Terra Houska to present program on “Lakota Dance & Regalia” at Crazy Horse Memorial on August 27th

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.