Pejuta Haka, SD

The Ninth Annual Native American Journalism Career Conference was held April 22nd through the 24th and students from Oglala Lakota College attended the event to learn more about opportunities in journalism and work with mentors on stories.

Students registered for the conference Tuesday afternoon and events started at 6pm with a welcome by Arnold Garson, president and publisher of the Argus Leader. Lakota artist and medicine man Charles Fast Horse did an opening prayer and encouraged students in their storytelling endeavors, and told how through his art he has told the stories of the Lakota and how these stories are now all over the world.

The night’s speaker was Gerard Baker, superintendent of Mount Rushmore, he told the students how long ago, we were all warriors, how it took everyone to survive many enemies and endure hardships. He told students how he was once beaten by education, but encouraged by his grandfather, he went back and conquered that enemy, receiving not one but two degrees. He also told of how he worked his way up through the park service. It was a great message to the students.

After dinner that evening students got the opportunity to talk with Al Neuharth, founder of the Freedom Forum and USA Today about the need for diversity in journalism and the opportunities that are now greater than ever.

Wednesday students met with their mentors who would take them through the storytelling process. The conference offered print, multimedia, audio and video opportunities. Oglala Lakota College TV Production students Jesse Short Bull, Terrence Little Whiteman, and Tonia Stands did video with mentor Quincy Pettiford. Their assignment was to interview Ruth Ziolkowski, CEO and president of Crazy Horse Memorial. Ruth was very generous with her time and answered all the students’ questions.

The afternoon was met by a blast on the mountain, then a quick trip to the top, where attendees gathered on the arm of the memorial for a group photo.
Then a press conference with Ruth and her daughters was held for the entire group of attendees to ask questions about the memorial and the challenges they faced.
Students returned to their groups to continue work on their stories.
The conference ended Thursday; hopefully the students learned something new and will look to the many opportunities in journalism.

Kathy Aplan, Director TV Production Program, Oglala Lakota College

For the Lakota Land II Project, Jesse Short Bull and I journeyed to Big Foot Pass. It was a cold, clear January day, with areas of the road still covered with snow as we made our way through Badlands National Park. Along the way we saw Bob Cat, he was in fine form, flaunting his fur coat as he calmly prowled around. We passed the Deer Herd family who were taking advantage of the lack of tourists at the fossil bed display.
As we neared Big Foot Pass we had to park on a hill and walk back down toward the base of the pass, the wind was brisk and cold as we navigated our way through the snow. Then when we reached the base of the pass, the wind seemed to die and warmth surrounded us, in the distance we heard the yipping and howling of coyotes as they heralded our presence in their community.

As Jesse shot video and I took photos of the pass we contemplated the journey taken in the winter of 1890 by Big Foot and over 300 Mnicoujou Lakota. How, here at this pass they left the Prairie and made their descent into the Badlands in an attempt to reach Red Cloud at the Pine Ridge Agency. As we neared the top of the pass and turned to see what they might have seen, we looked out across at the snow-covered expanse they would still have to traverse. Their journey was far from over.

The winter beauty of the Badlands, the pleasure of seeing and hearing the wildlife that are at home here, and the historical significance of Big Foot Pass all made a journey Jesse and I won’t soon forget. We could have waited for a nice warm Spring day. But it was important for us to experience the area, as it might have been, when Big Foot and his people passed this way.

KA

Hello from Lakota Country!

Jesse Antoine Short Bull and I would like to give a personal account of our recent trip to Sheep Mountain near Scenic South Dakota. It was a perfect spring day, the air was moving free and true against the side of our OLC van as we crept into the enormity of the Badlands. Our pilot Kathy Aplan held the wheel steady guided by James LaPointe and I. As we slowly pressed up the skinny road I felt a sense of anxiety in anticipation for view we would see.

From the top of the table could I could swing in a full circle and see every direction with ease and crystal clear clarity. The arms of the great Badlands reach out to Paha Sapa (The Black Hills) to the west. The feeling of freedom and wonder plugged straight in my soul and amplified me with awe. As Kathy and James took pictures and surveyed the land I could tell the same sense was within them as well.

Be careful when you enter this great area, the utmost care must be taken and be respectful. This is a true gem of the world but can be deadly if your steps are not cautious. Kathy and James were looking for the right angles to capture this wonder, I warned James to watch his steps.

This is a sacred site, filled with a great history and pride I think I can speak for Kathy and James that it gave us a sense of peace, the energy that resonates from here is good and positve. Perhaps you might see the mystery of Sheep Mountain as well.

JSB

Greetings to all from Lakota Funds. Lakota Funds will be offering Homebuyers Training Course at Lakota Trade Center Suite 201 at the Lakota Funds Kyle, South Dakota February 27, 2008.

This course will be for 6 classes on Wednesdays, and will be offered at a later time by Lakota Funds. After completion of this course an individual will have the tools needed to move forward with homebuying.

more information offered on our web site: www.lakotafunds.org

Personal Financial Literacy is the FIRST STEP in gaining control and managing your Financial Future. Native People have always managed resources wisely and prepared for the future/winter. The Curriculum is designed to help Native Americans adapt their traditional skills to the wise manangement of financial resources.
Lakota Funds will be offering Free Financial Literacy/Personal Finance Course March 5, 2008 5-8p.m. 4 Wednesdays at the Porcupine College Center in Porcupine, SD.
Personal Financial Skills Topics that will be covered:
-Building a Healthy Economy
-Developing a Spendging Plan
-Working with checking and savings accounts
-understanding credit and your credit report
-accessing credit
*****COURSE BOOKS ARE FREE******
For more information please call 455-2500

Lakota Funds Wawokiye Business Institute will be sponsoring a Native American Artist Meeting Thursday February 21, 2008 at the Porcupine College Center in Porcupine from 6p.m.-8p.m. Would you like to expand your market and grow your Business? Where do want to be both artistically and professionally? Come join us to explore topics and more!! For more information and a ride contact David White Bull @ 455 2500. Dinner will be provided also!
“Lakota Funds Investing in The Oyate”

Greetings to all from Lakota Funds. Lakota Funds will be offering Core Four Business Planning Course in Martin South Dakota February 27, 2008.

In this six week seminar you will learn how to transform your ideas and goals into a successful business! Gain insight on how to successfully grow an existing business! CORE FOUR Business Planning course provides essential business planning knowledge for anyone with an existing business, a business idea, or simply the desire to become an entrepreneur.

Dubbed “The Entrepreneur’s Bible” by many of its advocates, CORE FOUR Business Planning Course is an indispensable learning tool for both novice and experienced entrepreneurs. The four “core” elements of business planning outlines in the manual include learning how to identify and target your market, understanding how to operate your business under the proper standards and legal requirements, learning how to project your business’ cash flow, and planning for business success.

This course will be for 6 weeks on Wednesdays, and will be offered at a later time by Lakota Funds. After completion of this course an individual will have the tools needed to move forward with the business idea.

more information offered on our web site: www.lakotafunds.org

Mission Statement
Lakota Funds is a community development finance institution actively promoting socioeconomic sustainability of Oglala Lakota people on Pine Ridge Reservation through culturally appropriate strategies including family asset building, technical assistance, business loans, and targeted community and business development.

“Investing in the Oyate”

Lakota Funds is located in Kyle, SD also known as Medicine Root (Pejuta Haka) District inside the Lakota Trade Center. Courses for financial literacy, homebuyers training, and business planning are ongoing and open to the public free of charge. Most classes take 6 sessions for completion, financial literacy is now offered for 4 weeks, participants attend every Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. Lakota Funds also has a 5 loan products available for Oglala Lakota members residing on the Pine Ridge Reservation. More information can be obtained on our website.

The Pine Ridge Area Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary non-profit corporation whose purpose is to create, sustain and enhance Indian Owned Businesses, therefore improving the quality of life on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Applying the Lakota Values of Honesty, Wisdom, Respect, Courage, Fortitude, Responsibility and Generosity to the economic setting.
We are into our second quarter on the ANA Grant that was awarded to us in October 2007 for Economic Development. We are doing the VITA tax prepareing again this year. We will start efiling taxes on Jauary 14,2008. We are going to be set up on this day out to the Lakota Praire Ranch Resort in Kyle. Also we the chamber are headed for Pierre next week for the Tourism Conference. This is a very productive month for the Pine Ridge Chamber.
http://www.pineridgechamber.com/chamber/index.html

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