Crazy Horse News

The South Dakota Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure nonprofit organization honored breast cancer survivors at Crazy Horse Memorial on Native American Day.  The nonprofit organization provided activities, educational films and booths encouraging health screenings in hopes of early detection.

Vanessa Shortbull, a former Miss South Dakota who is pursuing a public health master’s degree, was honorary chairwoman of the group’s first run-walk “Race for the Cure” event.  She told a gathering honoring 16 Native American breast cancer survivors, designated by pink shawls, that “breast cancer is an enemy that is color blind.”

Selena Wolfblack, a four-time cancer survivor, urged women to get examinations and, if necessary, to force their doctors to talk with them, and that friends and families be supportive.  “You can’t get cancer by touching a person who has it,” she said.

Students at the Native American Day program listen to inspiring comments by Gerard Baker.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL – Twenty years ago, Gov. George Mickelson and tribal leaders in South Dakota mapped out a challenge in establishing the “Year of Reconciliation.” It’s time, he said in 1990, to turn to the future together and “teach others that we can change attitudes.”

Speakers at Monday’s 20th Native Americans’ Day program at Crazy Horse Memorial sought to enlist students in helping to make those changes.

Those who succeed will be the new warriors, Mount Rushmore National Memorial superintendent Gerard Baker told the packed house in the memorial’s Mountain View conference center. At more than 200 pupils registered, students were by far the largest group in the standing-room-only crowd.

Some got to dance with Native American youth from Rapid City and Chamberlain while the Eagle Valley Singers drum group of Rapid City performed. Oglala Sioux Tribe Fifth Member Myron Pourier, world champion hoop dancer Jasmine Pickner of Rapid City and the newly crowned Miss He Sapa Win (Miss Black Hills Pow Wow) Sunni Wilkinson, a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes from White Shield, N.D., also were featured.

A Mandan-Hidasta member of the Three Affiliated Tribes in North Dakota, Baker said males and females need to assume warrior-like leadership roles because our society and freedoms are threatened by enemies from outside and within. One threat is racism.

Baker put students on their warrior quest with several assignments. Their research begins, he said, with getting adults in their families to answer, “Who are We?” Knowing their background, Baker said, is a vital building block for the students in deciding who they will be.

It won’t be a one-time dinner table talk. He also said they will need to:

– Turn off their TVs and computers at night and talk with their families.

– At least once daily stop and listen to nature and its messages from the Creator.

– Respect their natural surroundings, others and themselves, shunning bad habits and words – and questioning others when they do or say something harmful to themselves or others.

– Say one good thing to at least one person every day, especially someone they are having difficulty with.

“That’s a sign of a good warrior,” Baker said.

They will win the fight when he, as an elder, will ask about prejudice and racism and no one will know the answer. “It’s up to you, your generation, to make that turn.”

Baker is the first Native American superintendent at Mount Rushmore and throughout his nearly 30-year National Parks Service career he has been an agent for change, seeking to include the Native American perspective to tell the more complex – and complete – story of our shared national heritage.

Oglala Lakota College instructor Marcel Bull Bear named Crazy Horse Educator of the Year.

He said one of the people he looked up to in college was Marcel Bull Bear. “He was always doing something good,” Baker recalled of their time at Mary College in North Dakota.

Bull Bear, now an instructor at Oglala Lakota College at Kyle on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, was named the seventh Crazy Horse Educator of the Year. His nominator, school development director Marilyn Pourier, said he was a “great leader and a great role model.”

The honor comes with a $1,000 stipend, and the surprised Bull Bear already had plans for how the money will help his students. He teaches history, family genealogy research and cultural classes, which he will tie together in archery lessons and field trips, thanks to the grant.

“Now I have some money to bring my students to the sacred places in the Black Hills,” he said.

The power of place is important in the Lakota culture, and Bull Bear joined Baker in challenging the students to take care of themselves and their world.

“There is no way around it, we have to do that for us to survive in the future,” he said.

Education is key in the reconciliation effort and the cornerstone of programs at Crazy Horse Memorial. The mountain carving produced another 750-ton blast in the horse’s head area for the holiday crowd, but out of sight is a key development.

A university and medical training center are in the memorial’s mission, and Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation director Jack Marsh said the school is no longer just a dream.

“From this day forward we will no longer talk abstractly about the university,” he said.

Thanks to a $2.5 million gift from philanthropist T. Denny Sanford of Sioux Falls and a $5 million permanent endowment being established by Donna “Muffy” Christen of Huron, a ceremonial groundbreaking recently started the memorial’s first university student living-learning center.

Marsh said the 40-unit complex will include four classrooms. It will be completed next year and a satellite campus operation of the University of South Dakota will be in full swing by 2011. The memorial will provide jobs to students and scholarships to qualified Native Americans.

“Together, we are advancing reconciliation,” Marsh said.

Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation Chairman Dick Tobias of Rapid City, left, presents the Dreamer Award to “steadfast” and “true friends” Elaine and Jim Emery of Custer for their longtime service and support of the nonprofit memorial dedicated to honoring North American Indians, their cultures and traditions. (Crazy Horse photo/Linda Uphoff)

A longtime Custer couple, Jim and Elaine Emery, recently won the coveted Dreamer Award from the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation board of directors.

The honor, the 14th since debuting in 2000, is reserved for individuals, businesses and organizations whose ongoing help significantly aids the 61-year-old memorial’s educational and humanitarian mission to honor Native Americans and their tribal cultures.

He was the foundation’s treasurer for more than half of its history and remains a director on the 27-member board. For nearly 20 years, she’s been the volunteer coordinator of the Crazy Horse Memorial Scholarship Fund and board meeting secretary.

In thanking Jim Emery for his guidance and counsel, the foundation’s award notes, “We are further honored to be part of your mission to carry on your father’s priceless efforts to preserve the Lakota language.”

With the help of memorial media archivist Mike Morgan, Emery preserved and converted the extensive recordings that his father, the late James E. Emery, made of Lakota stories, ceremonies and music from the 1950s to the 1970s. Copies of the digital archives have been provided to regional tribal and state colleges, as well as the Crazy Horse Memorial library.

Board members told Elaine Emery “we are blessed to have your passionate involvement in the Scholarship Fund. This inspiring program benefits greatly from your genuine and caring manner. We appreciate the assistance you provide at board meetings and your wonderful sense of humor.”

She works with foundation president and memorial chief executive Ruth Ziolkowski on the scholarship funding, which has exceeded $1 million since the fund began in 1978. The program this fall semester awarded more than $135,000 to South Dakota schools, which select the scholarships winners.

Married for 52 years, the Emerys are from the Lead-Deadwood area where they graduated from high school in 1952.

Jim Emery, a Lakota, served in the U.S. Army paratroopers and attended Black Hills State College at Spearfish and National College of Business in Rapid City.

He managed Black Hills Power & Light Co.’s Southern Hills offices from 1971 until retiring in 1996. He served on city councils in Hot Springs and Custer, on the Hot Springs Development Corporation, state Board of Education and in the South Dakota Legislature for 12 years.

His tributes include the Man of the Year Award from the Rapid City Jaycees and the President’s Award from Custer Area Chamber of Commerce.

Elaine Emery is a retired legal secretary who also worked in newspaper advertising accounting and as a consultant on several election campaigns in the state. She attended the University of South Dakota at Vermillion and South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City.

She was a charter member of the South Dakota Lottery Commission, serving seven years, three as president, on the panel supervising scratch ticket and other state-sponsored games. She also served six years, two as president, on the state Commission on Gaming, overseeing horse racing and casino-style gambling in the state.

She is a charter member of Custer County Republican Women’s Club, and member of Women of St. John’s Catholic Church in Custer.

The nation’s oldest state-sponsored Native Americans’ Day holiday ceremony will be held Monday, Oct. 12, at Crazy Horse Memorial.

The 20th annual event will be held regardless of weather. Snow spotted but did not stop the first program in 1990.

About 1,000 people watched as a dozen state and tribal officials circled spiritual leader Arvol Looking Horse, 19th generation keeper of the sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe of the Dakota, Lakota and Nakota (Sioux) nation, as he prayed to the four directions and blessed the gathering.

A unanimous 1989 Legislature established Native Americans’ Day, officially replacing Columbus Day in South Dakota. Lawmakers said they did so for “the remembrance of the great Native American leaders who contributed so much to the history of our state.”

At the initial state holiday ceremony, the crowd applauded when Gov. George Mickelson said in Lakota, “Today I stand before you and shake your hand with a happy heart.”

Oglala Sioux Tribal Chairman Harold Salway reciprocated. “We must all live together. We must all survive together, so we must learn to live among each other and cherish each other.”

The “Year of Reconciliation” spirit endures at Crazy Horse. The private, nonprofit memorial honors all North American Indians everyday, but Native Americans’ Day is special, said memorial president and chief executive Ruth Ziolkowski.

“Gov. Mickelson at the first ceremony said while governments must work to resolve legal issues, ‘tolerance and understanding must come from the individual heart.’ On the holiday, busloads of school children come for the educational programs and get to meet our wonderful Native American artists and learn firsthand about their culture. Adults get to see and hear the amazing Native dancers and speakers. Then they all can get together at the free buffalo stew lunch for more conversation,” she said.
“This is what the memorial is all about: being a meeting place where learning — reconciliation if you will — happens on a person-to-person basis. The visitors can find out about the traditions and the historic heroes, like Crazy Horse, and see that the Native American culture is alive and vibrant and has contemporary leaders. That’s one reason why we think it is so important to recognize the annual Crazy Horse Educator of the Year.”

The seventh award winner will be named during a program that also features a Native American children’s dance troupe and drum and singing group from Rapid City Area Schools. Festivities get under way at 10 a.m.

A blast on the mountain carving is set for 11 a.m., weather permitting. Afterward, representatives of the Pink Shawl Project and South Dakota Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation will provide information about cancer awareness programs. Tests will be available at a mobile examination unit at the memorial.

Throughout the day, activities for students will include making miniature tipis, beading and simulated digs for historic artifacts.

Located on Crazy Horse Memorial Highway (U.S. 16/385 between Hill City and Custer), Crazy Horse is 17 miles southwest of Mount Rushmore. For more information about Crazy Horse and Native Americans’ Day, please call 673-4681.

Fast facts:

– There are 2.5 million Native Americans in the U.S.
– November is Native American Awareness Month or American Indian Heritage Month.
– South Dakota has the third highest proportion of Natives (behind Alaska and New Mexico), and the 8th largest Native population among states (Oklahoma leads with 179,524 tribal members.)
– South Dakota’s other holidays recognizing Native Americans are Little Big Horn Recognition Day on June 25, commemorating the 1876 battle, and Wounded Knee Day of Reflection on Dec. 29, commemorating the 1890 massacre.
– California Gov. Ronald Reagan signed a resolution in 1968 establishing the fourth Friday in September as American Indian Day, but the California Assembly didn’t approve the statewide California Native American Day holiday until 1998. Berkeley, Calif., substituted Indigenous Peoples Day for Columbus Day in 1992.
– Alabama observes Monday, Oct. 12, as Columbus Day, Fraternal Day and American Indian Heritage Day.
– Maryland observes American Indian Heritage Day on the fourth Friday in November.
– Nevada observes Native American Day as a working holiday on the fourth Friday in September.
– The 2004 Utah legislature established November as American Indian Heritage Month in the state and Indigenous People Day on the Monday before Thanksgiving.

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.”

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Having just announced the operation’s gift financing in July, donors returned Sunday to help break ground for a $2.5 million Native American student living and learning center at Crazy Horse Memorial.

The dormitory complex is planned on the nonprofit memorial’s property fronting U.S. Highway 16-385 near Echo Valley Road and Heritage Avenue, north of Custer. The area is now an occasional cattle pasture adjoining the Mickelson Trail.

(read full story)

The drawing for the 2008 Harley-Davidson Street Glide was held on Sunday, September 6 at Crazy Horse Memorial. The lucky winner was Mr. Robert Gilchrist from Washington, West Virginia. The winning ticket number was #02779.

5^th 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.

A full weekend of activities are planned at Crazy Horse Memorial September 5-7 to celebrate Labor Day weekend.

On Sunday September 6, the second and final night blast of the year will take place at Crazy Horse Memorial.  This event observes the dual anniversaries of the 1877 death of Oglala Lakota leader Crazy Horse and commemorates the birthday of the sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski.

Boston-born Ziolkowski came to the Black Hills in 1947 to start work on the largest mountain carving in the world.   After 61 years, the project is showing accelerated progress, with one of the largest blasts in the project’s history taking place on August 19, 2009 removing 4,362 tons of rock.

The night blast will be part of the Labor Day weekend open-house at the Memorial.  As a thank you to our neighbors, the residents from South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Nebraska are admitted free on Saturday, Sunday and Monday to the Memorial with a suggested donation of three cans of food per person for the KOTA Care and Share Food Drive.

Preceding the night blast will be “Legends in Light” a multimedia laser light production.  It shows nightly at dark through Native American Day, October 12, 2009.  The laser show will begin at approximately 8:00 pm, followed immediately by the night blast.

Also as part of the weekend festivities, the winning ticket will be drawn for the 2008 custom detailed Harley-Davidson Street Glide.  The drawing will be take place at 3:00 pm on Sunday, September 6.  The pearl white bike has been on display at the Memorial since it was unveiled on September 6, 2008.  This is the fourth year the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation has sponsored a bike raffle fundraiser.  Tickets are one for $20 or three for $50 and may be purchased until 2:00 pm on September 6 at the Memorial or by calling 605.673.4681. All proceeds go to the project.

Terra Houska will present a program entitled “Lakota Dance & Regalia” on Thursday, August 27th at 6 p.m. during the free Thursday Night Summer Performance & Lecture Series at Crazy Horse Memorial.

Terra Houska was born to Kathy Houska and Leo Bald Eagle.  She was raised in Rapid City and attended Haskell Indian Nations University.  Kay Franklin, a well known Southern Cloth Dancer, sparked Terra’s interest in dancing.  Following the loss of Terra’s grandmother, Lorene Bald Eagle Bear in 2004, Terra decided to dance to honor the life of her grandmother.

In 2006 Terra danced at the Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Following her return from Haskell, Terra danced at powwows around South Dakota.  She also dances in Oklahoma and Colorado. Terra designs her own regalia and constantly makes additions to it.  She tries to find designs that have meaning which represents her tribe and family.  Some of her ideas come from photographs from the 1800’s, especially of the Cheyenne.  Her family is Lakota, Bohemian, and also Cheyenne.

Terra’s great-grandfather Chief Joseph Paul Bald Eagle Bear was one of the first Native American’s to graduate from Princeton University after attending Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania.  Joseph was in the first group of students at Carlisle with Luther Standing Bear.  Terra is employed as a Wildlife SCEP (Student Career Enhancement Program) by the U.S. Forest Service at Sundance, Wyoming.

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.

This concludes the 2009 Crazy Horse Memorial Summer Performance & Lecture Series for this year, a series which began in 1996.

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