Indianz.Com > News > Native Sun News Today: Tim Giago’s legacy lives on with nation’s first Native American Day

He gave us ‘Native American Day’ in South Dakota
Tim Giago’s legacy will live on
Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Native Sun News Today Assistant Editor
RAPID CITY — Tim Giago put his last paper to bed at 8:44 a.m. Sunday, July 24, just a few days after he celebrated his 88th birthday. But those who were fortunate enough to share his life will not put his legacy to bed, the legacy of an Oglala Lakota man who went up against the powers that be to give us “Native American Day” in South Dakota.
Many times over the past 30 years, Giago shared the story behind the founding of Native American Day in South Dakota.
One day in early 1989 Giago, who was the editor and publisher of Lakota Times, set up an interview with Republican Governor George Mickelson.
There is an answer to one question Giago asked that stuck in his mind for a couple of months. He asked Mickelson, “What is the hardest part of your job as governor of South Dakota?”
Mickelson replied, “I am going to give you the same answer my father gave me when he was governor of South Dakota 40 years ago. I asked him that same question and he said ‘Trying to deal with the bad race relations between Indians and whites.’”

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Contact Ernestine Anunkasan Hupa at canhunpigiwin@gmail.com
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