Mission
The Oceti Sakowin Writers Society organizes literary efforts for the purposes of preserving and defending Oceti Sakowin (Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota) cultures, oral traditions, and histories; to reaffirm our peoples’ political statuses; and to regulate and transform representations of such that are inaccurate and damaging. To those ends, we create, research, review, publish, present, and promote works in various genres in a manner that will bring about a greater understanding of our cultures, legacies, and lands.
Our Origin Story
Founded in 1993 at South Dakota State University, the Oceti Sakowin Writers Society (originally the Oak Lake Writers Society) was co-founded by Dakota writer Elizabeth Cook-Lynn with Professors Charles Woodard and Lowell Amiotte. For over 30 years, OSWS has uplifted Oceti Sakowin voices through its programs, most notably the Annual Tribal Writers Retreat—a space dedicated to Indigenous literary inquiry, cultural exchange, and intellectual sovereignty.
Today, the retreat remains the heart of our work and has helped shape a generation of Native writers and published works. Beyond the retreat, we lead year-round efforts to promote Oceti Sakowin literature, mentor emerging writers, and create tools for cultural and narrative reclamation.