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Maȟpíya Lúta

Maȟpíya Lúta (formerly Red Cloud Indian School, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located on the Pine Ridge Reservation, home to the Oglala Lakȟóta (Sioux) Tribe.

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Our Mission

Maȟpíya Lúta embraces Lakȟota and Jesuit Catholic values and teachings to grow as a community through education, spiritual formation, Lakȟota language, art, and culture.

Transformative Initiatives

Important Update: AmeriCorps program funding cancelled

Maȟpíya Lúta was informed on Friday, April 25, 2025 that our AmeriCorps grant was cancelled effective immediately. Unfortunately, this abrupt and disheartening federal decision directly impacts 10 of our employees across all four of our school sites, as well as one of our transformational programs.

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Wičhóuŋchaǧe Campaign

In 2019, the Maȟpíya Lúta’s Board of Directors initiated a master planning process to ensure that Maȟpíya Lúta could continue to thrive in the future. Several capital and operational needs were identified and prioritized. Through the Wičhóuŋčhaǧe Capital Campaign we set out on a path to address those needs and positively impact GENERATIONS of Lakȟóta families.

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The Heritage Center Construction Updates

In 2019, Mahpiya Luta’s Board of Directors launched a master planning process to ensure the organization’s future success, prioritizing various capital and operational projects. Among these were the imperative needs for a new facility for The Heritage Center (THC).

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2023-2024 Annual Report

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Our Impact

300

Native Artists in collaboration with The Heritage Center through the Art Show, gift shop and exhibits.

500

K-12 students in two elementary schools, one middle school and one college-prep high school.

800

Families served through pastoral programming across multiple communities on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Our History

More than 135 years ago, Chief Red Cloud (Maȟpíya Lúta), one of the most famous leaders of the Oglala Lakȟóta people, recognized that the Lakȟóta were facing irrevocable economic and cultural challenges, Chief Red Cloud advocated for the establishment of “a school house – a large one” that would not only “teach us how to write and read, and instruct us how to do it” but also preserve and sustain Lakȟóta identity amidst a rapidly changing environment.

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Top Story

News

Jul 7, 2025

Mahpiya Luta Alumna Esperanza Hartman Named Director of Food Sovereignty

Mahpiya Luta alumna Esperanza Hartman (Class of 2018) steps into Director of Food Sovereignty role!

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All News

Jun 27, 2025

Opening Recap for the 57th Annual Red Cloud Indian Art Show

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Jun 27, 2025

Maȟpíya Lúta Summer Research Institute Expands in Third Year

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Jun 27, 2025

Maȟpíya Lúta Shares Food Sovereignty Work at Jesuit Integral Ecology Assembly

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Jun 24, 2025

A Moment with Fr. Brad Held S.J.

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Jun 24, 2025

Honoring a Legacy of Growth and Community

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Join Our Team

Look at our exciting job opportunities.

Title Type Department Details
Operations Team Janitor Part Time Institutional View Position
Safety & Occupational Health Specialist Full Time Institutional View Position
5th Grade Dual Language Teacher Full Time Red Cloud Middle View Position
Elementary School Teacher (2) Full Time Red Cloud Elementary View Position
Full-Time Elementary Teacher Grades K-4 (4 Positions) Full Time Our Lady of Lourdes View Position
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