Delores Riley, Shirley Lewis, Elizabeth Cook Lynn, Tim Giago, Thomas Short Bull all standing.
RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA — As the beat of the drum resonated through the Mother Butler Center on May 6, attendees at the first Naca Wopila listened as Wilbur Between Lodges sang an honoring song while five great leaders sat with an OST flag wrapped around their shoulders in the middle of a crowded auditorium. Kelly Looking Horse’s Lakota Studies class at Oglala Lakota College-Rapid City extension honored five individuals whom they feel inspired today’s youth. The five honored guest included, Tim Giago, Deloris Riley, Tom Short Bull, Elizabeth Cook-Lynn, and Shirley Lewis. Looking Horse, who also emceed the event spoke of how he uses his ability as an instructor to teach his students of how the Lakota and other natives traditionally lived; what roles individuals played in everyday society. In one instance that hit home with one student who asked, “Why can’t we honor some people?” The idea came to fruition as the students outlined their ideas which originally began with an honoring and banquet, then turned into the powwow and soon became much more with concessions, arts and crafts booths and ending the evening with a raffle with a various prizes such as a one night stay in a motel, star blankets and other various items which were donated by several of the sponsors. As the honoring began Looking Horse explained “In the Lakota language, Naca [nahchah] means Headmen. Head women. Men and women with character. Wopila in our language means giving thanks.” Turning and focusing on the honorees, he said, “We have to stop and turn our heads. And, this is what we found. They’re like Crazy Horse, Red Cloud, and Sitting Bull. They’re the ones that are leading us into the future through education. These individuals have set the path for many, many students as educators. We have to become self-sufficient and not rely on the welfare system. We recognize all the hard work you [honorees] have bestowed upon the Indian communities. This is the day we set aside for you.” As the honorees spoke, all expressed gratitude to the students and each had important messages to convey to the young audience. Elizabeth Cook-Lynn, a professor and an author began, “I do want to thank Kelly [Looking Horse]. He has been an inspiration to me, too. For years and years he’s one of the few people I know that insists, as you get an education, you don’t forget your language. You don’t forget how to dance and sing these wonderful songs. This reservation community college system is the best idea anyone has had in Indian education in 200 years." "When I was young, we were at the mercy of the Jesuits, the military, and the white farmers who ran our schools. Say what you want about the Indian Reorganization Act. The truth is that it was a period where we were expected to develop government and education institutions," Cook-Lynn continued. "And, we turned out writers and people like, Tim [Giago], Vine Deloria, Bea Medicine. All of us came out of that particular period. What I do know is that every generation must do what it can to sustain the people." “And, I would like to say something about Tim. He’s the most important newsman of the twentieth century,” she said. “My twelfth book will be out in the Fall. It’s about post-coloniality and the Indian Nation. I can just see everyone’s eyes glaze over as I am talking," she said. "But, it’s an important book and an important period. The post-colonial period that you young people will face is an important period.” Looking Horse then began to introduce the next honoree saying, “Tim Giago, all across America people recognize and know him. That’s why are very happy to have Tim with us. He is a positive role model. He’s won many awards. If I was to stand here and read all of them and all his accomplishments it would take all day. You hear people say the pen is mightier than the sword and he has proved that.” “As Lakota people we don’t pat ourselves on the back. That’s not why we do what we do. It’s the students whose lives you have touched that made today a special day for you," Looking Horse said. "So, take a good look at these individuals here. Take a look at this historic moment.” Giago was then asked to speak. He began, “I think of all the awards and all the things I have received in my life. The biggest honor I could possibly receive is the one tonight that comes from our own people. I was born on the Pine Ridge Reservation and grew up in Kyle. I went to boarding school. And, 31 years ago I wrote a book called The Aboriginal Sin.” “It was about the boarding school. Now I think there is a lot more commentary going on about what happened to the kids at the boarding schools," he said. "On Saturday, I will be attending a seminar at the University of Colorado, put on by the Native American Rights Fund that will talk about the boarding schools. We will have people from all over the country.” “From Alaska, New Mexico, California. People who have been part of the boarding school experience. I think all the bad things happening in Indian Country today can be traced back to the boarding schools," Giago continued. "A place where they tried to take away the culture, the language, and the dignity from Lakota people. And, who paid the price for it since then? But, I think we can face these things. We’re getting stronger.” He then said, “Admire Tom Short Bull for what he has done for OLC, and Elizabeth Cook-Lynn as a great writer. I am very grateful for all the people who came here tonight and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Pilamiye,” he concluded. Shirley Lewis, Director of the He Sapa Center OLC, said, “I am a graduate of OLC. I love going to work every day. I love my students. I want to invite all of you to the He Sapa Center. I will give you a tour and a big, big welcome.” She then expressed much gratitude for the students. Delores Riley was then commended for her dedication to Indian people. She is the past Director of Indian Education and Grants for area schools and an educator. “I just want to thank the students and their instructor. There’s always a lot of work to be done. So, we have to work to make sure that our students are the most highly educated students. We need them to be leaders in the community, and they can only do that with our help and with education. We’re looked upon as elders. To be seated here with these other four, is an honor for me,” she said. She concluded with, “We’re not Native Americans, people. We’re American Indians from the Lakota Nation.” Tom Short Bull, OLC President, began, “People across the country thought we were vanishing Americans. When you think about how we survived you have to think about our ancestors. They suffered in boarding schools, and our ancestors were tough skinned and had to take it. They had to take it, because they knew we were coming after them.” “Until 1950, we were sent to trade schools while Whites were sent to college. Like the Blacks, we were thought of as not smart enough to become business professionals. For 70 years that’s how we were treated. Everything changed in 1950," he said. "I graduated from University of South Dakota in 1965. Only two out of 20 Indian students graduated and I was one of them.” “OLC has been in existence since 1971. Of 100 teachers on the Pine Ridge Reservation, 86 percent graduated from OLC. Of the nurses on the reservation, 80 percent of them are Indian, and 80 percent of them graduated from OLC," Red Cloud said, ‘We will have hard times for seven generations.’ We are nearing the end of that time. What we have to look forward to today is good times. And, all we need to do is get an education and go on to get good jobs,” he concluded. Tim Giago was especially honored since the honoring song that Between Lodges sang was a leadership song made exclusively for him; originally release in 1995 and recorded by the Eagle Nest Singers which Between Lodges was a member of, Between Lodges noted, “Not everyone has a song. It is an honor saved for great leaders.” A delicious honoring meal was served and the evening concluded with a second Grand Entry at 7 p.m.
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