North Elementary School in Mission will end the school year with a Wacipi (pow wow) on Friday, May 18. Students at the K-3 school have been making preparations, and it has become a learning experience that you won’t find in the usual textbooks. The pow wow begins with a feed at 11:30 a.m. at the Sinte Gleska Multi-purpose Building, and the music and dancing will follow. Photos by Bernie Hunhoff.
Editor’s Note: The work at Crazy Horse Memorial has progressed considerably since Bill Allan, a Plankinton native, wrote this piece. It appeared in our November 1987 issue. To subscribe to South Dakota Magazine, call us at 800-456-5117.
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| Chad Coppess of Dakotagraph snapped this view of Crazy Horse Memorial in 2009. |
I came up to Mount Rushmore National Monument in long nourished anticipation, like others who flock to see this renowned carving, and was moved by the grand tribute to these four presidents who guided our land during troubled times. However, having seen pictures of Rushmore in magazines and papers, my emotions fell short of what I wanted and expected.
The story of Mount Rushmore is inspiring. The accomplishments of the creator, Gutzon Borglum, and those of the four faces portrayed in stone are truly a tribute to man’s determination and exemplary of man’s ability to rise to new heights.
But today, the work is finished. All that is left are the visitations and the photo taking, as viewers pay homage to artist and subjects alike. It is the same with the Washington Monument, the Pyramids, the Eiffel Tower and other great masterpieces. They gleam with grandeur and artistic greatness. Our eyes feed on them and we are inspired.
And then we drive away.
But as I drove away down one of the Black Hills roads, I found new inspiration in a mountainous tribute being carved to the American Indian. It became the lifetime endeavor of a special man whose work is now being continued by his family.
“When the legends die, the dreams end; when the dreams end, there is no more greatness.”
The monument — conceived by local Native Americans, and engineered by the great sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski — is being carved out of a mountain of rock five miles north of Custer, South Dakota. It will one day be a gigantic figurine of the great Oglala Lakota leader Crazy Horse, astride a pony, pointing over the horizon to the Indian lands. “My lands are where my dead are buried,” the young warrior once told a taunting white trader.
While he lived, Korczak liked to brag that, out of the 4.5 billion people in the world, he was the only one carving a mountain. The largest sculptural undertaking of all time, it will rise to 563 feet and span 641 feet — higher than the Washington Monument, larger than the pyramid of Gizeh, and so massive all four of the heads at Rushmore could fit inside the head of Crazy Horse when it is completed. Sculpted in the round, it will picture Crazy Horse mounted bareback on a horse so large a five-story house could fit into one of the animal’s nostrils.
Henry Standing Bear, a Lakota chief, pleaded with an orphan boy from Boston who was already an established sculptor to carve a likeness of Crazy Horse, one of the greatest of Indian heroes. That was 1939. A war later Korczak accepted the challenge. He and Standing Bear searched until they found the proper mountain and, without money or income, forty-year-old Ziolkowski lived in a tent and immediately began the world’s most massive sculpture.
Not knowing this, I reflected little interest as we drove up the road leading to the project. I was let down. All I could see was a pile of stone at the base of a rock mountain that someone had painted white markings on. I expected little else to capture my attention.
I was wrong.
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| Photo by Chad Coppess. |
There on the mountain I found an inspiration that will always be a part of my life. I found refreshing value in the determination of this man called Korczak. He could have likely written his own ticket to fame and fortune in the art centers of the world. Yet he was inspired to live the rest of his years in the shadow of a mountain, measuring, planning, carving and recording plans in the event he did not live to see the finish.
I am especially inspired by the last words the sculptor said to his wife, Ruth, just before his death in 1982 after 34 years on the mountain. “You must work on the mountain,” he told her, “but go slowly — so you do it right.”
It becomes obvious to all who view the stone carving that it is not the act of completion that carries the import of this tremendous undertaking. It is the act of doing!
I am sure the Indian people and Korczak designed it to be so. He did not plan to have a heart attack or have his back broken as he worked. And he knew bigots would oppose the idea of carving an Indian, yet he went ahead and bought the mountain with the arrangement that it would revert to the Indians at the death of the artist’s youngest child. These obstacles just happened as part of living his love of life.
The mountain could break his bones and his body, but never his spirit. Like Crazy Horse, the man he was perpetuating, Korczak had too much heart.
Today his wife and children carry on the work. Visitors pay a fee (presently $27 a carload) to see the progress. Believing in free enterprise, the sculpture proudly refuses federal financing, relying instead on the monies from private people, namely the American public. It gives every viewer the opportunity to be a part of the dream as they participate in the doing. Most visitors take a stone chip or two of the famous mountain to more graphically tell the story when they arrive home. As each small chip falls, we are reminded that the inspiration of the Crazy Horse Memorial is in the doing. When it is completed, one day in the distant future, it will tell the story of America’s first people and engrave the nobleness of the Indian Nation. From around the world, people will flock to view the masterpiece, and those whose aspirations found growth in the Crazy Horse story as told in rock may find a need for new goals that concentrate on the act of doing.
The memory of Crazy Horse is a marker, a milestone to the changing times of our nation. Perhaps we can view the Crazy Horse monument as an inspiration to rekindle our land’s greatness. This proud Indian chief, along with the leaders of other Indian nations, knew the value of this vast land. They deemed it worth fighting for. They, too, were willing to lay down their lives to preserve it.
No one said it better than Korczak Ziolkowski: “When the legends die, the dreams end; when the dreams end, there is no more greatness.”
On my next visit to the Black Hills, I will stop to look at the Rushmore faces, be uplifted, but will race on to the Crazy Horse site to see the progress that has been made in my absence. I will not look at Korczak’s grave at the base of the mountain, rather, I will spend my time appreciating his ongoing lesson in creativity.
When you write articles, editorials or blogs which people from all over the world might read you have to remember how much responsibility you carry. I truly believe all writers must have personal and professional integrity as far as their work is concerned.
I am an unofficial ambassador for Lakota people as well as the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. I take my role seriously. All tribal writers should remember they are ambassadors for their people.
I live on the reservation. Addressing sensitive topics is very difficult. There is always someone out there who will find fault with my thinking. I never had the desire to be a journalist or a columnist, I just kind of wound up in this field because I am a writer.
As a writer I view the internet as an amazing thing. It is a way for my work to be instantly exposed throughout the world. It is pretty awesome when I think about it. There are people from all over the globe who can read the words I write. I believe it would be unethical for me to abuse this responsibility.
I was never into sensationalism. I don’t believe it is right to print something for people to read when it isn’t true. Most people love drama. Inaccurate or dramatic newspaper articles, letters or editorials can often create issues where there may be none to begin with.
We have impressionable young people who might believe everything they read in the newspapers as the ultimate truth. We have a responsibility to them to present only the facts. How will our young people learn to walk with integrity and responsibility when we continue to show them it is okay to print distortions?
As writers we all enjoy our right to express ourselves in our work. The only way our Lakota descendants will learn is by watching us. We are tomorrow’s ancestors. Is your spoken and written word something you would want your children to carry on?
Thank you all so very much for reading this column. Some days the job I do is a very tough one. But I would rather leave a legacy of truth, integrity and Lakota spirit for my descendants than one of lies, speculation and deceit. We must be good ancestors. We pave the way for our unborn generations. We have the power to change their world. We have to take care of it.
Vi Waln is Sicangu Lakota and an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Hercolumns were awarded first place in the South Dakota Newspaper Association 2010 contest.She can be reached through email at sicanguscribe@yahoo.com.
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| The Big Foot Memorial Ride retraces the path of Chief Big Foot and his band in the winter of 1890. Photo by Greg Latza. |
December is a difficult month for the Lakota-Dakota-Nakota people. Today I am grateful as we have been blessed with several mild days. This time of year in the Great Plains is usually very harsh. Still, we should always be ready for those weather changes which can quickly bring subzero temperatures and white-out blizzards.
Despite the national holiday hype, many Lakota-Dakota-Nakota people do not view this month as one of celebration. December brings dark anniversaries for my people. I am one who believes in the memory capacity of our DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Our ancestors were traumatized with violence and our cells hold ancestral pain. I do believe that is why so many of us still have unprocessed inner issues and emotions that sometimes cripple us as human beings.
On December 15, 1890 our Hunkpapa Chief Sitting Bull was murdered at his home on Standing Rock by local Indian Police. On December 26, 1862 there were 38 Dakota men executed in Mankato, MN by order of President Abraham Lincoln. On December 29, 1890 our Hunkpapa Chief Big Foot, along with most of his band, was violently murdered in the cold at Wounded Knee Creek. In my opinion, residual feeling of the acute horror which surrounded these painful events over a century ago is still carried in our cellular memory.
There are events which take place to help us cope. Two organized memorial rides held during the month of December are designated to pray for healing. The site www.wolakota.org says “One of the most successful and challenging rides remains the Big Foot Memorial Ride initiated in 1986, after one of the original founders had a dream to retrace the historical trail taken by Chief Big Foot and his band in the winter of 1890 which tragically ended in the Wounded Knee Massacre. This ride continues each December.”
In addition, the Dakota 38 + 2 Memorial Riders brave a 330 mile trail that began on December 10 at the Lower Brule Reservation and finished at the execution site in Mankato, MN on December 26.
More information can be found on the Facebook pages of both these annual memorial events. Please support the riders as they are on the last few days of their 2011 commitment to the Lakota-Dakota-Nakota people. I am grateful to all who participated in these memorial events.
Vi Waln is Sicangu Lakota and an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Her columns were awarded first place in the South Dakota Newspaper Association 2010 contest. She can be reached through email at sicanguscribe@yahoo.com
December 21 is a sacred day. It marks the first day of winter as well as the solstice. It is an appropriate time to address spirituality.
Winter solstice is a sacred day for many cultures. It is a powerful time to offer prayers of thanks for all we are blessed with. I have come to believe that Christmas Day, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, was actually created as a way to turn Indigenous people away from our own way of worship on the winter solstice.
The Lakota people did not celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ before the reservation churches were established. I believe the real day of prayer was observed on the winter solstice by the people with ceremony, food and family. When the people were blessed with abundance in preparing for the harshest season of the year, it was appropriate for them to pause on a sacred day to give thanks for having enough basic necessities to get them through another winter.
So, even though my Lakota ancestors were busy every day of their lives making sure there was enough water to drink, food to eat, appropriate clothing and warm shelter available for everyone, daily prayers were also essential. Nature and the stars were monitored carefully to help with preparation for whatever time of year was upon the people.
Today we have organized religion all around us. Some religious leaders believe we do not have any kind of spirituality. I personally believe that Jesus Christ brought messages of love and forgiveness. He encouraged people to refrain from judgment. He was a role model. But, like my Lakota ancestors who participated in the Ghost Dance, Jesus was judged as dangerous. He was crucified.
Many Lakota people will offer a prayer in much the same way our ancestors did on the Winter Solstice. Many of us will also join mainstream society in celebrating Christmas next week. Yet, those of us who chose to embrace our own Lakota spirituality are often ostracized; sometimes by our own family members. Still, I believe my Lakota prayers with the Sacred Pipe will bring me everlasting life.
Happy Holidays to all of you.
Vi Waln is Sicangu Lakota and an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Her columns were awarded first place in the South Dakota Newspaper Association 2010 contest. She can be reached through email at sicanguscribe@yahoo.com
Like many Lakota people, I do not single out one day a year to give thanks. Many of us offer morning prayers every day, seven days a week, every single day of the year. Some of us offer prayers at noon, prayers over food, prayers before meetings or other events, prayers at night and even say lots of special prayers when we feel the need. When I hear people praying they always give thanks for many things.
I am also thankful for the air I breathe and the food I eat. Mother Earth is so good to us but we often take her for granted. Also, I believe it is very important that every time I drink or use water I give thanks for it. We must remember there are parts of the world where people do not have access to the good water or food which we have. I am also appreciative of fire, which heats our homes and cooks our food.
I am also extremely thankful for my Lakota ancestors because without them I would not be who I am today. I am thankful for the Lakota children who have given me great inspiration and encouragement in many ways. I am thankful for the Lakota medicine men, spiritual leaders, and the Lakota pipe carriers. I am especially thankful for our young men and women who have taken the time to perfect their talent as Lakota ceremonial, Native American Church and wacipi singers.
I am deeply appreciative of my Lakota culture because it has taught me to be grateful. I have learned to feel appreciation for every minute of every day because I realize that life is short. I do not want to devote my time to people who are not thankful for anything in their lives.
Finally, I encourage you to never take anything for granted. The gifts or people you enjoy today could be gone tomorrow. Learn to live in the moment because I believe it is the only way to find true joy in our lives. Rejoice in each sunrise; give thanks each morning to the Creator for gifting you a new day of life. Enjoy your family and friends while you still can. Be thankful every day of your life.
Vi Waln is Sicangu Lakota and an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Her columns were awarded first place in the South Dakota Newspaper Association 2010 contest. She can be reached through email at sicanguscribe@yahoo.com
The annual observance of Veterans Day is to acknowledge our soldiers for their patriotism, willingness to serve in times of war, love of their homelands and their readiness to sacrifice themselves for the common good of the people. The holiday originated on November 11, 1918 when an armistice went into effect at the eleventh hour between the allied nations and Germany.
Lakota people have long celebrated Veterans Day by remembering the soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in the course of defending our homelands. We acknowledge the men and women currently serving our country, along with those who returned to resume their lives among their people.
Our country has been at war for nine years. During this war many young men and women have sacrificed their very lives for us. The courage displayed by our soldiers has been passed down by a legacy of Akicita (soldier).
Lakota warriors have always been an integral part of our society. Long before the arrival of Columbus and all who followed, our warriors were dedicating themselves to defending the people and their camps against attacks or invasions. They were not afraid to sacrifice themselves to ensure the safety of their families and Oyate (people).
Not much has changed over the centuries. Countless Lakota people have served tours of duty in the military and returned home to their families. Other Lakota people are still on active duty. Today, it is a fact that American Indian tribes are the most widely represented group in terms of military enlistment.
I believe tribal governments could do more for the soldiers returning from active duty. But even while tribal officials may want to provide more adequate support systems for veterans they might not have the dollars to do so. Many of our people come home with deep emotional, mental, physical or spiritual scarring resulting from their tours of duty.
I know there are some Lakota families who have provided traditional cleansing rituals for many Akicita upon their return from the war zones. I believe tribal governments could contribute to these efforts by providing increased support to the spiritual leaders who offer these Lakota ceremonies to make them more available to our soldiers.
I always remember the Akicita, both living and deceased, in my prayers. They are also remembered with prayer and song at many traditional ceremonies across Indian Country. Our soldiers and veterans are a very important part of our society.
Vi Waln is Sicangu Lakota and an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Her columns were awarded first place in the South Dakota Newspaper Association 2010 contest. She can be reached through email at sicanguscribe@yahoo.com
Jeremiah Murphy captured these photos from the 2011 He Sapa Wacipi na Oskate (Black Hills Pow wow) in Rapid City held October 7-9. The wacipi also featured the Miss He Sapa Win contest, hand game, style show, archery contest, art show and Healing Conference. The Youth Day Symposium was held on Friday and featured musician Jackie Bird, hip-hop performer Andrew Orozco, and live art performer Bunky Echo-Hawk. View more of Murphy’s photos at Tumblr.
I’m always on the lookout for new hiking trails in South Dakota, but there are a few that keep me coming back. One such trail would be Summit Trail at Bear Butte. I got hooked after first visiting with my parents when I was a teenager. The scenery and view were amazing, but I was fascinated by the butte’s spiritual significance. We saw many colorful prayer flags tied to tree branches. There were pouches and cans of tobacco that I assumed were left for offerings. As the strong winds blew through the trees and tangled my hair, I knew there was something going on here that was much bigger than me.
Bear Butte, located just outside Sturgis, was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1981. The area is sacred to many Native American tribes. According to Cheyenne custom, this is where holy man Sweet Medicine met the Creator and the Four Sacred Persons who guard the Universe. It is still the site for many traditional religious ceremonies and visitors are asked to be respectful. I recall seeing a sign asking us not to photograph religious artifacts or anyone in prayer.
Summit Trail is 1.85 miles long and winds to Bear Butte’s highest point, 4,426 feet above sea level. It takes about 2-3 hours, depending on how often you stop to contemplate the meaning of life. It’s windy at the top, so bring a jacket, and there’s an amazing view of the Black Hills, Sturgis and the surrounding states.
Plans to drill oil near Bear Butte sparked controversy earlier this year when SD Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Board of Minerals authorized Nakota Energy, LLP to construct up to 24 oil wells one and one-half miles west of Bear Butte. And about 360 acres of the oil field were within the Bear Butte National Historic Landmark boundary. The South Dakota Historic Preservation Office and many American Indian groups quickly objected because laws protecting cultural, archaeological and historic sites were not obeyed.
This spring the board did revoke the original permit and granted a new one with stricter guidelines. Now only five wells can be drilled and they must not be within view from Highway 79. I assume you will still be able to see them from the summit of the butte. Personally I would prefer the landscape not be marred. I’d rather not have to see any oil wells at all near one of my favorite hiking spots in South Dakota.
