July 12, 2025:
The Cheyenne River Youth Project’s 11th Annual RedCan Invitational Graffiti Jam wrapped up on Saturday, July 12. Cheyenne River community members of all ages gathered in CRYP’s Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Art Park with this year’s nine headlining graffiti and street artists, teen interns, Lakota Art Fellows, staff members and volunteers from across the country for an evening of great food, music and dancing.
A full list of 2025 RedCan mural sites in the city of Eagle Butte is included below and also can be accessed online at https://bit.ly/RC2025Map
And to learn more about RedCan and this year’s artists and performers, visit https://lakotayouth.org/
2025 Community Mural Sites:
CRST Property & Supply Warehouse: 719 Jefferson St., Eagle Butte (Artist: LadyRise)
Si Tanka Trailer: Located on East Landmark Avenue between CRST Fitness Center & Sacred Heart (Artist: J.Duh)
Golden Rule: 213 S. Main St. (Artist: 179)
Sturdevants, East Side: 826 N. Main St. (Artist: Hoka)
911 Building: 126 S. Main St. (Artists: Biafra & Wundr)
Woyuté/Old Dakota Chapel: 24339 US Highway 212 (Artist: Amp)
Old Nursing Apartments: 18 F Street W, 14 F Street (Artist: Cyfi).
CRHA Maintenance Shop : 24305 US Highway 212 (Artist: TamiJoy)
To purchase our new RedCan 2025 merchandise featuring artwork from longtime RedCan headliner 179, visit www.lakotayouth.org/shop/
To learn more about this year’s RedCan artists and performers, and to make a tax-deductible contribution to support RedCan 2024, visit www.lakotayouth.org/redcan.
And to learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project and its programs, and for information about making donations and volunteering, call (605) 964-8200 or visit www.lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
2025 RedCan featured artists with Julie Garreau, CEO of the Cheyenne River Youth Project (second from right, in rear)
Courtesy photo.
Painting in the art park on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
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Sampson Brothers performance in the art park, which brought RedCan 2025 to a close.
Courtesy photo.
Hoop dancing class with the Sampson Brothers.
Courtesy photo.
Skateboard painting.
Courtesy photo.
July 10, 2025:
Day 2 of the Cheyenne River Youth Project’s 11th Annual RedCan Invitational Graffiti Jam has begun. The nine headlining graffiti and street artists are returning to their large-scale mural sites across the city of Eagle Butte, prepared for a busy day of painting and mentoring local youth artists.
They made excellent progress yesterday, despite the heat. Meanwhile, children congregated at the 7th Generation Cinema and Dairy Queen for arts and crafts activities with CRYP volunteer groups from Ursuline College and the University of Missouri – St. Louis; and teenagers joined award-winning Cheyenne River Lakota storyteller Taté Walker at CRYP for the second day of their three-day writing workshop.
The volunteer groups will be back today at 11 a.m. at the cinema and 2 p.m. at Dairy Queen with a variety of creative, hands-on activity for kids, and teens will participate in the third and final day of Walker’s writing workshop. The schedule of free youth activities is below, along with a list of the active 2025 mural sites and details about this year’s artists and performers.
SCHEDULE OF FREE ACTIVITIES:
Thursday, July 10: Community
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Painting at large-scale mural sites in Eagle Butte
11 a.m.: Art activities at 7th Generation Cinema
12-4 p.m.: Teen writing workshop with Taté Walker
2 p.m.: Art activities at Dairy Queen
Friday, July 11: Art Park
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Painting in CRYP’s Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Art Park
11 a.m.: Art activities
12 p.m.: Spray painting, chalk painting
1 p.m.: Skateboard painting (ages 6-18)
2 p.m.: Field Day games and Lakota dance exhibition
3 p.m.: Spoken-word performance from Taté Walker’s students
5 p.m.: Taté Walker performance
5:30 p.m.: Community dinner hosted by volunteer group from University of Missouri-St. Louis
6 p.m.: Bazille performance
Saturday, July 12: Art Park
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Painting in CRYP’s Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Art Park
11 a.m.: Art activities
12 p.m.: Spray painting, chalk painting
1 p.m.: Skateboard painting (ages 6-18)
2 p.m.: Hoop-dancing class with the Sampson Brothers
3 p.m.: Water games
5:30 p.m.: Community dinner hosted by CRYP
6 p.m.: The Sampson Brothers performance
ARTISTS:
Returning artists include Cyfi, a Yaqui and Azteca artist from Minneapolis; 179, a Latine artist from Seattle; Hoka, an artist of Oneida, Oglala Lakota and La Jolla Band of Luiseño descent from Albuquerque; TamiJoy, a Cheyenne River Lakota artist; Minneapolis-based artists Biafra and Wundr; and Amp, a Ponca artist from Kansas.
Joining RedCan for the first time is Lady Rise, P’urhépecha from Michoacán, México. Born in California to a family of migrant farmers and raised amid the Chicago graffiti art scene, the artist currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona.
CRYP also has announced a second new RedCan artist: J.Duh, a Nicaragüense artist and muralist from San José in California’s Bay Area. For more than a decade, he has painted murals, created traditional hand-painted signs and designed public artwork across the West Coast.
GUEST PERFORMERS:
Guest performers for 2025 include Cheyenne River Lakota storyteller Taté Walker; Cheyenne River Lakota and Crow Creek Dakota rap artist, producer and sound designer Bazille; and renowned Mvskoke Creek/Seneca hoop dancers The Sampson Bros.
As always, the Cheyenne River-based Wakinyan Maza drum group will begin and end each day with songs and a blessing.
2025 COMMUNITY MURAL SITES:
CRST Property & Supply Warehouse: 719 Jefferson St., Eagle Butte (Artist: LadyRise)
Si Tanka Trailer: Located on East Landmark Avenue between CRST Fitness Center & Sacred Heart (Artist: J.Duh)
Golden Rule: 213 S. Main St. (Artist: 179)
Sturdevants, East Side: 826 N. Main St. (Artist: Hoka)
911 Building: 126 S. Main St. (Artists: Biafra & Wundr)
Woyuté/Old Dakota Chapel: 24339 US Highway 212 (Artist: Amp)
Old Nursing Apartments: 18 F Street W, 14 F Street (Artist: Cyfi).
CRHA Maintenance Shop : 24305 US Highway 212 (Artist: TamiJoy)
To purchase our new RedCan 2025 merchandise featuring artwork from longtime RedCan headliner 179, visit www.lakotayouth.org/shop/
To learn more about this year’s RedCan artists and performers, and to make a tax-deductible contribution to support RedCan 2024, visit www.lakotayouth.org/redcan.
RedCan 2025.
Courtesy photo.
RedCan 2025.
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RedCan 2025.
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RedCan 2025.
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July 8, 2025:
The Cheyenne River Youth Project has announced that its RedCan Invitational Graffiti Jam was represented at this year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival, with two CRYP youth artists painting alongside RedCan headliner Hoka Skenandore on the National Mall this past week. The nonprofit youth organization also has released its official lineup of youth activities, special events and performances for RedCan 2025, which kicks off Wednesday and continues through Saturday evening (July 9-12, 2025).
Art students Antonio Eagle Bear and Kai’Len Turning Heart arrived in the nation’s capital for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on June 30 with instructor-mentor Skenandore and chaperone Wambli Quintana, a CRYP alum who now serves as Youth Employment Initiative coordinator. Prior to painting, they had an opportunity to visit the National Museum of the American Indian’s National Native American Veterans Memorial.
“It was so cool,” Quintana said. “We got a nice tour and learned about the history of the memorial.”
He also noted that the youth artists were thrilled to be painting on the National Mall during the festival, which ran July 2-7. Both Eagle Bear and Turning Heart reported that the festival was “awesome” and a great experience for them both.
“Since 2015, RedCan has been a groundbreaking force in both CRYP’s youth programming and the broader community,” said Julie Garreau, founder and chief executive officer. “We were incredibly honored to have the Smithsonian recognize its impact and invite us to participate in this prestigious festival.”
Just one day after the Smithsonian Folklife Festival concludes, RedCan artists, volunteers and guests will converge on CRYP and the city of Eagle Butte for the 11th Annual RedCan Invitational Graffiti Jam, which begins on Wednesday morning. During the first two days, activities will take place at designated sites around the city, and then the action moves to CRYP’s Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Art Park for the final two days.
On Wednesday, July 9 and Thursday, July 10, children can enjoy arts and crafts activities at 11 a.m. at the 7th Generation Cinema, followed by a second session at 2 p.m. at Dairy Queen. Volunteers will provide cotton candy, popcorn, flavored lemonade and hot dogs for all participating youth.
Meanwhile, RedCan’s featured artists will be working at their large-scale mural sites across the city. Returning artists include Cyfi, a Yaqui and Azteca artist from Minneapolis; 179, a Latine artist from Seattle; Hoka, an artist of Oneida, Oglala Lakota and La Jolla Band of Luiseño descent from Albuquerque; TamiJoy, a Cheyenne River Lakota artist; Minneapolis-based artists Biafra and Wundr; and Amp, a Ponca artist from Kansas.
Joining RedCan for the first time is Lady Rise, P’urhépecha from Michoacán, México. Born in California to a family of migrant farmers and raised amid the Chicago graffiti art scene, the artist currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona.
CRYP also announced a second new RedCan artist: J.Duh, a Nicaragüense artist and muralist from San José in California’s Bay Area. For more than a decade, he has painted murals, created traditional hand-painted signs and designed public artwork across the West Coast.
On Friday, July 11, the fun in the art park starts with children’s art activities at 11 a.m. At noon, aspiring youth artists can create their own murals in the park with chalk paint and spray paint, and at 1 p.m., one of RedCan’s most popular youth activities begins — skateboard painting.
“We’ll host Field Day games and a traditional Lakota dance exhibition at 2 p.m.,” said Jerica Widow Jones, CRYP’s programs director. “Then, at 3 p.m., our visiting Lakota poet and storyteller, Taté Walker, will lead their writing workshop participants in a spoken-word performance on the Waniyetu Wowapi Art Park stage.”
Walker, an award-winning Two Spirit Lakota storyteller, will perform for the community at 5 p.m. that evening. At 6 p.m., Bazille will take the stage; this popular Cheyenne River Lakota and Crow Creek Dakota rap artist, producer and sound designer last performed at RedCan in 2023.
Finally, Saturday, July 12 will start with art activities in the park at 11 a.m.,chalk and spray painting at noon and skateboard painting at 1 p.m. At 2 p.m., acclaimed Mvskoke Creek/Seneca hoop dancers The Sampson Brothers will lead a hoop-dancing class in the art park, and then young people can enjoy a series of water games at 3 p.m.
“The Sampsons will perform for the community at 6 p.m., which is always a major highlight of the RedCan experience,” Jones said. “Their performance will bring RedCan 2025 to a close.”
As always, the Cheyenne River-based Wakinyan Maza drum group will begin and end each day with songs and a blessing.
The RedCan Invitational Graffiti Jam has become a significant event on Cheyenne River’s annual calendar. During RedCan last year, 616 youth participated in art activities, 436 people enjoyed free community dinners in CRYP’s art park, 535 people directly engaged with artists at their mural sites, and more than 8,600 people walked, rode or drove past as the murals came to life.
(L-R) Youth artists Antonio Eagle Bear and Kai’Len Turning Heart with chaperone Wambli Quintana and instructor-mentor Hoka Skenandore at the National Native American Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Courtesy photo.
Youth artists with their Smithsonian Folklife Festival mural.
Courtesy photo.
RedCan at the 2025 Smithsonian Folklife Festival on July 2-7, 2025.
Courtesy photo.
RedCan 2025 Youth Activities.
RedCan 2025 Signed Poster.
To learn more about RedCan 2025, this year’s nine featured artists and special guests, and how to help support this groundbreaking event in Indian Country, visit www.lakotayouth.org/redcan. Additional details and a full schedule of events will be available in the coming weeks.
To learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project and its programs, and for information about making donations and volunteering, call (605) 964-8200 or visit www.lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
June 16, 2025:
The Cheyenne River Youth Project has announced that it will host its 11th Annual RedCan Invitational Graffiti Jam on July 9-12, 2025. The Native-led nonprofit organization is preparing to welcome nine nationally recognized graffiti and street artists from across the country to this year’s four-day arts and culture festival in the heart of the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation.
Returning artists include: East, an artist of Cherokee descent from Denver; Cyfi, a Yaqui and Azteca artist from Minneapolis; 179, a Latine artist from Seattle; Hoka, an artist of Oneida, Oglala Lakota and La Jolla Band of Luiseño descent from Albuquerque; TamiJoy, a Cheyenne River Lakota artist; Minneapolis-based artists Biafra and Wundr; and Amp, a Ponca artist from Kansas.
Joining RedCan for the first time is Lady Rise, P’urhépecha from Michoacán, México. Born in California to a family of migrant farmers and raised amid the Chicago graffiti art scene, the artist currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona.
On July 9-10, the artists will bring Lakota language, stories and culture to life at large-scale mural sites across the city of Eagle Butte while local children participate in volunteer-led art activities in the community. CRYP’s teen art interns and Lakota Art Fellows will support the artists, giving them priceless opportunities to learn, collaborate and practice new skills.
On July 11-12, the action will move to the youth project’s Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Art Park. All nine featured artists will paint in the park while guests enjoy hands-on art activities, traditional Lakota dancing, music and more.
In addition, Taté Walker, an award-winning two-spirit Lakota storyteller, will be returning to RedCan this year to conduct their popular youth poetry workshops. Workshop participants will have an opportunity to share their work through spoken-word performances in the art park.
As always, the Cheyenne River-based Wakinyan Maza drum group will begin and end each day with songs and a blessing. And, renowned Mvskoke Creek/Seneca hoop dancers The Sampson Brothers will be returning to RedCan again this year to teach hoop-dancing workshops and provide an eagerly anticipated Saturday evening performance to close the festival.
The RedCan Invitational Graffiti Jam has become a significant event on Cheyenne River’s annual calendar. During RedCan last year, 616 youth participated in art activities, 436 people enjoyed free community dinners in CRYP’s art park, 535 people directly engaged with artists at their mural sites, and more than 8,600 people walked, rode or drove past as the murals came to life.
“Over the last decade, RedCan has become so much more than a public art project,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s founder and chief executive officer. “It has become a nationally recognized model for Native youth empowerment, cultural reclamation, language revitalization and cultural exchange.”
Survey results revealed that more than 90 percent of youth agreed that RedCan made them feel proud of their culture and their local community, 79% agreed that it strengthened their cultural identity, and 60 percent agreed that RedCan participation improved their Lakota language. Nearly 100 percent said they want RedCan to continue, and it has a positive impact on the community.
Other indigenous communities are taking notice. Last year, Native youth from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona traveled to RedCan to learn more about the event and the role it plays in cultural reclamation and language revitalization. This spring, they succeeded in staging their own culturally grounded graffiti and street art festival at home.
“We were thrilled when Rezmo, a Salt River-based Diné and Mexicá artist who has participated in RedCan in the past, reached out to us to let us know about the success and impact of their event,” Garreau said. “This is absolutely what we want to see happen — Native nations creating their own arts events, by their community, for their community.”
RedCan also will be represented this year at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. RedCan artist Hoka and select CRYP art students will paint on site during the festival, which is scheduled to take place on the National Mall on July 2-7.
Just one day after that festival concludes, this year’s RedCan artists will arrive in Eagle Butte, ready to start painting at their large-scale mural sites the next morning.
To learn more about RedCan 2025, this year’s nine featured artists and special guests, and how to help support this groundbreaking event in Indian Country, visit www.lakotayouth.org/redcan. Additional details and a full schedule of events will be available in the coming weeks.
To learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project and its programs, and for information about making donations and volunteering, call (605) 964-8200 or visit www.lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
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