Re-Creation Center

Oglala’s Re-Creation

By Julia DeCook

Oglala, S.D. – The Re-Creation Center is a church-based center in Oglala that aims to provide a safe haven for young kids with recreational activities and programs.

The center is also home to many event rooms where people can hold receptions, meetings, parties and whatever else is necessary to accommodate a large group of people. A chapel is also housed in the complex, but the main aim of the center is to be a place for kids to go and stay out of trouble.

Latonia Blacksmith, 27, has seen the good that the Re-Creation center can do.

“Gang problems have disappeared in Oglala since the center has opened,” she said.

Blacksmith’s husband was a former gang member in the Oglala community and since the center has opened he has left the gang lifestyle.

Despite living next door to each other for years, Blacksmith and her husband did not become involved until he left the gang. The center provided them a common place to mingle with others and a safe place to take their kids.

Her husband and their children are frequent visitors to the center. Their children, 4 to 10 years old, are products of lives that have been changed around.

“We attend church here and have our kids go to children’s church,” Blacksmith said. “And they have a huge Christmas celebration for the entire town, nobody’s ever left out. Everyone always get a present.”

Blacksmith hopes that more centers such as the one in Oglala can be built to help other Lakota youth in the community of Pine Ridge.

“It’s something to do on a Friday night, besides partying. The youth have somewhere to go and someone to go to if they need help.”

Blacksmith has seen the positive and wonderful impact the center has had, and it has even helped her to create the family she has today.

                                                                                            Photos by David Michaud