Native American Education

A Black Hills State University class is being offered at the Indian University of North America at Crazy Horse Memorial for the spring 2009 semester.  It is taught once a week on Thursdays from 4-7 p.m. and runs through April 30.  The class is “INED 411/INED 511 South Dakota Indian Studies.”  The instructor is Donovin Sprague of Rapid City, who is the Education Director at Crazy Horse.  Sprague is an enrolled Minnicoujou Lakota, and adjunct instructor in undergraduate and graduate studies for Black Hills State University in American Indian Studies, political science, education, history and art.

In this class, students have the opportunity to study American Indian history with emphasis on the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota speaking people.  Current cultural issues are presented including values, family structures, traditional religion, fine arts, legends, economics, governmental policies, treaties, acts and related areas.  The class also focuses on teaching methods, content and materials to equip students to teach bi-culturally.  The course is designed to meet requirements in American Indian studies for South Dakota certification.  Students can take the course for either undergraduate or graduate credit.

For information about educational classes at Crazy Horse, contact Donovin Sprague at 605.673.4681 or email at Donovin.sprague@crazyhorse.org.

Crazy Horse Memorial works closely with other organizations and institutions to create meaningful educational opportunities for young people. For example, Crazy Horse Memorial partnered with the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and the American Indian Science & Engineering Society to present a conference in the Native American Educational and Cultural Center.

Memorial staffers are also part of a collaborative effort that offers continuing education for teachers seeking a master’s degree in history-related fields of study. Partners in this effort include Technology and Innovation in Education, the Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, Black Hills State University and the Chiesman Foundation for Democracy. One of the recent programs included a presentation entitled “Three Voices Speaking from the Past” which provided a view of South Dakota’s history from the perspectives of three women from three different cultures.

Crazy Horse Memorial coordinates field trips for university students attending Black Hills State University and Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, SD. These include interpretive outings to the Pine Ridge Reservation, Fort Robinson Nebraska (where Crazy Horse was killed) and numerous historic sites in the Black Hills.

Crazy Horse educators provide guest lectures at various colleges and universities and are actively involved in the National Indian Education Association Conference, and the South Dakota Indian Education Association and Bilingual Association Conference.

Additional education initiatives include:

• A coordinated program with the High Museum of Art in Atlanta Georgia, conducting classes in Native American culture and art.
• The Annual Gift from Mother Earth Art Show every June.
• Strong advocate of, and participant in, the reconciliation program initiated by Governor George Mickelson in 1990.
• Presentation of Native American dancers on a daily basis at Crazy Horse Memorial during the summer visitors season. This program includes oral interpretation of the dances and songs and an audience participation segment.
• “Heartdreams and Legends: The Story of Two Peoples”, an international exchange exhibit of Native American and Australian Aboriginal art that premiered at Crazy Horse Memorial in the summer of 2000.

The Indian Museum of North America at Crazy Horse Memorial offers visitors of all ages an opportunity to learn about Native American history and culture. This extensive museum collection contains artifacts representing indigenous people from all regions of North America. Visitors from all over the world are able to sample and experience the diverse history, art, religion, government and economy of the North American Native peoples.

In May of 2000, Crazy Horse Memorial dedicated the 40,000 square foot Welcome Center that provided much-needed space to welcome a growing number of visitors that now exceeds one million annually. It also provides new classroom space as well as meeting and conference rooms, and a new library.

The Crazy Horse Memorial Library now contains more than 26,000 volumes with an emphasis on Native American literature and history. The library coordinates a growing number of requests from scholars and interested individuals for research information on Native American issues and the Crazy Horse Memorial project.

A roving classroom geared to help Lakota students improve their technology skills was showcased for the third consecutive year at Crazy Horse Memorial in the fall of 2008.

The classroom is called Starbase Project NOVA. The South Dakota Air & Army National Guard sponsors Project NOVA and it is part of the Department of Defense (DoD) Starbase initiative to help minority and rural students. NOVA is short for “New Opportunities,Visions and Attitudes.”

DoD Starbase focuses on elementary students, primarily fifth graders, to interest as many students as possible. The goal is to motivate them to explore science, technology, engineering and math as they continue their education. The program encourages them to set goals and achieve dreams using the motto that “dreams + action=Reality”®.

During NOVA’s stay at Crazy Horse, there were free public tours, as well as special classes for Custer area students, and several surrounding schools. NOVA’s computer gadgets include simulators that mimic military aircraft controls. Students also learn about the construction and operation of an airplane, perform scientific experiments and launch a rocket they built.

Project NOVA is a fun learning experience for the students and is another angle of the educational mission at Crazy Horse. We look forward to having Project NOVA back in 2009.

The Junior Scout program is an educational activity booklet designed to provide information about American Indian tribes. The activity booklet is a self guided education tool designed for small or large school age groups or families with children visiting Crazy Horse Memorial. The program features activities such as a treasure hunt to identify certain specific displays or exhibits located in the museum complex, word search, fill in the blanks, puzzle and drawing activities. The activity booklet is specific to the Lakota history and culture in order to learn more about the indigenous tribes in South Dakota and the Black Hills region. Upon completion of the activity the students receive: a signed Crazy Horse Memorial Junior Scout Certificate, pencil and wristband that have the Lakota terms Bravery, Respect, Generosity and Wisdom engraved on them.

Upon special request the Native American Cultural Center offers Lakota history and culture interpretive programs to enhance the learning experience while visiting the Memorial. Examples of activities include: setting up a Lakota style tipi and playing Lakota society camp games including shinny/field hockey, hoop toss, whipping top game, bone and pin game, whirling bone game and hand games.

When visitation slows down in the winter season the Cultural Center features a make and take table. This hands-on activity provides easy to follow instruction on how to make Lakota style crafts such as: miniature drums, medicine pouches and par fleche designs. The guests may actually take the finished artwork home. Each make and take item has explanations of its cultural significance and usage in order to teach the proper cultural respect.

In addition, the Native American Education and Cultural Center staff can provide classroom discussion and lessons on American Indian history, culture, and contemporary issues affecting tribes today.

The Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation is moving forward on a new education initiative to construct a campus residence on the grounds of the Memorial. The primary purpose of the facility is to advance the education component of the Foundation’s mission by providing enhanced educational opportunities for students. This will be accomplished by providing life learning skill courses and college credit classes as part of a summer curriculum for seasonal employees. As part of their summer program, students will work at the Memorial in jobs that augment their classroom instruction. The facility will also be a valuable asset in helping to grow small group activities such as workshops, seminars and retreats during the off-season by providing modest but attractive lodging and meeting accommodations.

As a major tourism destination that attracts over 1 million visitors annually, Crazy Horse has a wide variety of summer employment needs that provide the opportunity to earn a competitive wage and gain valuable experience. Opportunities range from front line service positions to behind the scenes support roles. A partial list includes ticket office attendant, welcome center greeter, information desk attendant, interpretive guide, office assistant, library assistant, maintenance worker and program intern.

Although not limited to American Indians, the focus of this initiative will be on the recruitment and retention of American Indian youth. This project, with its priority emphasis on education and the chance to learn job skills and a fair wage, provides a unique opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of these young people who are faced with many obstacles and challenges in reaching for their dream.

The Native American Day celebration at Crazy Horse each year includes a program, Native American singers, dancers, artists and storytellers. Another highlight of the day is hands-on activities for children, a free buffalo stew lunch for all visitors and a blast on the mountain (weather permitting.)

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The Native American Cultural Center provides a  number of unique educational opportunities geared to enhance the visitors experience at Crazy Horse. One-of-a-kind artifact collections are displayed, native artisans/vendors are showcased and special activities and games are featured.

The distinctive stone building was completed in 1996 from rock blasted from the Crazy Horse mountain carving.

The Center hosts and encourages many hands-on activities including: setting up a Lakota style tipi, Lakota games (shinny/field hockey, hoop toss, whipping top game, bone and pin game, whirling bone game and hand games.) Guests are encouraged to participate at the “make and take” activity table which provides detailed instruction on how to make Lakota crafts such as miniature drums, medicine pouches and par fleche designs. Each item has written and drawn explanations of its cultural significance and usage in order to teach the proper cultural respect. Staff and vendors provide instruction in American Indian history and culture through storytelling, flute playing, song and dance, as well as information regarding contemporary issues affecting tribal nations today. Native American artists from all over North America spend much of the summer in residence at Crazy Horse, where they are provided space in the Cultural Center at no charge. They are able to create and sell their work while interacting with visitors, which provides a valuable cultural exchange for both parties.

One wall of the lower level of the Cultural Center is a natural quartz ridge. The lower level is used for lectures and presentations and houses a display of a large collection of Edward S. Curtis photographs of Native Americans, taken around the end of the 19th century.  This extraordinary collection of historic and culturally significant photographs was donated by Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation board member William Turner and family of Florida.

As part of the Indian Museum of North America, the Cultural Center building is also the home of many museum exhibits.

The 10th annual Native American Journalism Career Conference will be held at Crazy Horse Memorial April 14-16, 2009.

The Native American Journalism Career Conference, held at Crazy Horse Memorial every April since 2000, is the largest Native student journalism program of its kind in the country.  This year conference organizers are expecting 125 high school and college students, and 75 mentors, teachers and staff to participate.

The 9th annual conference held April 22-24, 2008 attracted the largest total attendance, and the second-best student attendance.  During the 2008 conference, two young ladies each received a $2,000 scholarship for further study. With these awards, the Crazy Horse scholarship program passed the one million dollar mark in cumulative awards.  It began in 1978 with a modest $250 award.  The presentation of the 2009 Crazy Horse Memorial Journalism Scholarships will take place at 11:00 am on Thursday, April 16 in the Orientation Theater.

Over the course of the three-day conference, experienced journalists – many of them Native American – will mentor the students on the basic skills and practices of journalism, including writing, photography and multimedia.  Featured speakers at general sessions will include Freedom Forum and USA TODAY founder Al Neuharth, Mount Rushmore Superintendent Gerard Baker, and Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation CEO/President Ruth Ziolkowski.

The conference is funded by the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute and co-sponsored by the South Dakota Newspaper Association, the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, the Native American Journalists Association, and the journalism programs at South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota.

For more information on the conference contact

Doris Giago with SDSU, 605.655.6236 • Doris_Giago@sdstate.edu; or

Janine Harris with the Freedom Forum, 605.677.5424 • jharris@freedomforum.org.