Belonging / Ómapha (English-Lakota Bilingual Edition) : A Story of Road Trips and Relatives / Otákuye na oíchimani wóoyake wan

Inspired by the author's real-life journeys, this Lakota-English bilingual picture book follows a mother and daughter on a road trip from Atlanta, Georgia, to Standing Rock in the Dakotas—celebrating family, culture, and the meaning of belonging every step of the way. Strapped into a cramped car but eager for the journey ahead, a little girl and her mother embark on a cross-country road trip from Atlanta to Standing Rock. En route, they watch the sunrise from atop the Cahokia Mounds, pray at rivers, and swim in a prairie lake. Finally, mother and daughter arrive at Standing Rock in time for the annual Wakpála wačhípi (powwow). Through their journey, this family lives in the teachings of Mitákuye Owásʼiŋ (we are all Related). They honor their connection with the Human Relatives, Plant and Animal Relatives, and Land and Water Ancestors. Whether with their Black family in Atlanta or their Lakota family in Standing Rock, this family belongs to more than one community and more than one place. They’re here to remind you that whoever you are and wherever you are, when you’re a good Relative, you belong. Wíŋyaŋ waŋ čhúŋkšitku kičhí iyéčhiŋkyaŋka mahél okȟáŋšni k’éyaš oákaŋke ičáške uŋ iyúskil’ič’iya yaŋkápi na Atlanta ečhíyataŋhaŋ Íŋyaŋ Woslál Háŋ éčhetkiya iyókphiya glápi. Čhaŋkú kiŋ ogná, Cahokia Apáhaka-Káǧapi akáŋl wíhinapȟa čha waŋyáŋg nážiŋpi na wakpá ektákta wačhékiyapi na obláyeta blé waŋ ektá nuŋwáŋpi. Kítaŋȟčiŋ wičhíŋčala kiŋ éna húŋku kiŋ Íŋyaŋ Woslál Háŋ ektá glihúŋnipi. Wakpála Wačhípi ȟčeháŋn glípi. Thiwáhe kiŋ lé “Mitákuye owás’iŋ” wičhóȟ’aŋ ogná ománipi. Hunúŋpa otákuye na wamákȟaškaŋ na táku makȟóčhe etáŋ ičháǧe iyúha kiŋ kȟoyágya úŋpi čha yuónihaŋ yuhá ománipi. Atlanta ektá Hásapa thiyóšpaye tháwa ób naíŋš Íŋyaŋ Woslál Háŋ ektá Lakȟóta thiyóšpaye tȟáwa ób k’éyaš thiwáhe kiŋ lé wičhóthi tóna na oyáŋke tóna ektá ópȟapi. Nitúwe naíŋš tuktétu ke éyaš yaúŋ héči otákuye wašté heníčha háŋtaŋš ónipȟa čha níčiksuyapi.