the previous retreats will return to help support the participants in either of the retreats.  Jennifer Young Bull Bear and Ruthie Cedar Face, are lead coordinators at the retreats. Both have experience in working with survivors and cultural activities.

“The sexual assault healing retreats are done to help our women who have been sexually abused/assaulted. There are minimal to no regular services for these women on our reservation, and if they find someone who can work with them, it requires travel time and resources they may not have,” said Jennifer Young Bull Bear.

The healing retreat provides cultural/ spiritual healing practices and teachings to women along with a sexual assault healing workbook. They pair the workbook activities with cultural teachings. Topics covered are coping skills, emotions, how to address anxiety, which get paired with teachings like mindfulness, breathing techniques, etc.”  We share with them teachings on the Lakota winyan and our roles. We are as sacred beings, life givers, and the strength of the families,” said Ruthie Cedar Face.

The participants are  offered equine therapy to help address the mental issues, emotional issues, health issues, and concerns they may have as a result of the assault/ abuse. When you know who you are and where you come from. That helps create a strong foundation for a person to stand on. So, they can keep moving forward in a good way with their healing process. It’s finding that connection with yourself that is important. It’s understanding that what makes a lot of bad reactions and feelings is fear. These teachings help us fight that fear that causes all this chaos in our lives when dealing with sexual trauma.

The Wopakinte (wiping) for the women helping them to let go of some of the shame, the hurt, the grief from what they have gone through. The traditional healing activities are intended to help them gain back their strength, their identity as sacred women, and they are encouraged to continue this healing process into the future. Teachings include archery, horse therapy, working with buffalo horns, making shawls, bow and arrow teachings with archery and other cultural activities.  For more information contact the Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains office at (605) 200-2699 or Carmen O’Leary at (605) 850-1332.