Tim Giago (left) accepts honorary Doctorate Degree at Sinte Gleska University graduation ceremony.
MISSION, SOUTH DAKOTA –– As one entered the Sinte Gleska University Auditorium, the presence of the 103 students receiving their degrees was awe inspiring. One was also greeted by the Congressional dignitaries as well as the highly praised individuals waiting to receive their honorary doctorates. Outside of the auditorium was the famous Lakota transport helicopter Woohitika with Sgt. Garner of the South Dakota National Guard standing by. The Rosebud Sioux Tribal President Rodney Bordeaux was one of many speakers to address the audience. “Tribes face many challenges,” said Bordeaux. “We have a tremendous opportunity with you as graduates. You must always pay respect for our warriors. Alan Simpson the Republican Senator of Wyoming along with Kristi Noem are here today. One day, one of your graduates will find yourself on stage here." The Master of Ceremony Everett “Butch” Felix humored the audience with his quick wit. Another political dignitary engaged the graduation audience. Secretary of the Department of Education, Arnie Duncan. ”We look forward to your future and the future of our nation,” said Secretary Duncan. “I am honored to be in the presence of the elders." Two years ago Secretary Duncan was in Lame Deer, Montana where he witnessed a 70 percent unemployment rate. Fortitude and generosity are the Lakota way and the Secretary of Education was requesting for everyone to join in as warriors for Indian Country. The graduates were challenged to preserve the language and culture and were told to use education as a way of fighting back. “Please don’t pass away and let others advocate on your behalf, carry your own torch," Duncan said. There is currently only one Native American serving in Congress he said. Tim Giago, founder of four Indian newspapers was set to receive his Honorary Doctorate Degree. Shrouded in an Honoring Star Quilt he told the graduates, “I would really like to congratulate those nine graduates getting their GEDs. I got mine in 1952 in Pusan, Korea. It’s a big world out there and you can make it!" Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Larry Echo Hawk, had been in South Dakota for three days to get an assessment of Indian Country needs. He said that the word dreams have been mentioned here and in two days will be the 48th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s I Have A Dream Speech. He heard that speech when he was 15 years old. In 1990, Echo Hawk repeated this speech from memory when he made the decision to run for state wide political office. He was elected for State Attorney General in Idaho. He challenged the graduates to go on and pursue their dreams. At the end of his speech he was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree. A strong presence in the room was the President of Sinte Gleska, Lionel Bordeaux who talked about his experiences establishing Tribal Colleges. “At that time they didn’t talk positively about Lakota,” remembers Bordeaux. “We need our own accreditations, so we can have control over our education. Opposition was met with this goal when Bordeaux was told his graduates would never be teachers or administrators only teacher’s aides if they didn’t have proper accreditation" “Your presence today shows we have achieved that,” Bordeaux said. “Before the Lakota had our own tribal government’s there were our “tiospayes” or families. Now we have elections where there are winners and losers.” Reflecting on the past when the movie Dances With Wolves was being filmed he credited Doris Leader Charge and Albert White Hat for developing the Lakota language for the film.
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