SD EPSCoR News

Kul Wicasa Wópasi (Lower Brule Research) Projects

Posted on: August 24, 2021   |   Categories: Announcements, News & Updates
Garden

Kul Wicasa Wópasi (Lower Brule Research) is a nonprofit organization led by indigenous students, based at Lower Brule High School. Summer 2021 saw four community-focused projects led by student interns and workers.

The students are responsible for keeping each area moving forward and applying for grants to keep funding their projects — food sovereignty, hydroponics, gardening, and robotics.

Check out the clickable gallery, below, to explore the student researchers’ projects.

Garden

The garden is located a few miles out of Lower Brule and remains fully managed by the students. The student leaders spend midday here watering the vegetables, checking the plants and pulling weeds.

They plan to distribute the vegetables at a farmer’s market to help establish food sovereignty and healthy food access in their area.

McKenzie Laverdure and Madeline Ryan explain the garden project within the Lower Brule summer research program.
  • Teijah Estes holds a pepper.
    Teijah Estes from the community garden group shows off vegetables the team is growing to sell at the farmer’s market.
  • Cabbages in a garden row
    Cabbage at the community garden for Lower Brule.
  • Teijah Estes ends to look at the plants.
    Teijah Estes from the community garden group shows off vegetables the team is growing to sell at the farmer’s market.
  • Pumpkin plants
    Pumpkin plants at the community garden for Lower Brule.
  • Teijah Estes points out some plants
    Teijah Estes from the community garden group shows off vegetables the team is growing to sell at the farmer’s market.
  • wide view of the green garden rows
    The community garden was planted to increase accessibility within the community to healthy foods.

Hydroponics

Hydroponics grows fresh produce without the need for regular soil and requiring less water. Their setup is containers with clay pellets that hold the plant and the solution of chemicals at the bottom. This working group spends their hours in the greenhouse refining the hydroponics system and tending to the plants.

This project centers on the goal of Kul Wicasa Wópasi to increase access to fresh vegetables in the Lower Brule community.

Wide View of the inside of the greenhouse
Inside the greenhouse, students grow vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, and beans, using a technique called hydroponics.
  • Jones walks up to the greenhouse: a white building with visible wooden supports, a cooling black tarp over top, and a windowed door.
    Alyssa Jones walks up to the hydroponics greenhouse, where the team works.
  • The hydroponics system is a setup of 8 black tubs hooked to a watering/bubbler system.
    The hydroponics system fully set up with plants, like tomatoes, peppers, and beans, already growing.
  • Josette Pretty Sounding Flute sits next to Jesse Estes (standing) in front of the hydroponics setup.
    Jesse Estes (right) and Josette Pretty Sounding Flute (left), two of the students working on the hydroponics project, explain what they’re working on and why it’s important to them.
  • Alyssa Jones looks at the plants already about six inches tall that are sticking out of plastic containers with a hole cut in the center.
    Alyssa Jones looks over as plants in this hydroponics setup are already starting to grow into healthy vegetables for the group to share with their community.
  • A wooden planting area and a wheelbarrow.
    The other half of the greenhouse has a regular planting box that the team says could eventually be used for a garden too.
  • The group of five high schoolers gathers in the corner of the greenhouse
    Five of the hydroponics team gather in the corner of the greenhouse next to some of their fast-growing plants.

Robotics

The robotics group uses their tools — wheels, gears, and wires — to build moving, acting devices, increasing technological knowledge and interest in robotics-related careers. Additionally, the group instructs Boys and Girls Club youth about robotics. There, they build robots and play related games to pass on their passion for building robots to their peers.

This group increases enthusiasm for STEM in the community and centers on leadership and education skills.

Tokala Estes points out a piece of robotics equipment while Isaah Quilt and Reese Ziegler collaborate on their robot.
Robotics group, Tokala Estes, Isaah Quilt, and Reese Ziegler (left to right), build their projects before heading to the boys and Girls Club to teach kids about robotics.
  • Reese Ziegler gestures as he explains robotics.
    Reese Ziegler, the robotics group leader, discusses the robotics project and their work with teaching kids.
  • The robot pieces lay out on the work space for the team.
    Wheels, gears, wires and other robot parts lay waiting to be incorporated into the team’s robots.
  • Tokala Estes picks some robot parts out of a bag.
    Tokala Estes points out some of the parts that are important to assembling their robots.
  • 3D Printer
    A 3D printer works seamlessly in the corner of the room where the robotics team works.
  • The three people work independently in their robots at the same table.
    Robotics group, Tokala Estes, Isaah Quilt, and Reese Ziegler (left to right), work independently on their projects.