Tokata Etuŋwaŋ Wakaŋyeža Owičakiyapi

08/14/2026

✨COMING SOON TO THE SICANGU LAKOTA OYATE✨️
We are so excited to share that TEWO is beginning the journey of building our first mobile therapy unit! 🦬✨️

This space will be intentionally designed for play therapy, art therapy, talk therapy, walk-and-talks, and school-based services, allowing us to bring a safe and welcoming therapeutic environment directly to our relatives and their communities. Transportation, finances, time, distance, and lack of space should not be barriers to receiving care.

As a grassroots organization entirely funded through the work we do, we know firsthand what scarcity of resources looks like. After unexpectedly losing our first offices, we have spent months following leads and searching for a safe space to call our own while continuing to receive requests from relatives seeking services. We are incredibly grateful to our community partners who have opened their doors and shared their spaces so we can continue serving those referred to us.

This mobile unit is especially meaningful because it is the first grant-funded investment TEWO has received, and we hope it is only the beginning! Our vision is bigger than one mobile unit. We hope to build more, continue expanding access across our communities, and eventually find a permanent brick-and-mortar home for TEWO.

We are just beginning the search for the right mobile unit and would love any leads, resources, connections, or ideas for both a mobile unit and a permanent space. We’ll be sharing the journey as we build it, and hopefully before long, you’ll see TEWO out in your community. 💜✨️

08/04/2026

Who run the world? GIRLS. 🎀

TEWO will have our 🎀FIRST RESOURCE BOOTH🎀 at Girl's Day today! Come check us out!

🎀 Get ready for A Girls Day! 🎀
Join us August 4th, 2026, from 10am - 4pm at the SGU MP Student Center in Mission for a fun-filled, uplifting day featuring a keynote speaker, group sessions, lunch, prizes, giveaways, and a basketball shoot-out! 🏀
💖Girls ages 8–21 are welcome! 💖
✨Mothers may attend but are not required ✨

💗 Please help us spread the word and reach all of our beautiful winyans by sharing this event with your family and friends! 💗

07/29/2026

TEWO is excited to be part of Girls Day on August 4! Our very own Charisse Bordeaux will be delivering the keynote presentation on healthy relationships and spending the day with the girls. This event is in partnership with Tiwahe Glu Kini Pi, Wiconi Wakan Health & Healing, 7Gen Interns, and other local programs. We look forward to seeing everyone there! 💜

Good afternoon! We invite you to attend the girls day being held next Tuesday at SGU Multipurpose building from 10-4.

07/28/2026

As we wrap up our ✨Meet the Team✨ series, we hope you've enjoyed getting to know the wiŋyán behind TEWO. Although we each bring unique experiences and perspectives, we all came together with one shared vision: our communities deserve better access to mental health care.

As we continue building that vision, one of our current priorities is ensuring that all of our therapists and future therapists have the education, credentials, and licensure necessary to meet state and national standards while upholding the highest ethical practices. We are committed to meeting this goal by the end of the year (we are literally almost there!).

Now that the summer months are winding down, our schedules are beginning to fill with the work we are so passionate about, and we couldn't be more excited to reconnect with relatives and continue serving our communities.

Wópila for taking the time to learn who we are, believing in our vision, and supporting our work. Be on the lookout for many more updates in the future.

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Tokata Etuŋwaŋ Wakaŋyeža Owičakiyapi 💜🦬

07/25/2026

Join us in our final Meet the Team series as we reintroduce ✨Lila Rose ✨

Lila Rose brings a unique perspective to TEWO through nearly two decades of serving others across multiple helping professions. Since beginning her nursing career in 2008, she has dedicated her work to caring for individuals and families in a variety of settings. Her professional journey has expanded to include nursing, child welfare, and clinical mental health counseling, giving her a well-rounded understanding of the complex needs our communities face.

Today, Lila continues to serve as a counselor at SPBH, where she is celebrating an exciting milestone of completing her first year of clinical supervision, with only one more year to go before achieving independent licensure! In addition to counseling, she also completes home studies through her own contract work and continues serve communities through travel nursing assignments when needed.

One of Lila's greatest strengths is her adaptability. She has a remarkable ability to step into different roles, meet people where they are, and provide compassionate care. Her broad professional background allows her to view healing through multiple lenses, recognizing that wellness often requires collaboration across systems and disciplines.

As one of TEWO's founding members, Lila continues to support our shared vision of expanding access to culturally responsive, trauma-informed mental health services for our communities. Her compassion, experience, and dedication to helping others make her a great asset to our team.

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Tokáta Etuŋwaŋ Wakȟáŋyeža Owíčhakhiyapi 💜🦬

07/24/2026

Join us in another Meet the Team series as we reintroduce ✨Blaise✨

From the moment you meet Blaise, it's easy to recognize that compassion is at the heart of everything she does. She approaches every person with kindness, empathy, and genuine respect, creating a safe space where others feel heard, valued, and supported.

"I was fortunate enough to be raise by my parents, Rhonda Leneaugh and the late Marlon Leneaugh, Sr., who were upstanding citizens and active in our community, reservation, and the Catholic Church. Part of growing up was seeing them going to meetings and attending community events. It was instilled in me from a young age the importance of giving back, being an active member of your community, and being a good relative."

It is evident that Blaise has a natural ability to truly connect with those around her. Her gentle spirit, sense of humor, and approachable personality help others feel comfortable almost immediately. Blaise leads with empathy, humility, and a genuine desire to help others. Her wealth of knowledge and dedication make her an invaluable member of TEWO and we are incredibly grateful to have her walking alongside us as we continue building stronger, healthier communities together.

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Keep an eye on our page for our next ✨Meet the Team✨ spotlight coming soon!

Tokata Etuŋwaŋ Wakaŋyeža Owičakiyapi 💜🦬

07/22/2026

Join us in another Meet the Team series as we reintroduce ✨Charisse✨

Charisse was the visionary who first brought the idea of TEWO to life. She was searching for others who shared her passion for creating something that could truly improve access to meaningful, culturally responsive mental health services on the reservation. Like many of us, she recognized that too many people were being failed by systems that were no longer meeting their needs. Instead of waiting for change, she chose to help create it. TEWO was born from that shared vision and a belief that our communities deserve compassionate, culturally grounded care shaped by our own people.

Charisse is an exceptional presenter whose expertise has been recognized on both regional and national stages. She brings a wealth of knowledge, authenticity, and lived experience to every training and conversation. She also has a unique ability to connect with people while sharing practical, meaningful approaches to healing.

Most recently, Charisse was awarded funding to establish a mobile play therapy unit, bringing services to families who may otherwise face barriers to care. She will also serve as TEWO's lead clinician for Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), guiding our team through the specialized training and certification process so we can provide services ethically, effectively, and with the highest standard of care for the children and families we serve.

Above all, Charisse is a true example of someone who turns ideas into action. She doesn't simply talk about change, she works tirelessly to make it happen. Her leadership, determination, and commitment to Indigenous mental health continue to shape TEWO and the communities we serve. We are incredibly grateful for her vision, dedication, and the foundation she helped build for us.

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Keep an eye on our page for our next ✨Meet the Team✨ spotlight coming soon!

Tokata Etuŋwaŋ Wakaŋyeža Owičakiyapi 💜🦬

07/20/2026

We're going to start our Meet the Team series off by reintroducing ✨Dr. Iyotte✨

"Dr. Ms. Kristin" to a lot of area youth, has been working behind the scenes of TEWO searching for funding opportunities, coordinating with our therapists and community partners, and occasionally keeping the team on track with reminders and deadlines. Wanting to be part of the solution, she joined this group of like-minded Indigenous women committed to expanding access to culturally responsive mental health services. Kristin is a true go-getter who leads by example, sets a high standard through her work ethic, and inspires those around her to keep moving the mission forward. Her passion for serving her community and advocating for the well-being of children, families, and communities is evident in everything she does.

"When I'm not working as a school counselor, you'll usually find me involved in something that serves the community. Whether it's creating fundraising opportunities for future community goals, coaching or being a sports mom, or teaching graduate-level courses at Sinte Gleska University, I am always doing something meaningful with my time. I truly love what I do and look forward to what TEWO can offer our communities in the future. I couldn't imagine dedicating my time or attention to any other place besides home."

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Keep an eye on our page for our next ✨Meet the Team✨ spotlight coming soon!

Tokata Etuŋwaŋ Wakaŋyeža Owičakiyapi 💜🦬

07/16/2026

Híŋhaŋni Láčin! We're still here. 💜🦬

We just wanted to give an update in our temporary absence.

First, our hearts have been with the families, students, and communities affected by the recent tragedies across our reservation. You have remained in our thoughts and prayers, and we continue to hold hope for healing and brighter days ahead for our community.

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Over the past several months, TEWO has been navigating the unexpected challenge of losing our office space. While this temporarily paused services, especially with the end of the school year, it never yielded our mission or vision.

We continue supporting our communities through trainings, consultations, and counseling services utilizing our community partners. Behind the scenes, we have also been pursuing grants, building partnerships, and seeking funding to create a permanent home for TEWO and expand the services our communities deserve.

Over the next several days, we would love to reintroduce ourselves through our ✨Meet the Team✨ series. You'll get to know the wíŋyaŋ behind TEWO, what inspires us, and why we are so passionate about work in the mental health field.

Wópila táŋka for your patience, encouragement, and belief in our vision. Although our location will be changing, our commitment to our people has not. If anyone has any leads on available office space in the Mission/Rosebud area, we welcome you to reach out 🙏

Tokáta Etuŋwaŋ Wakáŋyeža Owíčakiyapi💜

06/15/2026

TEWO is looking forward to being part of this upcoming Trauma-Informed Parenting event in Parmelee tonight, Monday, June 15 from 5:30–8:30 PM at the Community Building with many other programs on the Rosebud. This is our FOURTH session for this presentation, and we have a goal to bring this to all communities on the reservation.

Come share a meal with family and community, take part in activities, and learn practical tools to support children at home. Families have really enjoyed these gatherings, and there’s always good food and some great door prizes. We hope to see you there. Details are on the flyer below. Open to the public.