Tiyospaye Winyan Maka
About Us
Uplifting Indigenous Rights and Reconciliation for 42+ years...
Tiyospaye Winyan Maka, an Indigenous Women-led non-profit in Fort Collins, CO, has undergone several changes over the past four decades, shifting our organizational focus according to the needs of Indigenous families living on and off Tribal lands. Today, Tiyospaye Winyan Maka approaches systemic change for the benefit of Indigenous families through various interconnected projects, each offering practical and participatory solutions to issues we commonly face as Indigenous peoples.
Tiyospaye Crisis Center
'Tiyospaye Winyan Maka' was born over 40 years ago as 'Tiyospaye Crisis Center', a Lakota-led organization dedicated to addressing the immediate needs of Indigenous families struggling to fulfill their most basic needs.
In these foundational years, Christinia Eala and close allies brought together local leaders and families in need to establish programs intended to uplift the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health of Indigenous peoples living on Tribal lands through direct support.​​
​
~The Homestead Initiative~​
​
The 'TWM' Homestead Initiative was the first of our many programs to have a larger and further reaching impact, as we conducted homebuilding projects in partnership with Engineers Without Borders across several different Tribal communities. This initiative remains active today, and is under a new stage of development as we seek to integrate a sustainable deconstruction element to our building process.​​
~Addressing Intergenerational Trauma~​​
​
'TWM' has also been involved in community-led social work across various communities since founding our organization, including intimate work dealing with trauma grieving and healing as well as substance abuse and homelessness. Christinia works with the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition and sat on the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless for many years. She offers unique perspectives in addressing traumas commonly experienced by Indigenous peoples, particularly Women and children, who suffer the highest rates of verbal, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. ​
~Winter Warmth Annual Fundraiser~​
​​​
Winter Warmth Concert
Hygiene and Clothing Drives
Tiyospaye Winyan Maka
Tiyospaye Winyan Maka was born from Tiyospaye Crisis Center in 2006, as we sought to take our programs to the next level in hopes of fostering a deeper impact for the families interacting with our services.
​
Northern Colorado Indian Center
​
United Nations Association of Boulder County
​
Homestead Initiative
​
Northern Colorado Permaculture Guild
​
CO Office of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives
​
Lakota Ceremonial Protocol & Symbology Workshops
​
Land Theft & Indigenous Permaculture Workshops
From Impact to Empowerment
The first project TWM pursued was the Homestead Project, a homebuilding program designed to develop residential units on Tribal lands.
​
Crisis Center focus and Winter Warmth annual benefit drive
​
UNA-4IP and the empowerment of TWM projects
​
Land Back @ Hughes
​
R.R.A.D. Homestead Project Development
​
Prison Reform/Reentry Program
​
Systemic change and uplifting the voices of the youth
Meet The Team
In the Lakota language, the word 'Tiyospaye' roughly translates to 'extended family'. As such, at 'TWM', we regard our volunteers and organizational partners as close relatives. Our team members each bring forth their own characteristics and values that shape the vision we put forth across our many projects.
Christinia Eala American Horse
Founder & Director of Development
Jessica Gillespie
Chief Operating Officer
Andre Dunn
Intern Extraordinaire
Rita Martinez
Executive Director
Andrew Sachs
R.R.A.D. Homestead Project Director
Ari Powers
Project Manager
'TWM' Advisory Board
Christinia Eala American Horse
Tiyospaye Wnyan Maka
Karen Wong-Brown
Unified Workforce
Andre Dunn
Intern Extraordinaire
Alicia Fall
Her Many Voices
Queen
Queen's Legacy Foundation
Ari Powers
Project Manager