When Ava Bartkus founded the Community Engagement Club at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, she had a vision: to give students from inner-city Chicago an opportunity to serve, learn, and connect beyond the classroom.
This spring, that vision brought thirty-one students, two parent chaperones, and four teachers to Flandreau, where they were welcomed by the Flandreau Santee Sioux for what they say was an immersive, life-changing experience.
For many, this was their first venture outside of Chicago. Whitney Young, one of Illinois’ most diverse high schools, brings together students from various cultural backgrounds. Yet, Bartkus, only a senior this year, said that Indigenous history and culture have remained largely confined to textbooks.
Recognizing the gap, the Community Engagement Club chose South Dakota as their service destination.
“Chicago has a very small Indigenous population,” said sophomore and trip co-planner Sadie Singer. “This is jarring as the city’s name itself comes from the Indigenous tribe Algonquian’s word chicagoua, which refers to a garlic plant used by the native people who once lived there. For many of our students, Indigenous history and culture exist only in textbooks, and we felt that was a disservice both to them and to the Indigenous communities whose stories deserve to be heard.”

Bartkus spent months reaching out to various Native communities across the region. The Cheyenne River Sioux responded first, but the travel time would have made the trip difficult.
However, a connection led them to local tribal leaders who generously offered them time, their community gym as a place to stay, and lessons the students say they’ll never forget.
During their five-day visit, they assisted with a buffalo harvest and helped clean and maintain the community center. They also visited Pipestone National Monument, where they learned about the spiritual significance of the red stone used to carve sacred pipes.
In the evenings, Singer said, tribal elders shared stories of resilience and tradition, forging bonds between generations and backgrounds.
“One moment that stood out to me was when we gathered around a campfire, listening to a Dakota elder share stories about his life. He spoke about losing several family members in a single week, and as I looked around, I saw my classmates’ faces reflecting deep respect and empathy. This experience showed me the power of storytelling in preserving culture and building connections across different backgrounds,” said Singer.
Beyond service, students hiked Devil’s Gulch, participated in a round dance, and visited local establishments where they connected with community members over shared meals and conversations.
Committed to making service opportunities accessible to all students, the club raised over $8,000, keeping costs to just $30 per student.
“Our goal was to give Chicago students an opportunity they might never have again: to travel, to engage with a new culture, and to gain perspectives beyond what they’ve encountered in textbooks. We accomplished that,” said chemistry teacher and chaperone Ms. Karen Trine.
For the students, South Dakota was more than a destination, said Dr. Viva Ona Bartkus. She shared that it was a gateway to understanding, connection, and growth.