"Wakanyeja" in Lakota means “sacred beings.”  Let’s think about that for a minute. What does it mean to be sacred?  Pure? Unharmed? Precious?  Special?  Our people have long considered our children to be sacred because they are our promise to the future.  They give us hope and pride.  They ensure our continued existence.  They are our legacy.  We will be remembered through our children.  We will be judged by how our children behave.