Photos: Lakota children spend final morning away from homelands

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Repatriation of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Children at Carlisle Indian Industrial School

A “Welcome Home” sign rests outside a tipi erected in Sioux City, Iowa, to honor nine Rosebud Lakota children whose remains were returned to their homelands in South Dakota. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

Monday, July 19, 2021

By Kevin Abourezk

Indianz.Com

Nine Lakota children who died at an infamous Indian boarding school more than 140 years ago began their last morning away from their homelands on Friday. Here are photos from a departure ceremony that took place in Sioux City, Iowa.

Michelle Free-LaMere attends an honoring ceremony held in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday for nine Rosebud Lakota children whose remains were taken back to their homelands in South Dakota. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

A Native boy and girl play during an honoring ceremony held Friday in Sioux City, Iowa, for nine Rosebud Lakota children whose remains were taken back to their homelands in South Dakota. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

Manape LaMere, a community organizer in Sioux City, Iowa, speaks during an honoring ceremony held in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday for nine Rosebud Lakota children whose remains were taken back to their homelands in South Dakota. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

Four stuffed bears are shown inside a tipi erected in Sioux City, Iowa, to represent four of nine Rosebud Lakota children whose remains were returned to their homelands in South Dakota. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

Michelle Free-LaMere (right) and a young Native woman visit with each other during an honoring ceremony held in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday for nine Rosebud Lakota children whose remains were taken back to their homelands in South Dakota. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

Rosebud Lakota chef Anthony Warrior speaks during an honoring ceremony held Friday in Sioux City, Iowa, for nine Rosebud Lakota children whose remains were taken back to their homelands. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

Christopher Eagle Bear of the Sicangu Youth Council prepares to speak on Friday, July 16, 2021, during an honoring ceremony held in Sioux City, Iowa, for nine Rosebud Lakota children whose remains were taken back to their homelands in South Dakota. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

A young Native girl takes part in a ceremony held Friday to honor nine Rosebud Lakota children whose remains were returned to their homelands in South Dakota. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

A boarding school survivor hugs a member of the Sicangu Youth Council as a caravan of Rosebud youth and their chaperones prepared to leave Sioux City, Iowa, on Friday, July 16, 2021, on their way home to the Rosebud Sioux Reservation. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

A member of the Legion Riders motorcycle club prepares for the start of a caravan of motorcycles and other vehicles that departed from Sioux City, Iowa on July 16, 2021, en route to the Rosebud Sioux Reservation. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

Trisha Etringer leads her children as they prepare to take part in a ceremony held Friday in Sioux City, Iowa, to honor nine Rosebud Lakota children whose remains were returned to their homelands in South Dakota. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

A young boy plays during an honoring ceremony held in Sioux City, Iowa, on Friday for nine Rosebud Lakota children whose remains were taken back to their homelands in South Dakota. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

Members of the Sicangu Youth Council take part in a ceremony held Friday to honor nine Rosebud Lakota children whose remains were returned to their homelands in South Dakota. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

A member of the Sicangu Youth Council (left) shakes hands with a boarding school survivor during a ceremony held on July 16, 2021, to honor nine Rosebud Lakota children whose remains were returned to their homelands in South Dakota. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

Two children play during an honoring ceremony held in Sioux City, Iowa, on Friday for nine Rosebud Lakota children whose remains were taken back to their homelands in South Dakota. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

A young Native girl takes part in a ceremony held Friday to honor nine Rosebud Lakota children whose remains were returned to their homelands in South Dakota. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

A biker with the Legion Riders signals the start of a caravan of motorcycles and other vehicles that departed from Sioux City, Iowa on July 16, 2021, en route to the Rosebud Sioux Reservation. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

Sikowis Nobiss takes a last photo of a caravan of Rosebud Lakota youth and chaperones as they departed from Sioux City, Iowa, on Friday, July 16, 2021, following an honoring ceremony for them outside the Tyson Event Center. The caravan carried the remains of nine Rosebud Lakota children who had been buried at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School until recently. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

Members of the American Legion Riders prepare for the start of a caravan of motorcycles and other vehicles that departed from Sioux City, Iowa on July 16, 2021, en route to the Rosebud Sioux Reservation. Photo by Kevin Abourezk

The Legion Riders prepare for the start of a caravan of motorcycles and other vehicles that departed from Sioux City, Iowa on July 16, 2021, en route to the Rosebud Sioux Reservation Photo by Kevin Abourezk