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[horse]
[narrator] The Dakota Tribe has lived on the plains
of North Dakota for almost 150 years.
Young people here are carrying on a tradition of their ancestors.
Neal Whitmer leads lessons in horseback riding.
[Neal Whitmer] Just walk her around slowly, slow and easy...
Some of the greatest horsemen who ever came in the world came
from the Sioux Nation and sadly, a lot of that's been lost.
[narrator] The Equine Diversion Program gives Native American
teens opportunities most have never had.
[Noah Herman] Is the horse gonna fall on me?
Is it gonna buck?
You never know when things are gonna happen.
[Justin Azure] We learn to saddle horses,
brush, pick hooves.
[Man] Need some help with your stirrups?
[ride leader] They're just too long.
[man] I can help you.
[narrator] "Sunka wakan ah-ku" means "bring back the horses."
It started as an intervention for troubled youth
but now is available to all teens.
Twenty are chosen each summer for a wellness ride.
[Justin Azure] It's fun meeting new kids, riding new horses.
[Noah Herman] It's beautiful, all the colors in the hills,
seeing the sunrise.
I just had a lot of time to think.
[narrator] Kids gain confidence from working with the horses.
[Neal Whitmer] We've seen their grades improve.
We've seen their behaviors improve.
[narrator] The program depends on partners like the
Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church,
which maintains camp facilities on the reservation.
Donations make a difference.
[ride leader] He was donated to us from Idaho,
the horse program.
So he made a long trip coming out to high country,
to the flats.
[Mike Flowers] An FBI agent actually donated Frosty to the
program what--3 ½, 4 years ago?
3 ½ years ago?
[man] Yes.
[ride leader] Ready to roll?
[narrator] United Methodist missionary Mike Flowers says the
ride has a spiritual side too.
[Mike Flowers] They're riding through the reservation,
through all four districts and praying that they'll be healthy
and they'll make the right decisions.
[Noah Herman] If you like to ride horses and you like to
have a good time, this program's for you.