About Dakota Youth Project

About Dakota Youth Project, Inc.

History and Purpose	Board of Directors

History and Purpose
DAKOTA YOUTH PROJECT, Inc. (DYP) is chartered in the state of Delaware with the representation of a licensed attorney. 501(c) (3) status was granted on June 25, 1999. DYP is a continuation of the traditional form of teaching through oral histories, and practicing a traditional way of life. This youth project, developed by James Robideau, Dakota, encourages healthy lifestyles among children/youth and their families through educational experiences such as workshops and seminars. Another aim of DYP is to build or establish youth homes which offer youth at risk security, access to education, skills training and counseling based on traditional teachings. DYP also organizes help for children/youth in providing for their everyday needs (clothes, school supplies, toys).

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Board of Directors
James Robideau is the President of the DYP Parent Board, which is located in Florida.

The Central DYP Board is located on Pine Ridge Reservation. The Board Officers are:	Edgar Bear Runner, President - Lakota James Robideau, V-President - Dakota Steve Robideau, Member (and CDYP Director) - Dakota Charles Comes Killing, Member - Lakota Isabella Schon, Secretary/Treasurer



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James Robideau

PROFILE JAMES ROBIDEAU

Dakota Youth Project Parent Board President, James Robideau, is a member of the Spirit Lake Nation of North Dakota. For the past thirty years he has been an American Indian Movement activist, community education specialist and ceremonial leader dedicating his life to help Native people and tribes survive in a non-Indian society.

Robideau's work has also included:

Practicing law as a tribal attorney
Educating people about Native American culture and ceremonies
The developing of halfway houses and related programs
Developing and directing a battered women's shelter on the Pine Ridge reservation
Being an agri-business foreman for a tribal program in Oklahoma
Being a social service director in one of the country's leading Indian health clinics
Planning and leading conferences on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome & Effects among tribes
Being a Social Worker (Child Protection) on Pine Ridge Reservation

Isabella visiting a family on the reservation

PROFILE ISABELLA SCHON

Isabella Schon is from Germany. Since 1995 she spent a lot of time on Pine Ridge Reservation and Rosebud Reservation. She stayed with Native American families and thereby learned a lot about their history, culture and everyday problems.
The experiences she made on Indian Reservations induced her to start organizing help for the Lakota people.

In the summer of 2003 she moved to the United States and is now, as board member of the Dakota Youth Project, responsible for the “Support a Rez Kid” program.