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.
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
Lakȟóta Language Resource Othí
With fewer than 6,000 fluent Lakȟóta speakers remaining, it is crucial that we provide opportunities for Lakȟóta youth to learn and embrace their language. Our comprehensive Lakȟóta language curriculum, spanning from K-12, has yielded positive results. Students have shown improved academic performance and greater proficiency in both school and home environments.
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Alumni Support
Maȟpíya Lúta Owáyawa (Red Cloud High School) graduates’ matriculation rates into college have increased exponentially since 2001 (from 19 percent in 2001 to 91 percent in 2009). At Maȟpíya Lúta Owáyawa, we are confident these improvements are a result of outstanding guidance counseling, our college preparation programs, and the addition of our Alumni and Graduate Success program.
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Truth and Healing
We recognize we can never authentically serve our community, or honor our own staff members, students and families, parishioners, and artists with whom we partner, if we do not first openly and humbly address the tragic injustices in our past.
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Food Sovereignty
Our initiative began with a geodesic greenhouse, originally intended to educate students about gardening. Over time, it has evolved into something much bigger. We now have multiple gardens and greenhouses, a chicken coop, and we focus on growing and harvesting traditional Lakȟóta food.
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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.
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.
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).
2023-2024 Annual Report
Click here to view!
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.
Top Story
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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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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