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Crazy Horse News
Editorial Board
Argus Leader
Almost 27 years to the day after Korczak Ziolkowski’s death, another layer of his plan for the Crazy Horse Memorial is unfolding.
The site of his monumental sculpture is becoming a satellite educational affiliate of the University of South Dakota.
It’s practically a perfect match of mission and location.
The program will start next summer, if possible, with college prep classes and freshman-level college courses, including English, math and Native American cultural classes.
An important goal of the affiliate will be to boost educational odds for Native American students.
While college participation has been improving steadily for the past three decades, according to the Department of Education, Indian enrollment still is the lowest of any demographic group, and degree completion is about half that of the national average.
The combination of college-prep and freshman classes, with a potential to earn up to 12 college credits, will give students a leg up on both enrolling in and completing college.
All of this pleases Ruth Ziolkowski, Korczak’s widow and the president and CEO of Crazy Horse Memorial, because education was part of the couple’s vision for the monument from the beginning.
USD will benefit, too. What better place to teach Native American studies than at a site dedicated to remembering tribal history in the heart of the Black Hills, sacred to many tribal traditions?
Thanks to gifts from philanthropist T. Denny Sanford and Donna and Paul Christen of Huron, this program is a boon both for the memorial and USD – but above all, for Native American students’ potential success.
Additional Facts
THE FACTS
* The University of South Dakota is opening a satellite educational affiliate at Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills.
* Philanthropist T. Denny Sanford donated $2.5 million to build the complex. Interest from a $5 million endowment from Donna and Paul Christen of Huron will provide for operating costs.
* Enrollees, mainly Native American students, will be able to earn six to 12 college credits.
 The mobile classroom, STARBASE Project NOVA, is back again this fall at Crazy Horse Memorial for another round of educational outreach.
Project NOVA is sponsored by the South Dakota Air & Army National Guard and 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.”
(read full story)
5th annual Museum Day to be held Sept. 26
On Saturday, September 26, 2009 the Indian Museum of North America located at Crazy Horse Memorial will participate in the fifth annual Museum Day, presented by Smithsonian magazine.
Museum Day is a day when museums and cultural institutions nationwide open their doors free of charge to Smithsonian magazine readers and Smithsonian.com visitors. A celebration of culture, learning and the dissemination of knowledge, Smithsonian’s Museum Day reflects the spirit of the magazine, and emulates the free-admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, DC-based properties.
“Crazy Horse Memorial is honored to be part of Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day 2009,” said Anne Ziolkowski-Christensen, Director of Museums for the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation. “Our museum has an ever growing collection of Native American artifacts, and being part of the 2009 Museum Day helps increase awareness about the cultural and educational aspects of Crazy Horse Memorial” stated Ziolkowski-Christensen.
The Indian Museum of North America is home to an extraordinary collection of art and artifacts reflecting the diverse histories and cultures of the American Indian people. Almost all of the items have been donated by generous individuals, including many Native Americans. The museum, designed to complement the story being told in stone on the mountain, speaks eloquently to present and future generations about American Indian life.
Originally designed and built by Korczak Ziolkowski and his family, they were involved in all aspects of the museum construction to hold the cost to a minimum. It was constructed from ponderosa pine which was harvested and milled at Crazy Horse. The museum was dedicated on May 30, 1973. It has expanded over the years and now houses three wings.
Last year, upwards of 200,000 people attended Museum Day. All 50 states plus Puerto Rico were represented by 900 participating museums, including 84 Smithsonian affiliate museums.
Attendees must present Smithsonian magazine’s Museum Day Admission Card for free admission to participating institutions. The admission card is downloadable at www.smithsonian.com/museumday. Each card provides museum access for two people. Only one admission card is permitted per household. Listings and links to participating museums can also be found at www.smithsonian.com/museumday.
Crazy Horse Memorial is a nonprofit educational and cultural project honoring all American Indians and is located on Highway 16/385 between Hill City and Custer. For more information on the Memorial, please call 605.673.4681.
 On Wednesday, August 19 at 2:00 pm, visitors to Crazy Horse Memorial will witness one of the largest blasts in the history of the project. Work continues on the horse’s head and Wednesday’s blast will remove 4,362 tons from the 300 bench. The 300 bench represents work being done 300 feet below the top of Crazy Horse’s head.
Blasts of this magnitude have been very rare in the project’s 61-year history. To provide some perspective, 4,362 tons is the equivalent of 363 dump truck loads of rock.
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, please call 605.673.4681.
Bike is called ‘Commitment’
 On Tuesday, August 4, Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation officials took possession of a custom made motorcycle created by Eric Gorges, Voodoo Choppers out of Clinton Township, Michigan. With the mountain as the backdrop, the unveiling took place on the viewing veranda in front of a standing room only crowd.
The handcrafted bike features a custom black, cream, and red paint job with a Crazy Horse Memorial theme. Gorges appropriately dubbed the bike ‘Commitment’ in a parallel drawn to Crazy Horse sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski’s grit and determination to carve a mountain.
Gorges visited Crazy Horse Memorial in 2008 and was immediately inspired by the project. In an effort to help with the fundraising, Gorges put his natural ability and talent to work and created this one-of-a-kind chopper that he donated to the Memorial to raffle off.
He is the founder and owner of Voodoo Choppers, which began its custom made bike business in 1999.
This bike represents the 5th annual bike raffle fundraiser sponsored by the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation. It is now on display in the Visitor Center. Tickets are one for $20 or three for $50. They may be purchased at the Memorial or by calling 605.673.4681. All proceeds will be used as a match towards the $5 million dollar Sanford challenge grant and will be used exclusively for the mountain carving.
 The winning ticket will be drawn on Sept. 6, 2010, celebrating what would have been sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski’s 102nd birthday and honoring Crazy Horse’s death date in 1877.
Following the bike presentation, the crowd was treated to one of the biggest blasts of the season, removing 2,450 tons of rock off the mountain.
For more information on Eric Gorges and Voodoo Choppers, visit his website at www.voodoochoppers.com/index.html.
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.
3:45 pm unveiling to be followed by a blast on the mountain
On Tuesday, August 4, Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation officials will take possession of a custom made motorcycle created by Eric Gorges with Voodoo Choppers out of Clinton Township, Michigan. The handcrafted bike also features a custom paint job with a Crazy Horse Memorial theme.
Gorges is the founder and owner of Voodoo Choppers, which began its custom made bike business in 1999. A friend of the Korczak and Ruth Ziolkowski family, Gorges donated the bike to the project to help with the Memorial’s fundraising efforts. Voodoo Choppers has been featured in several magazines and books spanning the globe, and primarily produces handcrafted and one-of-a-kind work. The unveiling of the bike will take place at 3:45 pm on the viewing veranda.
This bike represents the 5th annual bike raffle fundraiser sponsored by the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation. The exclusive bike will be on display in the Visitor Center. Tickets are one for $20 or three for $50. They may be purchased at the Memorial or by calling 605.673.4681.
The winning ticket will be drawn on Sept. 6, 2010, celebrating what would have been sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski’s 102nd birthday.
Following the bike presentation, visitors will be able to witness one of the biggest blasts of the season, removing 2,450 tons of rock off the mountain.
Marcella Ryan LeBeau will present “World War II Experiences & Fool Soldier Band History” on Thursday, July 23rd at 6 p.m. during the free Thursday Night Summer Performance & Lecture Series at Crazy Horse Memorial.
Marcella Ryan LeBeau is a World War II veteran and member of the Two Kettle Lakota of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. She served as a nurse in World War II, becoming a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps.
Marcella was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2006 in the category of Professional. She was born in Promise, S.D., and is a descendant of Joseph Four Bear. Marcella was one of 100 U.S. World War II veterans to receive the French Legion of Honor Award in 2004 in Paris, at the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Her service in the Army took her to Wales, England, France and Belgium. She has spoken at many veterans’ events about her military experience in World War II.
Marcella is a founding member of the North American Indian Women’s Association. She retired as the director of nursing from her career of 31 years at Indian Health Services in Eagle Butte. She raised a family of eight children and is an advocate for the Lakota language and culture, youth, veterans, elderly, upholding treaties, and wellness.
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 30th, the 2009 Summer Performance & Lecture Series will feature Faye Longbrake, presenting “Lakota Family History.”
For more information about the free Thursday night Summer Performance & Lecture Series, contact Donovin Sprague at (605) 673-4681.
$5 million dollar endowment to benefit Crazy Horse
CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL – Crazy Horse received a welcome boost in funding as they were named the recipients of a generous endowment gift. Mrs. Paul “Muffy” Christen, the former Director of First Western Banks and Chair of the Board of First Western Bancorp, Inc. and current Chair and Director of Christen Group, LLC, Huron, SD, today announced a $5 million dollar endowment gift to the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation. The first installment, $2.5 million dollars, will be awarded immediately and placed in the newly created Crazy Horse Centennial Fund at the South Dakota Community Foundation. The second half of the gift will be placed in the endowment fund within the next several years. The Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation will earn yearly interest off the endowment in perpetuity. Mrs. Christen established an open-ended endowment fund so others like her who believe in the work being done at Crazy Horse can continue to add to the principal.
“I consider it an honor to play a role in continuing the progress that is being made on all fronts at Crazy Horse,” said Mrs. Christen. “I have told Ruth that she can spend the yearly interest payments any way she chooses so the dream that was started six decades ago can continue to become a reality.”
“We are so overwhelmed and blessed by this incredible gift from Muffy Christen,” said Mrs. Ruth Ziolkowski, President and CEO of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation. “Muffy and her husband, Paul, have been such wonderful long-time friends of the project and their faith in our work at Crazy Horse bolsters our determination to accelerate progress on the mountain as well as create new educational opportunities for young Indian students. We just can’t thank the Christen family enough for their amazing generosity.”
The announcement was held on the viewing deck at the Memorial with the massive mountain carving serving as the backdrop. A blast was conducted on the mountain after the announcement in celebration of the gift. Among the speakers at the announcement were Governor Mike Rounds, South Dakota Community Foundation President Bob Sutton, and Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation Board Chairman Dick Tobias.
For additional information about the new endowment fund please contact James Hagen at 605.673.4681 or email giving@crazyhorse.org.
Donna “Muffy” Christen
Donna “Muffy” Christen was born in Mitchell, South Dakota to Herbert & Gyda Starr. Muffy graduated from Mitchell High School and later from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD, with a B.A. Degree. She completed post graduate study in Marketing at the University of Denver and later received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Dakota Wesleyan University.
Muffy met her husband, Paul Christen, while attending college together, and they married in 1951. Muffy and Paul have two daughters, Rebecca Christen Pohlad and Kathryn Christen Ramstad. Both daughters have homes in Minneapolis, MN and elsewhere. The Christen’s have 3 grandsons, Thomas, Joseph and Christopher Pohlad and 1 granddaughter, Christen Mitchell.
Muffy, along with her husband, Paul, sold their First Western Banks in January 2008 to First Interstate BancSystem. At the time of the sale they had 17 banking locations, all in western South Dakota. Muffy held the position of Director of First Western Bank and Chair of the Board of First Western Bancorp, Inc.
The Christen’s presently own First Western Agency, with insurance offices in western South Dakota.
Currently, Muffy is serving as: Chair and Director of Christen Group, LLC, Huron, SD; Director & Vice President, Asst. Secretary/Treasurer of CG Properties, LLC, Huron, SD; Member & Manager of Christen Co., LLC, Huron, SD; Board of Directors
of South Dakota Community Foundation, Pierre, SD; Co-Founder, Director and Chair of the Christen Hohm Lusk Greater Huron Area Foundation, Huron, SD; Director and Chair of the James & Zelda Ruddy Nursing Scholarship Foundation, Huron, SD; Member
and Past President of Chapter F, PEO; Member and Past Chair and Trustee of the Methodist Church, Huron, SD.
Muffy also served as: Founder and Chair of the Spirit of Dakota Award Commission for 8 years; Charter Chair of the Huron Regional Medical Center Foundation for 3 years; and Charter Member of the South Dakota Judicial Qualifications Commission for 5 years.
She was honored with the Distinguished Civic Service Award by the Huron Chamber of Commerce in 1991 and as the South Dakota Philanthropist of the Year in 1990.
Muffy has also held various offices and served in many capacities on numerous other State and local organizations.
Paul and Muffy reside in Huron, South Dakota and also own a home in Indian Wells, California.
C RAZY 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.
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