Our Mission
The 100 Horses Women’s Society encourages girls and young women to support each other by empowering them with their ancestral and cultural knowledge of womanhood and the necessary life skills to enrich their lives and the lives of future generations to come. We aim to create a network of women who support each other through mentorship to upcoming generations of mothers, aunts, and grandmothers.
2024 Board Retreat
Empowering Matrilineal Leadership: Meet Our Board of Directors
At The 100 Horses Women's Society, Inc., we believe in the power of diverse perspectives and the strength of intergenerational collaboration. Our Board of Directors embodies this ethos, with exceptional women from various stages of womanhood coming together to shape our organization's direction and mission.
These exceptional women, representing different stages of womanhood, come together on our Board of Directors to shape the vision and direction of The 100 Horses Women's Society, Inc. Through their collective expertise, passion, and dedication, they inspire us to strive for a future where every woman has the opportunity to thrive. Get to know some of the remarkable leaders guiding our journey:
Han mitakuyepi, kimimila kinyan ohominiya wakinya othun win emaciyapi. I am from Dupree, South Dakota. My biological parents are Colleen Thunder, from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and Anthony “Tony” Johns. My father has been married to my stepmother, Jessica Red Bear, an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, for ten years. My maternal grandparents are Shirley Thunder (Peneaux) and Clement Thunder of the RST Tribe. My paternal grandmother is Josaphine Lucio from Texas. I never had a chance to meet my paternal grandfather. My grandparents on my stepmother’s side are Kathy Reddog and Mark Red Bear of the CRST Tribe. In the summer of 2014, I attended the Isnati Awicalowanpi(Becoming a Woman Ceremony). Upon my arrival at camp, I could feel a calling. The moment after we set up our tipi and had supper with each other, I felt at home. Throughout my time at the ceremony, I learned about my role as a Lakota woman. The ceremony for me was life-changing. It has helped me and continues to help me throughout my journey in life. A year after the ceremony, I lost my sister to suicide. My whole family was devastated, and we all went in separate directions. Exactly seven years after my sister left this earth, I received a calling to return to The 100 Horses Society. It started when my stepmother had a dream of a hundred horses with my sister, and soon after that, she found her T-shirt with the 100 Horses Society logo. On a trip to Minnesota, she reminded my two sisters and I of the teachings from the ceremony. Upon returning home and getting back to my college courses, I received yet another calling. While sitting in class learning about Native American Psychology, I read about the Women’s Ceremony and the importance of tradition. I was amazed, I knew there was a purpose for what I was experiencing. The next evening, I ran into my Society sister, Medina, she told me that The 100 Horses Society was making moves towards becoming a non-profit organization and asked me to be a part of the board. There is great power in being a Lakota woman! During my time on the board, I hope to encourage and empower other young girls to be spiritually connected to their identity and be proud of who they are!
Atkuku Ihakikta “Julie Taylor” Emaciyapi. I am a member of the 100 Horses Society and an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. I went through Isnati Ca Lowanpi in 2014, the year we had 22 girls go through. My mother is Kenita Counting daughter of Victoria Dupris and Kenneth Counting. My Hunka Mother that raised me and put me through the ceremony was Tanna Maupin, daughter of Garland and Jennifer Maupin. My Father is Jerry Taylor, son of Charles and Angeline Taylor. I am a mother of two, living on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe reservation. Currently I am working at Tri-County MNI Waste’ Water Company and a part-time college student at the Oglala Lakota College. The 100 Horses Society taught me how to respect myself as well as others. I am what you call “a girl's girl”. I am always for my sisters and if need be, can teach my sisters from right and wrong. Not just my sisters, but other women as well. I am honored to be a part of the society and to continue our lakota values and traditions.
Sandra Frazier (Wicahpi Wiyapa Win) was born in 1945. She grew up at a time when there was no electricity, no running water and burning wood was the norm. She lived in a small community with her mother and sister, and spent time with her grandparents who were ranchers. Always surrounded by family and extended family she learned to work alongside the menfolk as well as helping her mother and grandmother. Sandra attended high school at Cheyenne Agency, and then the Cheyenne Eagle Butte School. She attended college, earning her BS, MA, and Ed.S. degrees. She was a professional counselor, served on Tribal Council for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and worked for the Tribe in several capacities. She has three awesome, fearless children, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, one of which is in the spirit world. She participates in traditional ceremonies, and is a Reiki Master. Now retired, she keeps busy with drying meat, cooking, making medicines and working on her family tree. She helped restore the Isnati Ca Lowanpi Ceremony for women, and has helped host the ceremony for the last 13 years, with the 100 Horses Society…because Every Woman is Worth at least 100 Horses!
Iyoyanpawin Emaciyapi. I am a member of the 100 Horses Society and a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. I went through Isnati Ca Lowanpi in 2016 with my ina (mother) and cuwe (big sister). My unci (grandmother), Rosalita Roach, was our sponsor through the ceremony and is one of the founding elder grandmothers in bringing the ceremony back to our reservation. I have been a part of the society since, I help in many ways to ensure the ceremony continues for the future generations, especially with the heavy lifting and the organization of our Society’s inventory. I am currently attending United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, North Dakota for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. I plan to aid the organization in their future efforts of establishing community gardens and the unique food sustainability needs for each of our 21 tribal communities. I am honored to be a society member, a ceremony sister, and a member of the Board at an early age of 19. I hope to inspire other youth to take the lead and help nurture their leadership potential.