The year 2012 was when Dawnee made the switch to a minimal lifestyle–cutting out needless buys–and promised to be intentional about her purchases and to honor the source of all life, Mother Earth, through intentional living. First, she sold everything in her rented storage unit after realizing she hadn’t utilized anything in it for two years. Then, she started creating her own body and home products, such as facial masks, soaps, and cleaning products, followed by upcycling leftover fabrics and materials, and repurposing items like jars.
This change in lifestyle encouraged Dawnee to share this knowledge and awareness with those in her tribe. In the summer of 2019, Dawnee facilitated a homemade soap workshop with Indigenous youth at the local culture camp with the help of her colleagues. The workshop’s curriculum included giving thanks to medicine relatives, such as sage, when harvesting or growing, awareness of what everyday products contain, and the impact of those products on our bodies and Mother Earth. “The youth had a wonderful time making their own soap and were excited to share this workshop information with their relatives in the community.”
Then, Dawnee started KIKTÁ, a small business focused on conscious living by creating unique alternatives to one-time use products, such as reusable totes. But the inspiration of KIKTÁ [which means to be woken up or to wake up in the Lakota language] began even earlier with the lessons taught to her by her family. Dawnee learned to sew from both her grandmother and mother, with her mother sharing homemade recipes for soaps, face washes, face masks, laundry soaps, and other recipes for household products.
She remembers creating her first reusable patch quilt tote with her grandmother in high school. Since then, Dawnee switched to creating and gifting reusable totes for her family and friends. “I intended to bring awareness to the importance of purchasing less, reusing, repurposing, trading, and borrowing while honoring our source of life, Unči Makȟa [Mother Earth in the Lakota language] and all living beings, such as our land, water, four-legged, winged, and plant relatives, with our indigenous teachings,” Dawnee explains. She’s grateful for the gifts of knowledge her relatives have offered to her to share with others. “Each day, we have the option to be mindful of how we are giving thanks and giving back through our lifestyles of gardening, seed-saving, reusing items, repurposing items, recycling, and only using what we need.”
KIKTÁ began in October of 2019 with an online shop that sold reusable totes designed by Dawnee with text saying, “Unči Makȟa Wao’ hola,” which translates to respect or honor Mother Earth in Lakota. Dawnee also partnered up with the creative art gallery Racing Magpie in Rapid City, SD, to sell her totes, which were sold out by the end of December. Along with the totes, Dawnee creates other reusable items for KIKTÁ, such as bento bags, beeswax wraps, reusable coffee filters, utensil wraps, wateč’a [leftover in Lakota] bowls, and napkins. Besides the items she makes and sells, she encourages everyone to learn how to create these items on their own so they can pass on the knowledge.
The Lakota language and culture play an essential part in her business and teachings. The name KIKTÁ itself serves many purposes besides just the name of her business. While working on her business plan, Dawnee held intentional conversations with her community elders about various words in the Lakota language that would be appropriate to the meaning of her business. After multiple suggestions, the word kiktá was chosen because it means to be awakened or to wake up. “Our cultural values of respecting Unči Makȟa inspire me to a great degree in this small business venture,” Dawnee explains. “Whether we are curious about our indigenous protocol of only utilizing what we need, living on a budget, or concerned about Mother Earth, this is awakening, and I believe KIKTÁ was a perfect fit.”
An additional purpose Dawnee has for KIKTÁ, as well as her workshop, is to preserve and pass on the Lakota virtues to inspire others to continue to learn, which are included in her shop’s products and workshop’s curriculum. According to Dawnee, there are twelve Lakota virtues: Unšiič’iyapi (Humility), Wowačiŋtȟaŋka (Perseverance), Wawohola (Respect), Wayuoŋihaŋ (Honor), Čaŋtognake (Love), Ič’ič’upi (Sacrifice), Wowicake (Truth), Wauŋšilapi (Compassion), Woohitke (Bravery), Čantewašake (Fortitude), Čanteyukȟe (Generosity), and Woksape (Wisdom). “In every interaction that we have with our families, relatives, colleagues, clients and the products we create, we can honor each virtue by reminding ourselves that these values will guide us in the right direction and help us to stay focused on doing what is right in any goal we pursue,” Dawnee continues, “our elders have always taught us that Mother Earth is our source of life and that without her, we cannot live.” So when we give thanks, we give thanks to all living beings here on Earth, the water, the land, our seed and plant relatives, the wind, the four-legged, the winged, and each other.” Dawnee has immense gratitude for her relatives, offering these gifts to her, and continues to do what was taught to her. “I think of each of the virtues when navigating in all areas of my business, KIKTÁ.”
Dawnee is still brainstorming on what she can add to KIKTÁ and her workshop. “I’m currently researching climate heating, creating new products, and updating my soap-making workshop curriculum.” Dawnee’s vision for KIKTÁ is more than just creating affordable and reusable products. Her goal is to continue sharing her perspective on Mother Earth based on what she has been taught by her elders, along with the impact we are making on Mother Earth and facts about climate change. “My ultimate vision with KIKTÁ is to honor Mother Earth by sharing information about reducing waste, reusing or repurposing items, purchasing less, being mindful of how our products are produced, and what impact the production process has on Mother Earth.”
Operating a business in a rural community like a reservation can be difficult, which is why Dawnee relies heavily on social media and the local community. She markets her reusable totes on her social media platforms and utilizes online invoicing to distribute her products, options that are also cost-friendly and have worked wonderfully so far. Dawnee continues to network with local Indigenous artists for production and sales. “Online marketing is certainly a challenge, as it requires being active online at various times, to monitor content and engage with customers,” Dawnee explains. “Thankfully, there is a range of resources available to assist with the sales and to engage with clients effectively.”
Dawnee continues to live a sustainable lifestyle on the reservation. She grows her food by gardening, where she’s grateful to honor her relationship with plant and seed relatives. “My children and family have been very supportive, and it’s been the most rewarding gift my parents have given to me. Growing my food deepened my understanding of the connection of all living beings.” Dawnee still makes her own products from scratch while teaching others the importance of creating their own products. Currently, Dawnee is preparing to invest in solar energy. “I’m currently preparing to invest in small-scale solar energy at my home; the research has been both exciting and overwhelming.”
