The Four Winds Foundation and Lodge is the non-profit Humanitarian Division of The Four Winds Foundation & Lodge of The Great Spirit.
The Four Winds Foundation and Lodge of the Great Spirit was established in 1970 as a Spiritual Organization by founder Dik Darnell (Lakota Cante') The principal mission of the organization is to hold and conduct spiritual rites and ceremonies, and co-exist harmoniously with all living things upon our Mother Earth. Our mission includes providing humanitarian aid and support to poverty-stricken individuals and families, and other situations that require humanitarian assistance.
Our founding was inspired by Chief Fools Crow (Mato Wambli -Eagle Bear), who was the renowned Ceremonial Chief and Spiritual leader of the Teton Sioux until his passing in 1989. He lived his entire life (which was 99 -100 years) on the Pine Ridge Reservation located in Shannon -Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota, which is one of the poorest counties in the United States. Chief Fools Crow was a renowned Lakota Medicine Man who healed individuals that came from all over the world to seek his help. Several books are published based upon Chief Fools Crows life and legend as written by the renowned author Thomas Mails. Our founder was adopted, named and studied under the guidance of Chief Fools Crow. He also produced and created many recordings and photos/videos of Chief Fools Crow that we plan to make available to the general public in the future.
Over these past 52 years the Four Winds Foundation has provided financial aid and relief for individuals and families, including but not limited to, providing food, clothing, electricity, water, heating, housing, education programs, addiction recovery, cultural awareness, health care, disease prevention and sustainable livelihoods. An important part of our humanitarian relief is focused around the extreme poverty levels on Indigenous land and/or Reservations. An estimated 90% or more of the Indigenous communities on the Pine Ridge Reservation are currently living below the Poverty Level. It's a tragic fact that the majority of Indigenous People living on reservations in the United States are living in poverty.
Our Spiritual and Humanitarian organization also supports the study and teaching of nature, including but not limited to plant and herb knowledge, wildlife, forest and wilderness, ancient rites and ceremonies, the study and order of the Universe, cosmogony, Mother Earth elements and the Omnipresent that quickens into life all the living.