TITUNWAN WÍŊYAŊ ETÁŊHAŊ PI / WOMEN OF THE TITUNWAN began as a way to honor one woman and grew into a visual collaboration of many from the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation: matriarchs, artists, activists, historians, policy makers, land stewards, gardeners and educators. The stories that live through this photographic portrait series document the women known as the heart of the community, whose collective work upholds Lakota values and guides the traditions and healing in community.

DAWN E. LEBEAU, a photographer from the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation in South Dakota co-created these portraits with the women from the Očeti Sakowin Titunwan bands of the Mnicoujou, Siha Sapa, Itazipčo, and Oóhenuŋpa on the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation. She helps to tell a story to uplift the women in her community and to encourage the generations, who will lead our communities.

Independent photographer, Dawn E. LeBeau is a member of the Itazipačola na Oóhenuŋpa (Without bows and Two Kettle) bands of the Titunwan Oyate (People of the Prairie), which is also named the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation. Dawn E. was introduced to her love of photography when she was a youth and gifted her first nikon film camera while working in her community during the WoLakota Yukini Wicoti Tipi Camp in 1996. Dawn E. is inspired by portrait, landscape and documentary photography. She currently resides on the Wakpa Was’te’ Lakota Makoče (Cheyenne River Lands) with her Tióšpaye (family) promoting and collaborating on photo projects encouraging Lakota wellness, food sovereignty, Lakota language and Lakota kinship/values.

Dawn E. LeBeau