Crazy Horse News

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL – Ernie LaPointe will present “Perspectives on Sitting Bull, by His Great Grandson” on Thursday, July 16th at 6 p.m. during the free Thursday Night Summer Performance & Lecture Series at Crazy Horse Memorial.

Earnest (Ernie) LaPointe, a disabled Vietnam Veteran, was born in 1948 on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of South Dakota.  He grew up in Rapid City, S.D. with his half-sister Marlene Little Spotted Horse.  Their late mother Angelique LaPointe nee Spotted Horse was a housewife.  His late father Claude LaPointe farmed on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and worked in a lumber yard in Rapid City.

On his mothers side he is the great grandson of Sitting Bull and Seen By Her Nation Woman, grandson of Standing Holy (Sitting Bull’s youngest daughter) whose Christian name was Mary Sitting Bull, and Urban Spotted Horse.  His grandfather Spotted Horse was the son of Hunts Enemy and the grandson of Chief Charging Bear.  His great grandmother’s (Tokala Win LaPointe) brother was Chief Painted Horse.

Ernie LaPointe spoke at the induction of Sitting Bull into the Hall of Fame of American Indian Chiefs at Anadarko, Oklahoma, in 1992.  He has presented at the Battle of the Little Bighorn National Monument in Montana; at universities in Michigan and Ohio; the Custer Celebration in Monroe, Michigan; and Fort St. Joseph Museum in Niles, Michigan.  He has also lectured in Germany and Finland.

Ernie works with Go Native America Tours and has assisted the History Channel in two documentaries in 2004 and 2005.  He was also featured on German TV in March, 2009.

There will be free admission to Crazy Horse Memorial for those attending this education program, with a suggested donation of 3 cans of food per person for the KOTA Care & Share Food Drive.  After the program please take the time to tour the complex and stay for the spectacular laser light show at dark.

On July 23rd, the 2009 Summer Performance & Lecture Series will feature Marcella Ryan LeBeau, presenting “World War II Experiences & Fool Soldier Band History”.

Crazy Horse Memorial – On Tuesday, July 14 at 10:30 am, Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation officials will hold a press conference at Crazy Horse to make a major gift announcement.  The gift is being given by a long time friend of the Memorial, with the intended purpose of enhancing educational outreach at Crazy Horse.

It will be among the largest gifts in the project’s 61-year history.

“Over the years, we’ve been blessed with friends from all walks of life who believe in and support this project” said Mrs. Ruth Ziolkowski, President and CEO of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation.  “The extremely generous gift we are announcing is from a dear friend who is among those believers and wants to help with the educational component of Crazy Horse” Ziolkowski stated.

The 10:30 am announcement will include the donor, Governor Mike Rounds, Mrs. Ruth Ziolkowski and others.  It will be followed by a blast on the mountain, which will remove 1,680 tons of rock.

Press conference participants will be available for interviews after the blast.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL – Lorenzo Black Lance, artisan and educator will present “Sicangu Lakota Art” on Thursday, July 9th at 6 p.m. during the free Thursday Night Summer Performance & Lecture Series at Crazy Horse Memorial.

Lorenzo Black Lance was born on the Yankton Sioux Reservation and his Lakota name is A-nuk-a-sun Wam-bli (Golden Eagle).  He has taught Native American Studies for 20 years in grades K-12 and on the college level.  His work experiences include art teacher, Native American Studies Specialist, U.S. Probation Officer, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Court Administrator, and Executive Director/Vice President of Native American Heritage Association, a non-profit charity organization.  As a Sicangu Lakota, Lorenzo Black Lance now lives in Rapid City, S.D.

Lorenzo has done documentaries for the countries of Germany, Switzerland, and Poland, and he has provided lectures throughout the U.S. on Native American art, Native American history, culture, song and dance, social systems, environment, as well as Native American contemporary events in today’s society.

Lorenzo Black Lance’s gift for art runs parallel with his love for teaching.  As a Lakota and artist, he realizes all things are connected in a continuous cycle of unity.  The Ghost Dance, Sun Dance and other Lakota rituals are all part of a continuous cycle that reappears in different forms at different times.  The hopes and dreams of these rituals are not forgotten, they have only readjusted to today.

There will be free admission to Crazy Horse Memorial for those attending this education program, with a suggested donation of 3 cans of food per person for the KOTA Care & Share Food Drive.  After the program please take the time to tour the complex and stay for the spectacular laser light show at dark.

On July 16th, the 2009 Summer Performance & Lecture Series will feature “Perspectives on Sitting Bull by his Grandson,” a program by Ernie LaPointe.

For more information about the free Thursday night Summer Performance & Lecture Series, contact Anne Ziolkowski at (605) 673-4681.

July 6-9, 2009

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL – Enrollment is now open for the summer course Seminar in Lakota History 1840-1890, a Black Hills State University class offered at Crazy Horse Memorial.  This class is a one (1) semester credit hour class which will be held over 4 days, starting Monday, July 6th through July 9^th.  The afternoon sessions are held from 1 p.m to 5 p.m.

AIS 490 Seminar in Lakota History will examine the history of the Lakota people along with major historical events in Lakota history during the time period of 1840-1890.  The events and people will be studied, and will include area Black Hills field trips.

For more information contact Donovin Sprague at 605-673-4681 or by emailing donovin.sprague@crazyhorse.org.

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It’s an exciting weekend at Crazy Horse Mountain. Friday marked Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski’s wife Ruth Ziokowski’s 83rd birthday and the 133rd anniversary of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Both events were celebrated with a night blast.

Dynamite blasts are fairly common at Crazy Horse, but there are only two night blasts each year. Both are done ceremoniously to celebrate the past while sculpting continues into the future.

With six decades of work recreating the image of this legendary Lakota leader, officials at Crazy Horse Memorial say it’s important to reflect on how far they’ve come.

“The family is hard working and the employees are hard working and to see others enjoy it once and awhile, it’s well worth it,” blaster Jeff Hermanson said.

Hermanson says crews have been preparing the mountain for days for the first night blast of the year. They’ve secured dynamite and cleared debris that may be harmful to the sculpture or dangerous to workers.

“Explosives are set off by shock. You have an explosive and rock falls on it, that’s shock. That explosive has a very good possibility of detonating,” Hermanson said.

Steps of precaution on a site that’s beautiful by day, and even more spectacular by night.

“I think it’s a celebration for a family that works their tails off and I think there should be maybe five or six each year as opposed to just two,” Hermanson said.

Available to meet public following July 4^th blast

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL – On Saturday July 4, Crazy Horse Memorial will have the distinct privilege of having three Navajo Code Talkers as their honored guests.

The code talkers, Arthur J. Hubbard, Sr., Joseph Morris, Sr., and George B. Willie, Sr. will be able to witness a blast on the world’s largest mountain carving in progress.  The Independence Day blast will take place at 11:00 am and will remove over 2,000 tons of rock.

Hubbard, Morris and Willie now hail from Arizona and California.  They were part of a group of specifically trained Navajo boys selected to participate in the war efforts in the Pacific from 1942-1945.  Without the help of these men, and over 400 other U.S. Marine Corps Navajo Code Talkers who used their native language to send coded messages, it has been said that the United States would not have defeated the Japanese.

Mrs. Ruth Ziolkowski, the CEO/President of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation and wife of the late sculptor, said that “Korczak was a veteran of World War II, and had the utmost respect for anyone who fought for our country.  He would be honored that we’re able to have the Navajo Code Talkers as our guest at Crazy Horse, especially on a day as fitting as July 4th” said Mrs. Ziolkowski.

Following the blast, the code talkers will be available to greet the public and sign posters in the Crazy Horse visitor center.  The proceeds from poster sales will be used to help offset their travel expenses.

The code talkers will be honored guests at Mt. Rushmore for the annual Independence Day Celebration on July 3.

Crazy Horse Memorial is a nonprofit educational and cultural project honoring all American Indians.  Located on Highway 16/385 between Hill City and Custer, it is just 17 miles SW of Mt. Rushmore.  For more information on the Memorial and upcoming events, please call 605.673.4681.

Historian and author, Jerome Greene to speak at Crazy Horse Memorial

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL – Jerome Greene, historian and author from Colorado will be discussing “Perspectives on the Great Sioux War of 1876-1877” on Thursday, July 2nd at 6:00 p.m. during the free Thursday Night Summer Performance & Lecture Series at Crazy Horse Memorial.

Jerome Greene is a graduate of Watertown High School and served in the U.S. Army. He received a B.S. degree from Black Hills State University, M.A. degree from the University of South Dakota, and did post graduate work in American History.

Since 1998 he has been a staff curator for Harpers Ferry Center and a historian with the National Park Service in Colorado. He is the author of numerous historic research and resource studies and reports. Current projects include an Administrative History of Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, and a study of the Nez Perce Indians who reached Canada during and following the Nez Perce War of 1877.

Jerome Green specializes in American Indian history, 19th century military history, western history, Indian-U.S. Army warfare, U.S. Army uniforms and equipment 1860-1900, and frontier forts and coastal defenses. He is the author of “Evidence and the Custer Enigma”, “Slim Buttes”, “Yellowstone Command”, and “Morning Star Dawn” to name a few. Some of his newest books are “The Guns of Independence” and “The Siege of Yorktown, 1781”.

There will be free admission to Crazy Horse Memorial for those attending this education program, with a suggested donation of 3 cans of food per person for the KOTA Care & Share Food Drive. After the program please take the time to tour the complex and stay for the spectacular laser light show at dark.

On July 9th, the 2009 Summer Performance & Lecture Series will feature Lorenzo Black Lance presenting “Sicangu Lakota Art”.

For more information about the Summer Performance & Lecture Series, contact Donovin Sprague at (605) 673-4681

Saddle Bronc – Rollie Wilson, Buffalo, SD 75 points on Lion’s Den

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL – PRCA action wrapped up Sunday afternoon at the Crazy Horse Stampede with Rex Treeby, Hecla, SD winning the All-Around Cowboy honors. Click here to see more photos from the Crazy Horse Stampede Rodeo

Top place finishers from the 19th Annual PRCA Crazy Horse Stampede Rodeo:
Bareback: Joe Gunderson, Agar, SD with score 79
Tie Down Roping: Rex Treeby, Hacla, SD 9.4 seconds
Saddle Bronc: Ty Manke, Rapid City, SD score 82
Steer Wrestling: Todd Suhn, North Platte, NE 4.2 seconds
Team Roping: Jason Grubb, Spearfish, SD and Clint Hufty, Rapid City, SD 6.4 seconds

Girls Barrel Racing: Wendy Halweg, Mitchell, SD 14.45 seconds
Bull Riding: Jobie Dryden, Oelrichs, SD score of 61

Sandra San Tara 1st paintings

CRAZY HORSE – Black Hills area artists, along with contestants from Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Wyoming, North Dakota, Ecuador and Spain are participating in the 19^th annual “Gift from Mother Earth” Native American & Western Art Show.

The show opened Friday and entries will be exhibited throughout the weekend at Crazy Horse Memorial. There are 28 participants offering jewelry, sculptures, paintings, custom-made clothing and other items for sale.

The Gift from Mother Earth contest categories and winners included: (Click here to view a photo collection of the winners)

Beadwork: 1. Margie Yazzie, Page, AZ., “Wedding Basket”; 2. Margie Yazzie, Page, AZ., “Horse for Healing”; 3. Joanne Winter Chaser, Rapid City, “Leather of Deer Skin.”

Crafts: 1. Deb Burckhard, Rapid City, “Treasures Pottery”; 2. Todd Ashley, Kimball, “The Big Knife”; 3. Deb Burckhard, Rapid City, “The Dream in Color.”

Jewelry: 1. Carol Hatathlie, Tuba City, AZ., “Peace Day”; 2. Mary Lou White, Indian Wells, AZ., “Naja Necklace”; 3. Judy Busack, Kimball, “Necklace & Bracelet.”

Leather: 1. Mary Jane Steinbrecher, Aladdin, Wy, “Leather Craft Handbag.”

Paintings: 1. Sandra San Tara, Rapid City, “Golden Splendor”; 2. Darlene Lines, Hot Springs, “Chief Washakie”; 3. Darlene Lines, Hot Springs, “Guardian of the Hills.”

Quillwork: 1. Paula Tonemah, Hot Springs, “Quillwork Bag”; 2. Paula Tonemah, Hot Springs, “Beadwork Bag.”

Sculpture: 1. Wayne R. Gunville, Turtle Mt., N.D., “Stone Sculpture.”

Night Blast at Crazy Horse in June 2008

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL – On Friday June 26, Crazy Horse mountain carving will come to life with a fiery night blast to celebrate the 83^rd birthday of Ruth Ziolkowski, President/CEO of Crazy Horse Memorial and to commemorate the 133^rd anniversary of the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

  After 6 p.m. on June 26 the memorial will accept 3 cans of food per person for the KOTA Care & Share Food Drive in lieu of the memorial’s regular admission fee.

  At 8:45 p.m. under the beautiful night skies of the Black Hills there will be a program on the viewing deck followed by the spectacular “Legends in Light” multimedia laser light show.  The 563-foot Crazy Horse mountain carving will come to life as it becomes a magnificent backdrop as laser lights dance to music on the mountain side illuminating our cultural diversity, celebrating our similarities and encouraging understanding and harmony among all people.

At approximately 10 p.m. there will be a spectacular night blast on the world’s largest mountain carving.  This pyrotechnic display features a rapid-fire series of intense explosions, representing giant candles that will echo through the surrounding hills as if there were hundreds of drums playing on the mountain.

The night blast on the mountain carving is one of the most popular events at Crazy Horse Memorial. The public is advised to arrive early and to expect heavy traffic on Highway 16-385 in the vicinity of the memorial, between Hill City and Custer.  The restaurant is closed that evening – but the snack shop is open, as is Heritage Village just one mile south of Crazy Horse. 

There are only two night blasts on Crazy Horse mountain throughout the year, Ruth’s birthday, June 26 and on September 6, in observance of the 1877 death of Lakota leader Crazy Horse and the 1908 birth of sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski.

Crazy Horse Memorial is a nonprofit educational and cultural project honoring all American Indians.  Located on Highway 16/385 between Hill City and Custer, it is just 17 miles SW of Mt. Rushmore.  For more information on the Memorial and upcoming events, please visit our website at www.crazyhorsememorial.org or call 605.673.4681.