Hello and welcome once again to the Institute of American Indian Studies's website. As you will notice, Bruce Chandler, graduate research assistant for the Institute and our resident upcoming webmaster, has added considerably to our offerings for your perusal.

We started out this Fall 1996 Semester rather differently; I was out of state conducting the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Advisory Committee's Little Bighorn Symposium in Billings, and Crow Agency, Montana. The Advisory Committee felt competitors would benefit by visiting the Greasy Grass site and by sponsoring speakers who would give historical background to the events that transpired there 120 years ago. It was an outstanding success with over 150 people journeying to Billings. Dawn Carey and Chris Jones, members of the National Park Service Support Team to the Advisory Committee, deserve kudoes for their excellent preparation to host competitors. So far we have over 850 competitors, from 41 states, registered for the competition. Thank you for helping us build a memorial to commemorate Indian participation at the Greasy Grass.

Bruce and Fern Marvin have nearly completed an index of the South Dakota Oral History Project. Based on Ms. Sue Julin's American Indian Research Project Index, it will provide another tool to facilitate research into the Oral History Center's two projects. We will have a small press run for distribution to appropriate libraries, etc., when funds become available.

The Institute's fall staff are once again busy doing their respective projects. Terri Crawford is catching up with files, Bev Fortner is working on several assignments, Sheri Bell is continuing work on our next website offering, tentatively entitled "A Journey Through Indian Country: South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska's Reservations." It is an ambitious undertaking but one that is necessary for futhering our understanding of Indian nations and facilitating communications between all citizens of our country and indeed, the global community. This is a partial product of Shari Bell's summer research project which was funded by the University of South Dakota's Bush Grant Program.

The Wase Wakpa Oyate (Vermillion River People) have been very active under the sage leadership of Mr. Gene Thin Elk, Mrs. Germaine Chinn, and other community elders. In addition to making inipi (sweatlodge) ceremonies available to people who are sincerely seeking understanding, meetings to discuss community issues are regularly scheduled in the Native American Cultural Center located here on Campus. The Center is becoming a major hub of Indian activities as Mr. Doyle Pipe On Head schedules a wide variety of events there.

Enrollment in my Native American Thought class is heartening. If you are interested in perusing the books we are working with please peek into the syllabus. I am attempting to incorporate as much Indian oral history into the philosohical strands as possible, tempered with that which has already been written. Dave Aronson, Ph.D., and fellow team-teacher in the American Indian Government and Politics class, is having a great time uncovering the trials, tribulations, and triumphs that our sovereign Indian nations encounter in their everyday functions. The syllabus is also listed on this website.

One difficult situation I have always tried to avoid, except when talking to close relatives, is the passing on of our elders, but I want to make some exceptions at this time. This year some people who have had meaning to me left. Dr. Bob Bunge, a compassionate man who influenced many of us in the University community, and Mr. Alvin Zephier, possibly the first American Indian to graduate from the University of South Dakota, are no longer with us. Also, two great storytellers who shared their thoughts and insights with many people, Mr. Ben Gullickson and Mr. Elmo Gullickson, and Mr. Matt Two Bulls, Lakota singer and elder, have moved into the next world. While I feel bad about this I am also encouraged because I know they enriched many of us in different ways and it is up to us to carry on their tradition by sharing with others. That is the Indian way.

We are also mailing invitations to the second in a series of annual Joseph Harper Cash Memorial Lecture which is scheduled for Thursday, October 24, at 7:30 PM, in the Hoy Rooms, Coyote Student Center, University of South Dakota. Our special guest speaker this year is Mr. Bob Karolevitz whose topic is "Brave Bear: The Rest of the Story." Many of you are familiar with Mr. Karolevitz and his works which range across a wide spectrum of human interests. You are cordially invited to come down and take in this program. A reception will follow the presentation.

I am out of thoughts right now so I better sign off. With good thoughts and feelings for you and yours, I remain, with respect, Mitakuye Oyasin--All My Relatives

Leonard Bruguier

To send me an e-mail message, click here: bruguier@usd.edu

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