Experiencing Interruptions?

Wakanyeja Kin Wana Ku Pi - The Children are Coming Home

One of the Lakota Nation's most sacred places is Mato Paha, now part of Bear Butte State Park. The people’s access to Bear Butte was severed in the late 19th century, when the U.S. government seized the Black Hills and broke up the Great Sioux Reservation. In 2024, the nonprofit Cheyenne River Youth Project took a major step toward restoring that access when it purchased a nearly 40-acre tract of land adjacent to Bear Butte, which it calls Wakanyeja Kin Wana Ku Pi (The Children Are Coming Home).

  • Andy Wakeman
    Director
  • Richard Steinberger
    Producer
    Waniyetu Wowapi - Winter Count
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 54 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 3, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Andy Wakeman

Andy is a director and photographer with a rich background in creative direction. He began his career at an advertising agency, where he sharpened his expertise in visual storytelling and branding. Now, through his production company, Floodgate, Andy specializes in commercial and documentary productions, creating powerful content that combines creativity with purpose.
Floodgate has earned multiple Addy Awards for its work in commercial and non-profit PSA productions. Their short film Firewood Angel was showcased at the Fresh Coast Film Festival in 2018.

Add Director Biography