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STAND TALL

SPRING 2022

Stories of Red Cloud Schools, The Heritage Center, Pastoral Ministries


Red Cloud immersion student
WIČHÓUŊ YUWÁŊKAL UŊGLÚZAPI / CELEBRATING OUR CULTURE

Immersed in Lakȟóta

Red Cloud takes the nation’s first comprehensive K-12 Lakȟóta language curriculum to the next level.

After launching our groundbreaking Lakȟóta language curriculum over a decade ago, Red Cloud is transforming into a dual-language immersion school.

Students in kindergarten, first, and second grades are already using the Lakȟóta language as the primary medium for learning in the classroom. Over time, all Red Cloud students across all grade levels will study a range of academic subjects — math, science, language arts, social studies, and more — in a dual-language environment.

Developed onsite from scratch, our innovative, culturally grounded curriculum fully integrates Lakȟóta values and an indigenous worldview, creating life-changing experiences that help Lakȟóta children reclaim their Native language, deepen their cultural identities and build pride in their heritage.

“This program will help us raise an entirely new generation of fluent Lakȟóta speakers — who will be strong leaders and who will ultimately help heal our community,” said Elyssa Sierra Concha ’13, a first grade language immersion teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes. “It’s a beautiful movement to be a part of.”

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Artwork by student Ayoluwa Kennedy

Artwork by student Ayoluwa Kennedy

LAKȞÓTIYAPI UŊSPÉIČ’IČHIYAPI / LEARNING LAKȞÓTA

Wówačhiŋtȟaŋka

Wówačhiŋtȟaŋka is the Lakȟóta value of patience, or having endurance in difficult situations.

Throughout the pandemic, Red Cloud students demonstrated this virtue each and every day. To honor their perseverance and tenacity, school administrators made it the theme of last year's spring’s semester: students reflected on it during morning prayer, teachers incorporated it into lessons, and student artists created pieces illustrating the value of Wówačhiŋtȟaŋka. This piece, by student Ayoluwa Kennedy, now hangs in a place of honor on campus, in recognition of the importance of Wówačhiŋtȟaŋka in our lives. Wówačhiŋtȟaŋka eyápi kiŋ hé léčhel kȟápi: wótheȟike éyaš blihéič’iyapi na čhaŋtókihipi. Makȟásitomniyaŋ wičhókhuže tȟáŋka kiŋ lé ičhúŋhaŋ, Maȟpíya Lúta wayáwa kiŋ wówačhiŋtȟaŋka yuhá mánipi. Čha wičháyuonihaŋpi kta uŋ, owáyawa waíŋyaŋkhiye kiŋ wéhaŋ “wówačhiŋtȟaŋka” kiŋ lé čhokáta égnakapi na líla patítaŋpi. Híŋhaŋni wóčhekiye čháŋna, wayáwa kiŋ iyúkčaŋ-wičhákhiyapi naháŋ waúŋspekhiye kiŋ líla iwóglakapi na uŋspéwičhakhiyápi. Na nakúŋ wičhítowa wóuŋspe él, wayáwa kiŋ “wówačhiŋtȟaŋka” itówapi naíŋš wakáǧapi kaȟwíčhašipi. Itówapi kiŋ lé Ayoluwa Kennedy ečíyapi waŋ káǧe, na yuónihaŋyaŋ owáyawa él otkéyapi, wówačhiŋtȟaŋka kiŋháŋ waŋkál úŋ kiŋ hé kiksúyeuŋyaŋpi kta čha.

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Tashina Banks Rama

 

WAYÚTȞOKEČA / CHANGE AGENTS                                                                             

Lakȟóta Leading

Tashina Banks Rama steps up during pandemic as Red Cloud’s First Lakȟóta female EVP and COO.

Tashina Banks Rama was raised by civil rights activist parents who fought for equity for Indigenous people. Instilled with that same passion for social justice, Tashina has made it her life’s work to give Red Cloud students, including her own children, everything they need to change the world. Last year, as the spread of COVID-19 threatened communities across the Pine Ridge Reservation, Tashina stepped into the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer—the first Lakȟóta woman to serve in that position. She helped lead efforts to keep staff and students safe, while also continuing to push Red Cloud toward its long-term goals: transforming into a Lakȟóta immersion school and educating the next generation of Lakȟóta leaders.

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Maȟpíya Lúta Owáyawa / Red Cloud School

 

MAȞPÍYA LÚTA OWÁYAWA / RED CLOUD SCHOOL                                                    

Lessons Learned

By responding to what worked — or didn’t — Red Cloud educators effectively built their own pandemic playbook.

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American Horse's top hat, part of the permanent collection

American Horse’s top hat, part of the permanent collection

ITÓWAPI OWÁPAZO THIMÁ / INSIDE THE HERITAGE CENTER

American Horse’s Top Hat

Once shown at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., American Horse’s top hat is believed to be the only surviving example of its kind.

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Black Elk Peak

Black Elk Peak                                                                               

WÓČHEKIYE UŊ AWÁŊWIČHAYAŊKÁPI / PASTORAL CARE

Honoring Nicholas Black Elk’s Vision

Each year, Red Cloud parishioners make a pilgrimage to the same mountaintop where the Oglala Lakȟóta holy man's journey of faith began.

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Rise Above Little Warrior painting by Topaz Jones

Rise Above Little Warrior painting by Topaz Jones                            

BROTHER SIMON WÓOHIYE IČÚ KIŊ / BROTHER SIMON AWARD WINNER

Rise Above Little Warrior

Created to inspire the next generation, Topaz Jones’ painting depicts a child as a little warrior, just like the birds who band together on long migrations to find warmth and food.

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Maka Black Elk, Executive Director for Truth and Healing at Red Cloud School

Maka Black Elk, Executive Director for Truth and Healing at Red Cloud School

WIČHÓTHI ÉL / COMMUNITY

A Journey to Truth and Healing

This past year, Red Cloud embarked on a journey toward truth and healing — to confront our history as an Indian boarding school with unflinching honesty.

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Jordan, Farm to School Intern

Jordan, Farm to School Intern                                                                               

WÓOTȞAŊIŊ PTEPTÉČELA / ROUND UP

Food the Lakȟóta Way

Farm to School interns deepen their Lakȟóta roots through regenerative agriculture.

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Ashley Pourier ’08

Ashley Pourier ’08                                                                                                            

WÓOTȞAŊIŊ PTEPTÉČELA / ROUND UP

Standing Tall

Red Cloud alumni return to increase access to generations of Native art, teach Lakȟóta language immersion and serve the Pine Ridge community.

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