Happy New Year?

Happy New Year?

Monday, March 25, 2024

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column explores a basic question if a modern Lakotan calendar is to be developed: when does a year begin? The closest...

CAIRNS Newsletter 20:5 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 20:5 Emailed to Subscribers

Thursday, March 21, 2024

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Navigating Narratives Gallery Talk

Navigating Narratives Gallery Talk

Friday, March 15, 2024

This evening, the CAIRNS director gave a public talk on the background research that led to the Navigating Narratives exhibition. There are only four persons...

Coffeen Elementary School Visits Exhibit

Coffeen Elementary School Visits Exhibit

Friday, March 15, 2024

This morning, nearly 60 4th grade students from Coffeen Elementary School visited the Navigating Narratives exhibit that is on display in The Brinton Museum....

Big Horn School Visits Exhibit

Big Horn School Visits Exhibit

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Today, around 150 Kindergarten through 5th grade students at Big Horn Elementary School visited the Navigating Narratives exhibit at The Brinton Museum....

Gallery Activities for Two Schools

Gallery Activities for Two Schools

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Tongue River Elementary School’s 5th grade was the first of nine groups of students to visit the Navigating Narratives exhibition at The Brinton Museum over...

By Chance - Wanun

By Chance - Wanun

Monday, March 11, 2024

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column traces some of the coincidences whereby the gift of a book by famous Dada artists led to a handdrawn artwork (the...

CAIRNS Newsletter 20:4 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 20:4 Emailed to Subscribers

Sunday, March 3, 2024

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

CAIRNS at St. Andrews Episcopal Church

CAIRNS at St. Andrews Episcopal Church

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Early this morning the CAIRNS director traveled from our office in Lacreek District of Pine Ridge Reservation to St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Rapid City,...

Twenty for Twenty: December 21, 2004

Twenty for Twenty: December 21, 2004

Monday, February 26, 2024

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column is another in a series celebrating our 20th year as a nonprofit organization. The series is called “Twenty for...

The Brinton Museum to Host Talk and Dinner

The Brinton Museum to Host Talk and Dinner

Sunday, February 25, 2024

In conjunction with its exhibition of Navigating Narratives: The Corps of Discovery in Titonwan Territory, The Brinton Museum in Big Horn, Wyoming, is hosting...

CAIRNS Newsletter 20:3 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 20:3 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Twenty for Twenty: Lakota Film Festival

Twenty for Twenty: Lakota Film Festival

Monday, February 12, 2024

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column is another in a series celebrating our 20th year as a nonprofit organization. The series is called “Twenty for...

Winter Counts and Star Knowledge

Winter Counts and Star Knowledge

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Saturday morning the CAIRNS director traveled from Wingsprings in the Lacreek District of Pine Ridge Reservation to He Dog School in the Parmelee District...

Navigating Narratives Opens at The Brinton Museum

Navigating Narratives Opens at The Brinton Museum

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Our most recent Lakota Educational Art Project exhibition, Navigating Narratives: The Corps of Discovery in Titonwan Territory, opened today at The Brinton...

Twenty for Twenty: The Logo

Twenty for Twenty: The Logo

Monday, January 29, 2024

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column is the fourth in a series of educational offerings in celebration of the beginning of our 20th year as a nonprofit...

LEAP Exhibits Close at Wagner Community School

LEAP Exhibits Close at Wagner Community School

Friday, January 26, 2024

Today the CAIRNS director returned to Wagner Community School to take down, with the help of Jimmy, Frannie, Jen and Brenda, the community versions of our...

CAIRNS Newsletter 20:2 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 20:2 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Lakota Emergence Online Exhibit is Live

Lakota Emergence Online Exhibit is Live

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Nearly three and a half years ago we moved the CAIRNS website to a new software program and hosting platform. But our hundreds of webpages could not simply...

Two LEAP Exhibits at Wagner Community School

Two LEAP Exhibits at Wagner Community School

Friday, January 19, 2024

Friday morning the CAIRNS director left the Lacreek District of Pine Ridge Reservation, drove the west-to-east breadth of Rosebud Reservation, continued...

Twenty for Twenty: Capitals

Twenty for Twenty: Capitals

Monday, January 15, 2024

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column is the third in a series of fun and educational offerings in celebration of the beginning of our 20th year as a...

CAIRNS Newsletter 20:1 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 20:1 Emailed to Subscribers

Thursday, January 4, 2024

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Twenty for Twenty: Tribes

Twenty for Twenty: Tribes

Monday, January 1, 2024

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column is the second in a series of fun and educational offerings in celebration of the beginning of our 20th year as...

CAIRNS Commemorates Nineteenth Birthday

CAIRNS Commemorates Nineteenth Birthday

Thursday, December 21, 2023

On December 21, 2004, the South Dakota Secretary of State certified the Articles of Incorporation of the Center for American Indian Research and Native Studies...

Twenty for Twenty: Reservations

Twenty for Twenty: Reservations

Monday, December 18, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column is the first in a series of fun and educational offerings in celebration of the beginning of our 20th year as a...

Justice Delayed

Justice Delayed

Monday, December 4, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column features a newspaper story from November 27, 1923, about an interesting legal case involving a parcel of land that...

The Real Thanksgiving

The Real Thanksgiving

Monday, November 20, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column is an updated version of a Thanksgiving column we wrote in 2020. It includes seven questions related to Thanksgiving...

Lakotan Time and Astronomy at Badlands Observatory

Lakotan Time and Astronomy at Badlands Observatory

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

This evening’s presentation examined Lakotan conceptions of time beginning with night, day, a month, and a year. It also showed the difference between “Indian...

National (Native American/American Indian) Heritage Month

National (Native American/American Indian) Heritage Month

Monday, November 6, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column draws from President Biden’s proclamation that November 2023 is National Native American Heritage Month to look...

Do You Want to be a Revolutionary?

Do You Want to be a Revolutionary?

Monday, October 23, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column gives an overview of the training that CAIRNS conducted for Teach for America on Saturday.  The conclusion is that...

North Star and Big Dipper at Badlands Observatory

North Star and Big Dipper at Badlands Observatory

Sunday, October 22, 2023

This evening’s presentation by the CAIRNS director incorporated Lakotan narratives about Red Cheek WOMAN and her son, Fallen Star, and her husband, North...

Teach for American at American Horse School

Teach for American at American Horse School

Saturday, October 21, 2023

This morning a CAIRNS team traveled from our office in Lacreek District to American Horse School in Pass Creek District of Pine Ridge Reservation. Teach...

Winter Counts and Star Knowledge at Badlands Observatory

Winter Counts and Star Knowledge at Badlands Observatory

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Continuing the collaborative partnership between Badlands Observatory and CAIRNS, the CAIRNS director shared a presentation about Lakotan winter counts that...

Finding the Right Words

Finding the Right Words

Monday, October 9, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column addresses South Dakota's legal holiday, Native Americans’ Day. It advocates for paying close attention to language...

ECW Visits Wingsprings and Wounded Knee

ECW Visits Wingsprings and Wounded Knee

Saturday, October 7, 2023

A group of Episcopal Church Women, who call themselves the “singles ladies,” traveled from Rapid City to Wingsprings where the CAIRNS director gave them...

This Week in Lakota History

This Week in Lakota History

Monday, September 25, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column examines the journals of four boatmen with the Corps of Discovery as they traveled up the Missouri River through...

Gallery Walk & Talk with St. Joseph's Indian School Teachers

Gallery Walk & Talk with St. Joseph's Indian School Teachers

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Teachers at St. Joseph’s Indian School joined the CAIRNS director for a gallery walk of "Navigating Narratives," the latest educational art exhibition that...

Final 2023 Workday at Inestimable Gift Cemetery

Final 2023 Workday at Inestimable Gift Cemetery

Thursday, September 14, 2023

We returned to Inestimable Gift Cemetery for what think will be the last workday to mow and weed whip around all the headstones. In the picture, from right...

Front Page Indians - 100 Years Ago This Week in History

Front Page Indians - 100 Years Ago This Week in History

Monday, September 11, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column reprints two articles that appeared on the front pages of South Dakota newspapers 100 years ago this week, September...

Oceti Sakowian History and Contemporary Status

Oceti Sakowian History and Contemporary Status

Sunday, September 10, 2023

The CAIRNS director was invited to present on Oceti Sakowian history and contemporary status to Rotarians from South Dakota and Australia. His talk was a...

Lakotan Astronomy at Oglala Lakota ArtSpace

Lakotan Astronomy at Oglala Lakota ArtSpace

Friday, September 8, 2023

A CAIRNS team presented a free community workshop at Oglala Lakota ArtSpace. The focus was on hanhepi wi, the moon. We explored the phases of the moon and...

Tipi Sisters Visit Navigating Narratives

Tipi Sisters Visit Navigating Narratives

Thursday, September 7, 2023

A group of women from the Pierre area who call themselves “Tipi Sisters” met up this afternoon with the CAIRNS director at Akta Lakota Museum in Chamberlain,...

A Star Died (Disappeared)

A Star Died (Disappeared)

Monday, August 28, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column examines the drawing of a star for the year 1903-1904 and uses contemporaneous newspaper accounts to suggest that...

CAIRNS Returns (Again) to Inestimable Gift Cemetery

CAIRNS Returns (Again) to Inestimable Gift Cemetery

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

It was less than five weeks ago since the last time that we gathered for a workday at the cemetery to mow and weed whip around all the headstones. There...

Mato Tipila at Bear Lodge

Mato Tipila at Bear Lodge

Friday, August 18, 2023

Devils Tower National Monument was the first national monument established in the United States. The year was 1906. The name had no factual reference. The...

Stars, Meteors, and Comets

Stars, Meteors, and Comets

Monday, August 14, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column examines the mentions of stars and comets that are in Lakotan winter counts. The column, “Stars, Meteors, and Comets,”...

Lakotan Winter Counts

Lakotan Winter Counts

Friday, August 11, 2023

This evening CAIRNS returned to Badlands Observatory in Quinn, South Dakota, to resume the collaboration between the two organizations. The CAIRNS director...

Defortification

Defortification

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column examines Article 16 of the Fort Laramie Treaty that includes a stipulation that the U.S. abandon the three forts...

Navigating Narratives from 1804

Navigating Narratives from 1804

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column discusses the Corps of Discovery’s 1804 ascent of the Missouri River. Everything we know about their expedition...

CAIRNS Returns to Inestimable Gift Cemetery

CAIRNS Returns to Inestimable Gift Cemetery

Friday, July 14, 2023

Even though it was less than a month since our last workday at the cemetery, the grass and weeds were really tall. Three of us were able to mow and weed...

Justices by the Numbers

Justices by the Numbers

Monday, July 10, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column, guest written by former CAIRNS Research Assistant and current PhD student at The Ohio State University, discusses...

CAIRNS Director Meets with Chair of NEA

CAIRNS Director Meets with Chair of NEA

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Early this evening, the CAIRNS director rode to Mato Paha with the Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson (second from right...

Chanpasapa Wi

Chanpasapa Wi

Monday, July 3, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column discusses today’s early morning full moon, called Chanpasapa Wi (Ripe Chokecherries), and the next Lakotan month,...

CAIRNS Research Fellows Meet at Wingsprings

CAIRNS Research Fellows Meet at Wingsprings

Sunday, July 2, 2023

Three former Research Fellows met at Wingsprings to discuss reviving the Fellows program. From right to left, Jordan lives in Minnesota whereas Céline and...

Navigating Narratives Opening at Akta Lakota Museum

Navigating Narratives Opening at Akta Lakota Museum

Saturday, June 24, 2023

More than twenty creatives attended the opening reception for Navigating Narratives, the latest exhibition in our Lakota Educational Arts Project. The creatives...

Toksha Ake Wachinyankinkte (I Will See You Again Later)

Toksha Ake Wachinyankinkte (I Will See You Again Later)

Friday, June 23, 2023

Today was the fifth and final day of our Lakotan Lands & Identities classroom on wheels for Youth and Family Services. The seminar ended as each day did:...

Mato Tipila

Mato Tipila

Thursday, June 22, 2023

The highlight of today’s traveling seminar was spending time at Mato Tipple (Devils Tower) in small group discussions followed by time for attendees to eat...

Anpetu Yamni - Day Three, Wednesday

Anpetu Yamni - Day Three, Wednesday

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Today’s itinerary for our Lakotan Lands & Identities workshop on wheels focused on sites within Pine Ridge Reservation. Two major stops included the Red...

YFS LL&I D2

YFS LL&I D2

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

This second day of our Lakotan Lands & Identities traveling seminar for Youth and Family Services featured extended stops at two Lakotan sacred sites: Mato...

All Aboard!

All Aboard!

Monday, June 19, 2023

A brand new edition of our “Lakotan Lands & Identities” workshop on wheels departed the Central High School parking lot in Rapid City  this morning. The...

CAIRNS Returns to Inestimable Gift Cemetery

CAIRNS Returns to Inestimable Gift Cemetery

Friday, June 16, 2023

With all the rain here in Pine Ridge Reservation this spring and early summer, the grass has really grown! A half dozen of us spent a chilly damp morning...

Installing Navigating Narratives at Akta Lakota Museum

Installing Navigating Narratives at Akta Lakota Museum

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

This week the CAIRNS director has been assisting with installating of the latest CAIRNS educational art exhibition, Navigating Narratives: The Corps of Discovery...

Education in Motion

Education in Motion

Monday, June 12, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column reflects on last week’s "Lakotan Lands & Identities” classroom on wheels and the eight years we have been hosting...

Workshop on Wheels with Arts Midwest

Workshop on Wheels with Arts Midwest

Friday, June 9, 2023

On an invitation from Arts Midwest (AM), a CAIRNS team hosted the AM Board of Directors, some of its staff, and a few others, for a day-and-a-half Workshop...

Bear Butte State Park with Jim Jandreau

Bear Butte State Park with Jim Jandreau

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

A highlight of the second day of the Workshop on Wheels was a presentation by Jim Andreau, the manager of Bear Butte State Park. Jim is a citizen of Lower...

Workshop on Wheels with CHAD

Workshop on Wheels with CHAD

Monday, June 5, 2023

Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas asked CAIRNS to develop and conduct a three-day workshop on wheels. With a team of four, we launched the...

Navigating Narratives

Navigating Narratives

Monday, May 29, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column announces the upcoming opening of our latest educational art exhibition, titled “Navigating Narratives.” The exhibit...

American Indian History and Diversity

American Indian History and Diversity

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Two CAIRNS staff, the vice president and the director, conducted a training presentation for selected Walmart pharmacy employees from across South Dakota....

New Bookmarks Available

New Bookmarks Available

Sunday, May 21, 2023

We just received our latest educational product from the printers. It is a bookmark 2” wide and 8.25” long. On one side is a map of the nine reservations...

Front Page Indians - This Week in History

Front Page Indians - This Week in History

Monday, May 15, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column reprints three articles that appeared on the front pages of South Dakota newspapers 75 and 100 years ago this week,...

CAIRNS Newsletter 19:3 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 19:3 Emailed to Subscribers

Monday, May 15, 2023

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Winter Counts and Star Knowledge at Little Wound High School

Winter Counts and Star Knowledge at Little Wound High School

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

This morning, the CAIRNS director traveled from the home of CAIRNS in the Lacreek District of Pine Ridge Reservation to Little Wound High School in Pejuta...

Allotment Stakes and Land Descriptions

Allotment Stakes and Land Descriptions

Saturday, May 6, 2023

Students from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, visited Wingsprings today. The CAIRNS Director led a guided tour of Wingsprings before...

When the People Laughed at Hanwi

When the People Laughed at Hanwi

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

The Badlands Observatory located in Quinn, South Dakota, hosted a special evening featuring a "Lakotan Moon Phases” presentation and a “Bright Moon Tour”....

Spring Emergence?

Spring Emergence?

Monday, May 1, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column closely examines the Lakota emergence narrative to try and answer the question whether or not that event happened...

CAIRNS Newsletter 19:2 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 19:2 Emailed to Subscribers

Monday, May 1, 2023

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Lakota Emergence at Willamette University

Lakota Emergence at Willamette University

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Today the CAIRNS director was on the campus of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. During the day he visited two classes and then late this afternoon...

Front Page Indians - This Day in History

Front Page Indians - This Day in History

Monday, April 17, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column reprints two articles that appeared on the front pages of South Dakota newspapers 25 and 50 years ago this April...

Curious News from the Roman Curia

Curious News from the Roman Curia

Monday, April 3, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column, guest written by Tyler Young, delves into the recent headline: "Vatican Repudiates ‘Doctrine of Discovery,’ Used...

Lakotan Star Knowledge at Badlands Observatory

Lakotan Star Knowledge at Badlands Observatory

Monday, March 20, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column covers the first in a series of presentations that the Badlands Observatory is hosting in partnership with CAIRNS....

Winter Counts and Mato Tipila at Badlands Observatory

Winter Counts and Mato Tipila at Badlands Observatory

Saturday, March 18, 2023

Badlands Observatory, located in Quinn, South Dakota, hosted a special program that explored traditional Lakotan star narratives and modern astronomy. The...

Wise Words from an Artist

Wise Words from an Artist

Monday, March 6, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column is an interview with Richard Red Owl, an Oglalan artist who lives west of Kyle in the Pejuta Haka District of Pine...

SURF Training Hosted at Wingsprings

SURF Training Hosted at Wingsprings

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Seventeen employees of SURF, Sanford Underground Research Facility, located in Lead, South Dakota, convened at Wingsprings, in the Lacreek District of Pine...

Front Page Indians - This Week in History

Front Page Indians - This Week in History

Monday, February 20, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column reprints five articles that appeared on the front pages of South Dakota newspapers 50 years ago this week, February...

Naming Moons and Months

Naming Moons and Months

Monday, February 6, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column discusses the names of the months that comprise the Lakotan annual calendar. A Lakotan month is the period from...

CAIRNS Newsletter 19:1 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 19:1 Emailed to Subscribers

Monday, February 6, 2023

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

The Gift in Bennett County Booster II

The Gift in Bennett County Booster II

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

“Citizens of Lakota Nations provide diversity to The Gift” is the headline of a story in this week’s issue of Bennett County Booster II. The Gift is the...

Signs of NO RESPECT

Signs of NO RESPECT

Monday, January 23, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column uses the federal RESPECT Act, passed into law last month “to repeal certain obsolete laws relating to Indians,”...

CAIRNS Joins SD Space Grant Consortium

CAIRNS Joins SD Space Grant Consortium

Monday, January 16, 2023

At its monthly meeting last week, the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium Management Team approved CAIRNS’ letter of affiliation with the SD Space Grant...

Hardships and New Years

Hardships and New Years

Monday, January 9, 2023

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column is titled after the tenth full moon of the Lakotan year, which occurred this past week, and the new year day of...

What Do You Call People From...?

What Do You Call People From...?

Monday, December 26, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column explores the word “demonyms”, which refers to the collective names of people who live in a particular place. For...

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:13 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:13 Emailed to Subscribers

Friday, December 23, 2022

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

CAIRNS Celebrates 18th Birthday!

CAIRNS Celebrates 18th Birthday!

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

This winter solstice day CAIRNS celebrates the eighteenth anniversary of its incorporation in South Dakota. In recognition of this happy occasion, CAIRNS...

Recording and Remembering

Recording and Remembering

Monday, December 12, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column was inspired by last week’s prisoner exchange of Brittany Griner (USA) and Viktor Bout (Russia).  But instead of...

CAIRNS Returns to Timber Lake

CAIRNS Returns to Timber Lake

Friday, December 9, 2022

The CAIRNS team spent the day in Timber Lake working with members of the Museum’s exhibit committee. This collaborative work began about a year ago when...

Lakotan History and Art Exhibitions for U.S. District Attorney's Office

Lakotan History and Art Exhibitions for U.S. District Attorney's Office

Thursday, December 1, 2022

The CAIRNS director was invited to present on “Lakotan History and The Gift Exhibition” to the United States District Attorney’s Office in Rapid City. The...

Front Page Indians - This Week in History

Front Page Indians - This Week in History

Monday, November 28, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column reprints four articles that appeared on the front pages of South Dakota newspapers 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago...

Ethnoarchitectonics at South Dakota State University

Ethnoarchitectonics at South Dakota State University

Thursday, November 17, 2022

South Dakota State Unviersity’s chapter of NOMAS (National Organization of Minority Architecture Students) invited the CAIRNS director to share a presentation...

Eclipsing the Moon and an Indian Boarding School Memorial

Eclipsing the Moon and an Indian Boarding School Memorial

Monday, November 14, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column discusses last week’s total lunar ecliplse and asks if students at the Rapid City Indian School had seen the December...

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:12 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:12 Emailed to Subscribers

Saturday, November 12, 2022

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Badlands Observatory Visits Wingsprings

Badlands Observatory Visits Wingsprings

Friday, November 11, 2022

Teresa and Ron (R-L) from the Badlands Observatory in Quinn, South Dakota, braved the cold weather and icy roads to travel to Wingsprings where they visited...

Little Wound Middle School Visits Wingsprings

Little Wound Middle School Visits Wingsprings

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Student council members and gifted and talented students from Little Wound Middle School traveled from the Pejuta Haka District of Pine Ridge Reservation...

The Gift Closes at The Dahl

The Gift Closes at The Dahl

Monday, November 7, 2022

The latest exhibit of our Lakota Educational Art Project ended its run at the Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City, South Dakota, today. The Gift had been on display...

The Substance of Sovereignty

The Substance of Sovereignty

Monday, October 31, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column explores awnsers to the questions: When has a nation lost its sovereignty? and How do we determine when a nation...

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:11 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:11 Emailed to Subscribers

Sunday, October 30, 2022

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Reclaiming Resilience, American Indian Leadership

Reclaiming Resilience, American Indian Leadership

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

The theme of Strengthening the Circle’s fall 2022 Native nonprofit leadership program was "Reclaiming Resilience.” The CAIRNS director was invited to present...

CAIRNS Returns to Timber Lake and Area Museum

CAIRNS Returns to Timber Lake and Area Museum

Saturday, October 22, 2022

The CAIRNS director traveled from Pine Ridge Reservation to Cheyenne River Reservation to meet with Museum staff regarding the ongoing development of a new...

A Few Things Everyone Should Know About American Indians

A Few Things Everyone Should Know About American Indians

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

CultureSource, an arts and culture alliance in Michigan, invited the CAIRNS director to present at its first in-person Biannual Member Meeting since the...

The Language of Falling Leaves

The Language of Falling Leaves

Monday, October 17, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column compares the statements of President Biden for Indigenous Peoples Day and Governor Noem for Native Americans’ Day....

Thunder Valley Staff Visit Wingsprings

Thunder Valley Staff Visit Wingsprings

Friday, October 14, 2022

A half-dozen staff members from Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation spent the day at Wingsprings. We toured the facilities and then discussed...

Indigenous Peoples' Day with Fresh Produce

Indigenous Peoples' Day with Fresh Produce

Thursday, October 13, 2022

This afternoon the CAIRNS director zoomed into a presentation with Fresh Produce, a “sort of revolutionary” advertising company in Sioux Falls, South Dakota....

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:10 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:10 Emailed to Subscribers

Thursday, October 13, 2022

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Grade School Students Enjoying The Gift

Grade School Students Enjoying The Gift

Monday, October 10, 2022

Students in grades 1-12 at Bennett County Schools  viewed the community version of The Gift this Native Americans Day. In the photo (provided by Amie Kuxhaus),...

Bennett County Schools Gifted Publications

Bennett County Schools Gifted Publications

Sunday, October 9, 2022

The Director of Federal Programs at Bennett County Schools, Amie Kuxhaus, receives a gift from CAIRNS of a copy of every book and flashcard that we publish....

The Gift at Bennett County Schools

The Gift at Bennett County Schools

Sunday, October 9, 2022

Sunday afternoon the CAIRNS director installed the community version of The Gift on tables in the old American Legion Building in Martin. Tomorrow is Native...

The Gift Reception at the Dahl Arts Center

The Gift Reception at the Dahl Arts Center

Friday, October 7, 2022

This evening the Dahl Arts Center hosted a reception for The Gift exhibition that is on display until November 5, 2022. The CAIRNS director gave a brief...

Oglala Sioux Tribe Clinical Lab Training

Oglala Sioux Tribe Clinical Lab Training

Friday, October 7, 2022

The CAIRNS team shared an all-day training with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Clinical Lab staff. The morning focused on foundational information about the history...

What South Dakotans Should Know About American Indians

What South Dakotans Should Know About American Indians

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Deadwood was the location for the South Dakota Medical Group Management Association’s fall conference. The CAIRNS director was invited to share with conference...

Lakotan Star Knowledge in Lincoln High School Newsletter

Lakotan Star Knowledge in Lincoln High School Newsletter

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Today CAIRNS received a digital copy of Mitakuye Oyasin, a newsletter created by students in Mrs. Martin’s Indigenous Studies class at Lincoln High School...

What Is the Oceti Sakowin Confederacy?

What Is the Oceti Sakowin Confederacy?

Monday, September 26, 2022

Sunday morning Nick Estes interviewed the CAIRNS director for The Red Nation Podcast. That episode dropped today, September 26, and can be accessed on Apple...

Centering Lakotan Narratives and Artworks

Centering Lakotan Narratives and Artworks

Saturday, September 24, 2022

The CAIRNS director shared a fast-paced overview of the Lakota Educational Arts Project exhibits, focusing on the latest an current one, "The Gift.” The...

Community Version of The Gift at Festival of Books

Community Version of "The Gift" at Festival of Books

Friday, September 23, 2022

This morning the CAIRNS team set up a community version of The Gift exhibition in the American Indian Student Center on the campus of South Dakota State...

Martin Heritage Center Tour at Wingsprings

Martin Heritage Center Tour at Wingsprings

Sunday, September 18, 2022

Nearly two dozen people participated in a tour this afternoon of Wingsprings organized by the Martin Heritage Center. The two hours spent on site included...

Lakotan Artists Featured at The Brinton Museum

Lakotan Artists Featured at The Brinton Museum

Saturday, September 10, 2022

A reception this evening recognized the artistic accomplishments of three Lakotan artists: Roger Broer, Angela Babby, and Richard Red Owl (R-L). Roger and...

Round Moons and Dead Ones

Round Moons and Dead Ones

Monday, September 5, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column is written on the 145th anniversary of the killing of Crazy Horse. The column acknowledges his death and examines...

The Gift On Display at Dahl Arts Center

The Gift On Display at Dahl Arts Center

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Our most recent Lakota Educational Art Program exhibit, The Gift, opened at the Dahl Arts Center last week and will be on display through November 5, 2022....

Opportunity Knocking

Opportunity Knocking

Monday, August 22, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column uses an online atlas to explore the future household earnings at age 35 of children born in five Lakotan capitals...

Ripe Plums and Rotten Behaviors

Ripe Plums and Rotten Behaviors

Monday, August 8, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column links the Lakotan name for this week’s full moon on August 11 with a newspaper article published 140 years ago...

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:9 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:9 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Rent is Due

Rent is Due

Monday, July 25, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column suggests that the Black Hills settlement money could be viewed as a down payment on past due rent for the use of...

Beyond Land Acknowledgements at Arts Midwest

Beyond Land Acknowledgements at Arts Midwest

Thursday, July 21, 2022

Thursday morning, the CAIRNS director conducted a 3-hour workshop/discussion for staff of Arts Midwest, a Regional Arts Organization located in Minneapolis,...

This Stretch of the River Now Available

This Stretch of the River Now Available

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

We are thrilled to announce that the new second edition of This Stretch of the River is now available on the CAIRNS website. The book was initially published...

Curriculum Team Creates Exhibition Lessons

Curriculum Team Creates Exhibition Lessons

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Three members of the CAIRNS curriculum team gathered at Wingsprings for three days to develop K-12 lesson plans tied to our Articles of a Treaty exhibit....

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:8 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:8 Emailed to Subscribers

Sunday, July 17, 2022

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Black Hills History at Eighth Circuit Judicial Conference

Black Hills History at Eighth Circuit Judicial Conference

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

This morning’s panel, “American Indain Law: The History and Litigation over the Black Hills and Recent Decisions,” was moderated by the Honorable Leo Brisbois,...

Lakota Lands Training Seminar - Day 2

Lakota Lands Training Seminar - Day 2

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

The route for Day 2 of the Lakota Lands Traveling Seminar entered Pine Ridge Reservation south of Scenic and after a few miles stopped briefly at the location...

Lakota Lands Training Seminar - Day 1

Lakota Lands Training Seminar - Day 1

Monday, July 11, 2022

Monument Health, headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, is hosting a 3-day training seminar focusing on American Indian health for a wide spectrum of...

SCOTUS Plants a Sovereignty Time-Bomb

SCOTUS Plants a Sovereignty Time-Bomb

Monday, July 11, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column is an insightful condemnation of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that disregards nearly two hundred years...

Jordan Curnutt and Tyler Young are Back!

Jordan Curnutt and Tyler Young are Back!

Sunday, July 10, 2022

That’s right, the Tyler-Jordan (L-R) duo are back at Wingsprings. Jordan returned on June 18 and is continuing writing on his piece about the 1862 Dakota...

Articles of a Treaty Gallery Talk & Bistro Dinner

Articles of a Treaty Gallery Talk & Bistro Dinner

Thursday, July 7, 2022

The Brinton Museum in Big Horn, Wyoming, hosted an educational gallery talk and bistro dinner to feature the Articles of a Treaty exhibition that is on display...

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:7 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:7 Emailed to Subscribers

Sunday, July 3, 2022

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

The Hare and the Snake

The Hare and the Snake

Monday, June 27, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column describes a remarkable interaction between a cottontail rabbit and a bull snake that happened outsid the CAIRNS...

The Gift and Dignity Interpretive Panels

The Gift and Dignity Interpretive Panels

Friday, June 24, 2022

The Oglala Sioux Tribe’s Clinical Lab invited the CAIRNS director to conduct a day-long training. The morning session focused on The Gift exhibit that opened...

Ripe Turnips Moon

Ripe Turnips Moon

Monday, June 13, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column discusses Tuesday’s full moon, the four periods of time in Lakotan cosmology, the parallels between two Roman deities...

Traveling Seminar in Lakota Lands

Traveling Seminar in Lakota Lands

Saturday, June 11, 2022

Today a CAIRNS team hosted a day-long “workshop on wheels” for West River Area Health Education Center. The traveling seminar began and ended in Rapid City,...

Articles of a Treaty at The Brinton Museum

Articles of a Treaty at The Brinton Museum

Friday, June 10, 2022

The Brinton Museum in Big Horn, Wyoming, announces the opening of Articles of a Treaty, and exhibition about the seventeen articles of the 1868 Fort Laramie...

American Indian Advisory Council Meeting at The Brinton Museum

American Indian Advisory Council Meeting at The Brinton Museum

Friday, June 3, 2022

The Brinton Museum in Big Horn, Wyoming, hosted an annual meeting of its American Indian Advisory Council on Friday and Saturday, June 3-4, 2022. The nine...

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:6 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:6 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Front Page Indians - This Week in History

Front Page Indians - This Week in History

Monday, May 30, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column reprints seven articles that appeared on the front pages of South Dakota newspapers 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120 and...

Descendants of Reverend Amos Ross Return to Inestimable Gift

Descendants of Reverend Amos Ross Return to Inestimable Gift

Saturday, May 28, 2022

From four states, eight descendants of Reverend Amos and Lucy Ross returned to Inestimable Gift to clean, mow, and trim the cemetery, and inurn the remains...

Navigating Narratives Artists Visit CAIRNS

Navigating Narratives Artists Visit CAIRNS

Sunday, May 22, 2022

Amber and Reyna, muralists from Clay County and the first two artists invited to create an artwork for the most recent of our educational art exhibitions...

Developing the Newest Educational Art Exhibition

Developing the Newest Educational Art Exhibition

Friday, May 20, 2022

This afternoon, the CAIRNS director presented the conceptual framework of the next CAIRNS educational art exhibition, titled Navigating Narratives. It will...

AlterNATIVE Art Walking Tour in Downtown Rapid City

AlterNATIVE Art Walking Tour in Downtown Rapid City

Friday, May 20, 2022

This morning, the CAIRNS director led a walking tour of American Indian art in downtown Rapid City. The event was organized for the biannual State Arts Conference....

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:5 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:5 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

The Gift on SDPB

The Gift on SDPB

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Late this morning, Lori Walsh, host of SDPB’s In the Moment daily news and culture program, interviewed the CAIRNS director about The Gift, an educational...

Our State is Censoring American Indian Signs

Our State is Censoring American Indian Signs

Monday, May 16, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column argues that the state of South Dakota is refusing to install educational interpretive signs that were gifts from...

Articles of a Treaty in Native American Art Magazine

Articles of a Treaty in Native American Art Magazine

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Native American Art magazine’s June/July issue features an article about Articles of a Treaty, the CAIRNS exhibit about the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty. The...

Counting Tree Rings at Inestimable Gift Cemetery

Counting Tree Rings at Inestimable Gift Cemetery

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Over the course of two days, the CAIRNS director and cousins John and Harvey mowed and trimmed the Inestimable Gift Cemetery, located in the Pass Creek District...

Lit-er-a-cy (lit’ǝr ǝ sē) and Na-tion (nā’shǝn) Build-ing (bild’ing)

Lit-er-a-cy (lit’ǝr ǝ sē) and Na-tion (nā’shǝn) Build-ing (bild’ing)

Monday, May 2, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column explores the curious fact that still today there is no standardized spelling of Lakotan words, which means Lakotan...

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:4 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:4 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Coffee with Collections Features Item Gifted to Rev. Thorburn

Coffee with Collections Features Item Gifted to Rev. Thorburn

Friday, April 22, 2022

This morning, the CAIRNS director joined Taylor, SDAM Collections Curator, for “Coffee with Collections,” a fun livestream look at art in the South Dakota...

The Gift Reception at South Dakota Art Museum

The Gift Reception at South Dakota Art Museum

Thursday, April 21, 2022

An opening reception and curator talk for The Gift, our latest Lakota Educational Art Project exhibition, was hosted at the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings,...

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Monday, April 18, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column explores the impact a single individual can have in making positive change in our society, and also the importance...

Arts Midwest Features CAIRNS Director

Arts Midwest Features CAIRNS Director

Friday, April 15, 2022

In a social media post, Arts Midwest features the CAIRNS director’s responses to “Why do you think the arts have the power to create social change?” and...

CAIRNS Director Filmed for Black Hills Documentary

CAIRNS Director Filmed for Black Hills Documentary

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Lakota Nation vs United States is a new documentary about the Black Hills of South Dakota. Its world premier screening is June 11 at the Tribeca Film Festival in...

Visiting the White Horse Winter Count

Visiting the White Horse Winter Count

Monday, April 11, 2022

Dominique, Anthropology Collections Manager at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, is measuring the White Horse Winter Count after showing it to the...

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:3 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:3 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Teaching Discrimination in South Dakota

Teaching Discrimination in South Dakota

Monday, April 4, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column explores examples of the ongoing discrimination against American Indians across our state. The column, “Teaching...

Arts + Social Justice at Arts Midwest

Arts + Social Justice at Arts Midwest

Monday, April 4, 2022

Torrie Allen, President and CEO of Arts Midwest, announced the recently concluded series of aspirational discussions of creative leaders from across the...

State Arts Conference Includes Two CAIRNS Presentations

State Arts Conference Includes Two CAIRNS Presentations

Saturday, April 2, 2022

Next Month, Raipid City will host the biennial South Dakota State Arts Conference, May 19-21. Included in its exciting and educational offerings are two...

The Gift Now on Display at South Dakota Art Museum

The Gift Now on Display at South Dakota Art Museum

Friday, April 1, 2022

The Gift, the latest educational art exhibition developed and curated by CAIRNS, is on display now through July at the South Dakota Art Museum. A reception...

New Exhibit Reported in Timber Lake and Area Historical Society Newsletter

New Exhibit Reported in Timber Lake and Area Historical Society Newsletter

Sunday, March 27, 2022

The latest isssue of the Timber Lake and Area Historical Society Newsletter describes the the work a committee and the CAIRNS director are undertaking to...

Discrimination Training for South Dakota Symphony Orchestra

Discrimination Training for South Dakota Symphony Orchestra

Friday, March 25, 2022

The vice president of CAIRNS and the CAIRNS director did a four-hour training session in Sioux Falls for South Dakota Symphony Orchestra staff and board...

This Day in American Indian History - March 20

This Day in American Indian History - March 20

Monday, March 21, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column reprints four articles that appeared in South Dakota newspapers, on March 20, 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. They...

Lakota Star Knowledge Podcast Now Available

Lakota Star Knowledge Podcast Now Available

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Last month's interview by Night Sky Tourist of the CAIRNS director is now available online as a podcast.

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:2 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:2 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Front Page Indians - This Week in History

Front Page Indians - This Week in History

Monday, March 7, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column reprints five articles that appeared on the front pages of South Dakota newspapers 20, 50, 100 and 125 years ago...

CAIRNS Director Interviewed for Podcast

CAIRNS Director Interviewed for Podcast

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

The CAIRNS director was interviewed by Vicky Derksen for Night Sky Tourist podcast. The episode drew from our Lakota Star Knowledge DVD and its accomanying...

Every Frontier Needs Indians

Every Frontier Needs Indians

Monday, February 21, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column is about a possible new collaboration between NASA (National Aeronautic and Space Administration) and Sinte Gleska...

CAIRNS Returns to Timber Lake

CAIRNS Returns to Timber Lake

Saturday, February 19, 2022

This weekend the CAIRNS director traveled from Lacreek District in Pine Ridge Reservation to Timber Lake, in Cheyenne River Reservation, to continuing working...

Counting Winters in Timber Lake

Counting Winters in Timber Lake

Monday, January 24, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column is about the work CAIRNS is doing with the Timber Lake and Area Historical Society, developing a new exhibit for...

CAIRNS at Timber Lake and Area Museum

CAIRNS at Timber Lake and Area Museum

Sunday, January 23, 2022

This weekend the CAIRNS director traveled to Timber Lake, in the Cheyenne River Reservation, to work with staff at the Timber Lake and Area Museum. The museum...

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:1 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 18:1 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Counting Manatees and Mermaids

Counting Manatees and Mermaids

Monday, January 10, 2022

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column examines the unique method that Lakotans used to count using their fingers. It also explains how the column’s title...

Front Page Indians - This Week Fifty Years Ago

Front Page Indians - This Week Fifty Years Ago

Monday, December 27, 2021

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column reprints four articles that appeared on the front pages of South Dakota newspapers fifty years ago this week, December...

Community Version of The Gift Now Available

Community Version of The Gift Now Available

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Hot off the presses at Simpsons Printing in Rapid City, the colorful panels that comprise the community version of The Gift exhibition are now at the CAIRNS...

Winter Counts and Star Knowledge

Winter Counts and Star Knowledge

Friday, December 17, 2021

The second presentation the Oglala Sioux Tribe Clinical Laboratory invited the CAIRNS director to present on was Lakotan Winter Counts and Star Knowledge....

Hate Speech, Horses, and Hostages: Lewis & Clark in Teton Territory

Hate Speech, Horses, and Hostages: Lewis & Clark in Teton Territory

Thursday, December 16, 2021

The Oglala Sioux Tribe Clinical Laboratory invited the CAIRNS director to present on what might have really happened in 1804 when the Corps of Discovery...

Takuwe on Display at Lakota Nations Education Conference

Takuwe on Display at Lakota Nations Education Conference

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

A community version of Takuwe, the educational art exhibition about the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, was set up this morning in the Rushmore Room of the Ramkota...

Middle Winter Moon

Middle Winter Moon

Monday, December 13, 2021

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column considers the upcoming full moon and Lakotan methods of organizing time, and laments that the Lakotan lunar calendar...

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:15 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:15 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Front Page Indians - This Week in 1896

Front Page Indians - This Week in 1896

Monday, November 29, 2021

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column looks at three stories about American Indians from the front pages of South Dakota newspapers in 1896, and links...

Her Art Reads the Land in Deep Time

"Her Art Reads the Land in Deep Time"

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Journalist Siddhartha Mitter published a story about artist Athena LaTocha in today’s issue of the New York Times. This is the fourth paragraph of the piece:...

Stars of November Presentation and Prix Fixe Dinner

"Stars of November" Presentation and Prix Fixe Dinner

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Lakotan winter counts and star stories were the topics of a presentation, at The Brinton Museum in Big Horn, Wyoming, by the CAIRNS director. Early evening...

Human and Spiritual Designs

Human and Spiritual Designs

Monday, November 15, 2021

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column suggests a hypothesis for why Lakotans use the same term for a celestial constellation (Gemini) and a terrestrial...

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:14 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:14 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

American Indian Land Acknowledgements at Arts Midwest

American Indian Land Acknowledgements at Arts Midwest

Saturday, November 6, 2021

Arts Midwest, one of six nonprofit regional arts organizations in the United States, invited the CAIRNS director to present to its Board of Directors during...

Brinton Museum to Host Lakotan Star Talk and Dinner

Brinton Museum to Host Lakotan Star Talk and Dinner

Thursday, November 4, 2021

The Brinton Museum in Big Horn, Wyoming, announced that on November 18, 2021, it is hosting “Stars of November: The Lakotan Night Sky,” a presentation featuring...

Native American Speaker Series at Brookings Public Library

Native American Speaker Series at Brookings Public Library

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

The CAIRNS director zoomed into the Brookings Public Library this evening. He was the first in a weekly series of speakers during National Native American...

Remembering Departed Loved Ones

Remembering Departed Loved Ones

Monday, November 1, 2021

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column explores a link between Halloween and the Big Dipper. The column, “Remembering Departed Loved Ones,” can be read...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y17:13 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y17:13 Emailed to Subscribers

Sunday, October 31, 2021

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Articles of a Treaty on Display at The Heritage Center

Articles of a Treaty on Display at The Heritage Center

Saturday, October 30, 2021

The educational art exhibition about the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty is now on display and open to the public at The Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School....

Dwayne Wilcox Featured in New Book

Dwayne Wilcox Featured in New Book

Monday, October 25, 2021

Visual/Language: The Ledger Drawings of Dwayne Wilcox, is a beautiful new book featuring the artwork of an artist who has created works for all six of the...

USD Student Newspaper Features Takuwe

USD Student Newspaper Features Takuwe

Sunday, October 24, 2021

Today’s copy of Volante, the student-run newspaper at the University of South Dakota, features a story about Takuwe, the Lakota educatonal art exhibit about...

Mural Artists Show Their Work

Mural Artists Show Their Work

Friday, October 22, 2021

Reyna Hernandez and Amber Hansen (R-L, in front of their mural) gave the CAIRNS director a tour of their latest mural and an exhibit about the community...

CAIRNS Director Speaks at the University of South Dakota

CAIRNS Director Speaks at the University of South Dakota

Thursday, October 21, 2021

The CAIRNS director enjoyed lunch with students and staff in the Native American Cultural Center at the University of South Dakota. He talked about the CAIRNS...

The Problem with Indigenous Peoples

The Problem with "Indigenous Peoples"

Monday, October 18, 2021

The focus of this week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column is the phrase, “Indigenous Peoples”. The column, “The Problem with ‘Indigenous Peoples',” can be read...

St. Joseph's Indian School Teachers View The Gift Exhibition

St. Joseph's Indian School Teachers View The Gift Exhibition

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

St. Joseph’s Indian School teachers joined the CAIRNS director in the Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center for a gallery walk through The Gift exhibiton...

We Regret To Inform You That There Has Been No Apology

We Regret To Inform You That There Has Been No Apology

Monday, October 4, 2021

The focus of this week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column is the question, Has the United States apologized for its soldiers committing a massacre of innocent...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y17:12 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y17:12 Emailed to Subscribers

Thursday, September 30, 2021

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Takuwe Delivered to the University of South Dakota

Takuwe Delivered to the University of South Dakota

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

The CAIRNS director delivered the community version of our Takuwe exhibition to the I.D. Weeks Library, on the University of South Dakota campus, where it...

Seven Things Everyone Should Know About American Indians

Seven Things Everyone Should Know About American Indians

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Gateway Arch National Park, located in Saint Louis, invited the CAIRNS director to present during a two-day educational workshop. The presentation, “Seven...

Congressional Snow Blindness

Congressional Snow Blindness

Monday, September 20, 2021

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column discusses some of the full moons that comprise the Lakotan year. Today, September 20, 2021, is a full moon, and...

Dyani White Hawk and Cousin Visit Wingsprings

Dyani White Hawk and Cousin Visit Wingsprings

Friday, September 17, 2021

Dyani (R) and her cousin, Alicia (L), toured the Wingsprings facilities this late afternoon and visited about the work that they are doing. Dyani created...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y17:11 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y17:11 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Lakota Star Knowledge at Mickelson Star Trail Night

Lakota Star Knowledge at Mickelson Star Trail Night

Friday, September 10, 2021

The CAIRNS director presented on Lakota star knowledge at the Mickelson Star Trail Night event in Rochford, South Dakota. His was one of three invited presentations....

Front Page Indians - 100 Years Ago

Front Page Indians - 100 Years Ago

Monday, September 6, 2021

This week’s CAIRNS Etanhan Wotanin column contains six stories from the front pages of four South Dakota newspapers 100 years ago this week that mention...

Community-Based Exhibits Promoted with Community Arts Councils

Community-Based Exhibits Promoted with Community Arts Councils

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

The CAIRNS director jumped on a zoom meeting with representatives from Arts South Dakota and arts councils across the state. He had two topics to share....

CAIRNS Director Attends American Indian Advisory Council Meeting

CAIRNS Director Attends American Indian Advisory Council Meeting

Saturday, August 28, 2021

On Friday and Saturday, six members of The Brinton Museum’s American Indian Advisory Council gathered at the Museum to conduct its annual meeting, while...

The Gift Exhibit Catalog Now Available

"The Gift" Exhibit Catalog Now Available

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Hot off the press, we picked up boxes of the catalogs from the printer this afternoon. The catalog contains the nine poems that were written for the exhibit,...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y17:10 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y17:10 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

South Dakota Department of Transportation Erases Indian Reservations

South Dakota Department of Transportation Erases Indian Reservations

Monday, August 23, 2021

There are a number of ways to erases American Indians and their lands. The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) does it cartographically by...

Montessori and Lakota Language Staffers Visit Wingsprings

Montessori and Lakota Language Staffers Visit Wingsprings

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Staff from the Montesorri school and the Lakota Language initiative at Wakinyan Opha (Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation) toured Wingsprings...

CAIRNS Director on South Dakota Public Broadcasting

CAIRNS Director on South Dakota Public Broadcasting

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Lori Walsh, host of “In the Moment” on SDPB, interviewed the CAIRNS director for a program about the Black Hills National Forest. The Q&A included how the...

CAIRNS Director Visits Timber Lake & Area Museum

CAIRNS Director Visits Timber Lake & Area Museum

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

At the invitation of the Timber Lake & Area Historical Society, the CAIRNS director spent an afternoon in Timber Lake learning about the Timber Lake & Area...

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:9 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:9 Emailed to Subscribers

Sunday, August 15, 2021

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

The Pot-Holed Road of American Indian Tourism in South Dakota

The Pot-Holed Road of American Indian Tourism in South Dakota

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

This week’s column takes a peek behind the curtain of how the South Dakota Native Tourism Alliance (SDNTA) was established by an out-of-state, private university...

NIck Estes and Candi Brings Plenty Filmed at Wingsprings

NIck Estes and Candi Brings Plenty Filmed at Wingsprings

Monday, August 9, 2021

Today, a crew comprised of staff from California, Montana, Vermont, New York, Georgia and South Dakota, transformed Wingsprings, the home of CAIRNS, into...

CAIRNS Director Shares Tribally-Specific Architecture Ideas

CAIRNS Director Shares Tribally-Specific Architecture Ideas

Monday, August 2, 2021

This morning, the Director of The Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School and an owner of JPL Architects traveled to Wingsprings to see the architectural...

CAIRNS Director Presents to AmeriCorps Teachers

CAIRNS Director Presents to AmeriCorps Teachers

Monday, August 2, 2021

The CAIRNS director traveled to Red Cloud Indian School this afternoon. He was invited to share with AmeriCorps teachers some insights into what he has learned...

New CAIRNS Exhibit: The Gift of the Sacred Pipe

New CAIRNS Exhibit: The Gift of the Sacred Pipe

Monday, July 26, 2021

This week’s column is about the latest CAIRNS exhibit in our Lakota Educational Arts Project (LEAP) series. The title of the exhibit is “The Gift,” and it...

CAIRNS Director Filmed for The Gift

CAIRNS Director Filmed for The Gift

Thursday, July 22, 2021

Akta Lakota Museum is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Congratulations! In recognition of the Museum’s collaborative work with CAIRNS, the CAIRNS...

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:8 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:8 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Tyler Sets Off for Graduate School

Tyler Sets Off for Graduate School

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

After completing his organization of the CAIRNS library, Tyler “saddled up” his trusty stead and began his 1,200 mile journey to Ohio. We wish him all the...

CAIRNS Returns to Inestimable Gift Cemetery

CAIRNS Returns to Inestimable Gift Cemetery

Saturday, July 17, 2021

It was a good day for mowing, trimming, and cleaning the Inestimable Gift Cemetery, which is located in the Pass Creek District of Pine Ridge Reservation....

Sovereignty, STEM, and the Future

Sovereignty, STEM, and the Future

Monday, July 12, 2021

This week’s column is written by former CAIRNS staffer Tyler Young, a graduate student in the Department of Engineering Education at The Ohio State University....

Andrea Lekberg Visits Wingsprings

Andrea Lekberg Visits Wingsprings

Saturday, July 10, 2021

Andrea, who owns and operates The Artist Baker, a bakery and café in New Jersey, has created artworks for all of the CAIRNS Lakota Educational Art Project...

Tyler Young Returns to Wingsprings

Tyler Young Returns to Wingsprings

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Tyler, who worked at CAIRNS for a couple years and helped grow our programming initiatives, returned to volunteer a couple of weeks of hard labor before...

Online Version of The Gift Exhibit is Now Available

Online Version of The Gift Exhibit is Now Available

Saturday, July 3, 2021

You can now point your browser to https://www.nativecairns.org/projects/leap/gift/index.html to experience The Gift exhibit online. There you can read and...

The Gift is in Arts Alive South Dakota

The Gift is in Arts Alive South Dakota

Thursday, July 1, 2021

The latest copy of Arts Alive South Dakota, Summer 2021, Volume 23, Issue 3, includes a story about The Gift exhibit on Pages 14 and 15. Arts Alive South...

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:7 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:7 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Failing to be Good Neighbors

Failing to be Good Neighbors

Monday, June 28, 2021

Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) is a program that provides payments to local governmental entities for the tax-exempt federal lands within their boundaries....

Lakota Lands & Identities for Rapid City Area Schools: Day 5

Lakota Lands & Identities for Rapid City Area Schools: Day 5

Friday, June 18, 2021

In the photo above, participants are playing an educational game that helps them practice learning and saying the Lakota terms for numbers 1 to 10. They...

Lakota Lands & Identities for Rapid City Area Schools: Day 4

Lakota Lands & Identities for Rapid City Area Schools: Day 4

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Mato Tipila was the primary site we visited today, Anpetu Topa, Day Four, Thursday, of our Lakota Lands & Identities “classroom on wheels.” It is another...

Lakota Lands & Identities for Rapid City Area Schools: Day 3

Lakota Lands & Identities for Rapid City Area Schools: Day 3

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

A highlight of today’s itinerary was lunch at Bette’s Kitchen near Manderson in the Pine Ridge Reservation. After cooking and serving us a delicious meal,...

Lakota Lands & Identities for Rapid City Area Schools: Day 2

Lakota Lands & Identities for Rapid City Area Schools: Day 2

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Today was Anpetu Nunpa, Day Two, Tuesday, of our five-day Lakota Lands & Identities “classroom on wheels.” This morning we visited Mato Paha (Bear Butte)...

Lakota Lands & Identities for Rapid City Area Schools: Day 1

Lakota Lands & Identities for Rapid City Area Schools: Day 1

Monday, June 14, 2021

Forty-seven teachers and administrators in the Rapid City Area Schools boarded the bus this morning for the first of five days of our Lakota Lands & Identities...

Just and Unjust Indian Wars: A Moral Argument for the Dakota Sioux

Just and Unjust Indian Wars: A Moral Argument for the Dakota Sioux

Monday, June 14, 2021

CAIRNS Research Fellow, Jordan Curnutt, a philosophy professor at St. Cloud State University, is in residence to work on his project of examining the 1862...

Lakota Lands & Identities for West River Area Health Education Center

Lakota Lands & Identities for West River Area Health Education Center

Saturday, June 12, 2021

CAIRNS kicked-off this summer’s “Classrooms on Wheels” with a new one-day version of our popular Lakota Lands & Identities traveling seminar. It was for...

CAIRNS Director Presents at Oscar Howe Summer Art Institute

CAIRNS Director Presents at Oscar Howe Summer Art Institute

Monday, June 7, 2021

The CAIRNS director zoomed into the Oscar Howe Summer Art Institute to present a talk titled “Isms of American Indian Art”. The premise of the talk is that...

CAIRNS Director Presents at Whitecap Dakota First Nation Conference

CAIRNS Director Presents at Whitecap Dakota First Nation Conference

Thursday, June 3, 2021

This afternoon the CAIRNS director zoomed into Whitecap Dakota First Nation’s “Revitalizing Our Sacred Language” conference to presented an invited talk...

The Gift on Display at Akta Lakota Museum

The Gift on Display at Akta Lakota Museum

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

The Gift is the newest exhibit in our Lakota Educational Art Project initiative, and it is now on display through November at Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural...

Indians in South Dakota Newspapers 100 Years Ago, May 31, 1921

"Indians" in South Dakota Newspapers 100 Years Ago, May 31, 1921

Monday, May 31, 2021

Here are three stories about “Indians” that appeared in the pages of two South Dakota newspapers 100 years ago on Tuesday, May 31, 1921. 
Argus-Leader (Sioux...

Descendants Gather at Inestimable Gift Cemetery

Descendants Gather at Inestimable Gift Cemetery

Friday, May 28, 2021

Four descendants of the minister who built the original Inestimable Gift Church in the Pass Creek District of Pine Ridge Reservation gathered today to mow...

CAIRNS Returns to Inestimable Gift Cemetery

CAIRNS Returns to Inestimable Gift Cemetery

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

It was a beautiful day to work in the Inestimable Gift Cemetery, located in the Pass Creek District of Pine Ridge Reservation. The CAIRNS director and his...

May 20th in South Dakota Indian History

May 20th in South Dakota "Indian" History

Monday, May 17, 2021

Here are stories about “Indians” that were printed on the front pages of South Dakota newspapers on the 20th of May, every twentieth year from 1881 to 2001.
Friday,...

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:6 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:6 Emailed to Subscribers

Saturday, May 15, 2021

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

The Gift Musicians, Poets and Artists

"The Gift" Musicians, Poets and Artists

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Eleven musicians, 19 artists and nine poets created songs, artworks and poems for The Gift, the newest exhibit in the Lakota Educational Art Project series....

Sioux Falls Arts Council Jury Duty

Sioux Falls Arts Council Jury Duty

Friday, May 14, 2021

This morning the CAIRNS director zoomed in to a jury meeting organized by the Sioux Falls Arts Council. Jury members (in the photo above) were convened to...

Front Page Indians

Front Page Indians

Monday, May 10, 2021

Stories from the front pages of South Dakota newspapers 130 years ago this week are presented below in chronological order from May 10 to May 16, 1891. Four...

Mayday Mayday Mayday

Mayday Mayday Mayday

Monday, May 3, 2021

Who hasn't heard the Mayday distress call on the radio or television, or in a movie theater? It is a distinct verbal cue that immediately signals an emergency...

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:5 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:5 Emailed to Subscribers

Saturday, May 1, 2021

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Calendars Then and Now

Calendars Then and Now

Monday, April 26, 2021

With the appearance of a full moon this evening, the Lakotan spring season reached its midpoint. Spring consists of two months, each of which is aligned...

Wounded Knee: Two Things You Do Not Know

Wounded Knee: Two Things You Do Not Know

Saturday, April 24, 2021

This morning, the CAIRNS director shared an invited presentation about the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre during the South Dakota State Historical Society’s...

Wounded Knee Exhibit now Online

Wounded Knee Exhibit now Online

Friday, April 23, 2021

Our evidence-based exhibit about the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, Takuwe, is now online. Follow this link to the list of 48 creatives who produced seven songs,...

Place Over Time

Place Over Time

Monday, April 19, 2021

This week the phase of the moon transitioned from wi okiseya (half moon) to wi mimakanyela (near round moon). In astronomical terms, the moon transitioned...

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:4 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:4 Emailed to Subscribers

Saturday, April 17, 2021

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Abe Katz Visits Wingsprings

Abe Katz Visits Wingsprings

Friday, April 16, 2021

Abe, who worked at CAIRNS for a few years that kicked off our halcyon days, spent a night at Wingsprings on his return trek from the east coast to the west...

Equitable and Culturally-Informed Calls for Art

Equitable and Culturally-Informed Calls for Art

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Arts South Dakota, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to "enrichen the lives of South Dakotans and their visitors by advancing the arts through service,...

Oglala Lakota County School District Presentation

Oglala Lakota County School District Presentation

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Jr. Bettelyoun, creator and online instructor of “Developing Lessons for Oceti Sakowin Standards,” invited the CAIRNS director to zoom into the class meeting...

Podcast Interview of CAIRNS Director Drops

Podcast Interview of CAIRNS Director Drops

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Joe Williams, host of the podcast 5 Plain Questions, announced that his March 16 interview with the CAIRNS director is now available online at wherever you...

Are You Kidding?

Are You Kidding?

Monday, April 5, 2021

April is National Humor Month, along with a host of other National (plug in the topics) names for the month. For instance, April is also National Canine...

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:3 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter 17:3 Emailed to Subscribers

Friday, April 2, 2021

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Patron Tours Articles of a Treaty Exhibit

Patron Tours Articles of a Treaty Exhibit

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Mark Gabel, pictured on the left in the photo, supported Articles of a Treaty at the “Insider” level and thereby was invited to tour the exhibit on Tuesday...

Journeys of Lakota Educators features CAIRNS Director

Journeys of Lakota Educators features CAIRNS Director

Thursday, March 25, 2021

The CAIRNS director zoomed into a meeting of AmeriCorps Members who are teaching at Red Cloud Indian School. The director of that program, Christopher G.,...

Beauty, Gallantry and Protection

Beauty, Gallantry and Protection

Monday, March 22, 2021

This past week we enjoyed a two-day visit by guests here at Wingsprings, the location of the CAIRNS office. Wingsprings is a unique architectural facility...

New Website Published!

New Website Published!

Thursday, March 18, 2021

We are happy to announce that our new website is published. The URL is the same, www.nativecairns.org, but the look and feel is considerably changed. The...

CAIRNS Director Interviewed by Podcast

CAIRNS Director Interviewed by Podcast

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Joe Williams interviewed the CAIRNS director for his podcast, 5 Plain Questions. The interview was recorded and will be broadcast at a later date.

This Month in Lakota History - March

This Month in Lakota History - March

Monday, March 8, 2021

Spring is in the air of the Lakotan homelands. The snow has melted, moistening the earth as she warms beneath her dormant color palette in preparation for...

Upcoming Webinar Includes CAIRNS Director

Upcoming Webinar Includes CAIRNS Director

Monday, March 8, 2021

Equitable and Culturally Informed Calls for Art is one of two upcoming webinars hosted by Arts South Dakota. The presenters will be the Executive Director...

February's First Four

February's First Four

Monday, February 22, 2021

February is the birth or death month of four authors in the pantheon of the Oceti Sakowin Confederacy’s literary forebears. They were born in the 30-year...

Now is the Time

Now is the Time

Monday, February 8, 2021

On Sunday evening, February 7, 2021, the fifty-fifth championship game of the National Football League was played in Raymond James Stadium, in Tampa, Florida....

CAIRNS Newsletter Y17:2 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y17:2 Emailed to Subscribers

Thursday, February 4, 2021

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free newsletter that describes many of the activities in which...

Takuwe Presentation Now Available on YouTube

Takuwe Presentation Now Available on YouTube

Thursday, January 28, 2021

Arts South Dakota just released videos of presentations during the South Dakota Arts Conference that was held in late October 2020. The CAIRNS director presented...

The Sting of Systemic Racism

The Sting of Systemic Racism

Monday, January 25, 2021

Moments after he was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden reminded us that “we have much to do in this winter of peril and possibility.”...

Athena LaTocha Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Athena LaTocha Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Thursday, January 21, 2021

“Breath and Memory” is the title of the artwork Athena LaTocha created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is for the...

Articles of a Treaty Opening Friday at Dahl Arts Center

Articles of a Treaty Opening Friday at Dahl Arts Center

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Jeannie Larson, Assistant Curator of the Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City, is standing in the gallery where Articles of a Treaty, the educational art exhibit...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y17:1 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y17:1 Emailed to Subscribers

Thursday, January 7, 2021

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

This Month in Lakota History - December

This Month in Lakota History - December

Monday, December 28, 2020

When tasked with listing important December events in Lakota history, what first comes to mind is the slaughter by United States soldiers of approximately...

Roger and Merlene Broer Visit Wingsprings

Roger and Merlene Broer Visit Wingsprings

Saturday, December 26, 2020

Roger is a renowned Lakota artist who has created artworks for all of the exhibitions curated by CAIRNS. He and Merlene visited Wingsprings briefly this...

Takuwe Artworks Returning to Artists and Owners

Takuwe Artworks Returning to Artists and Owners

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

One of our LEAP (Lakota Educational Art Project) exhibitions, Takuwe, ended in September, and since then many of the artworks have been returned to their...

CAIRNS Commemorates Sixteenth Birthday

CAIRNS Commemorates Sixteenth Birthday

Monday, December 21, 2020

On December 21, 2004, the South Dakota Secretary of State certified the Articles of Incorporation of the Center for American Indian Research and Native Studies...

ARD German Radio Interviews CAIRNS Director

ARD German Radio Interviews CAIRNS Director

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

ARD German Radio correspondent, Sebastian (right above) and audio engineer, Simon (left bottom) conducted and recorded an interview with the CAIRNS director...

The Meaning of a Full Moon

The Meaning of a Full Moon

Monday, December 14, 2020

The full moon this month is on December 29, the 130th anniversary of the Wounded Knee Massacre. Since the 1890 massacre, there have only been two other full...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:21 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:21 Emailed to Subscribers

Thursday, December 10, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

Tribal Sovereignty Through Art Exhibits at University of Iowa

Tribal Sovereignty Through Art Exhibits at University of Iowa

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Thursday afternoon the CAIRNS director zoomed into an introductory Native American Art History class at the University of Iowa to deliver a presentation....

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Monday, November 30, 2020

Last week was the Thanksgiving holiday and this week we move from November—National American Indian Heritage Month—into December. In four weeks it will be...

Mabel Picotte Turns in Poem for The Gift

Mabel Picotte Turns in Poem for The Gift

Thursday, November 19, 2020

“Prayers in Pieces” is the title of the poem Mabel Picotte wrote for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The poem is for Tapa Wankayeyapi,...

Marty Two Bulls Jr. Turns in Song for The Gift

Marty Two Bulls Jr. Turns in Song for The Gift

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

“Six and Counting” is the title of the song Marty Two Bulls, Jr. composed for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The song is for Isnati...

National American Indian Heritage Month - What Can I Do?

National American Indian Heritage Month - What Can I Do?

Monday, November 16, 2020

November is National American Indian Heritage Month, when people are encouraged to learn about the past, present, and future of American Indians and Indian...

CAIRNS Director Zooms into Bellarmine University Presentation

CAIRNS Director Zooms into Bellarmine University Presentation

Friday, November 13, 2020

Friday afternoon the CAIRNS director presented a university-wide talk in recognition of National American Indian Heritage Month. The talk covered four basic...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:20 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:20 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

Evans Fammond, Sr. Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Evans Fammond, Sr. Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Thursday, November 5, 2020

“Welcome to my Family” is the title of the artwork Evans Flammond, Sr. created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is...

Tribes and Citizens vs. Reservations and Residents

Tribes and Citizens vs. Reservations and Residents

Monday, November 2, 2020

Last Friday, October 30, 2020, President Donald Trump proclaimed November as National Native American Heritage Month. The proclamation claimed his administration...

Takuwe Presentation at South Dakota Arts Conference

Takuwe Presentation at South Dakota Arts Conference

Friday, October 30, 2020

Takuwe, the educational art exhibit about the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, was the topic of a keynote presentation by the CAIRNS director during the statewide...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:19 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:19 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

Tribal Flags at Statewide Arts Conference

Tribal Flags at Statewide Arts Conference

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Arts South Dakota, a nonprofit statewide arts advocacy organization, partnered with the South Dakota Arts Council to host their biannual arts conference....

Dalton Coffey Discusses New Film Takuwe on SDPB

Dalton Coffey Discusses New Film Takuwe on SDPB

Friday, October 23, 2020

Lori Walsh with South Dakota Public Broadcasting interviewed filmmaker Dalton Coffey and the CAIRNS director on her program, In The Moment, about Takuwe,...

Home of CAIRNS Launches New Website

Home of CAIRNS Launches New Website

Thursday, October 22, 2020

From its founding on December 21, 2004, the business office of CAIRNS has been located in the unique architectural facilities called Wingsprings, built on...

Decals of Flags of Tribes in South Dakota are Latest Product

Decals of Flags of Tribes in South Dakota are Latest Product

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

In response to a high school teacher’s request, CAIRNS created decals of the 9 flags of tribes in South Dakota. Each decal is 10.15” high x 17” wide and...

Last Week’s Lessons for Today

Last Week’s Lessons for Today

Monday, October 19, 2020

Last week the CAIRNS director was interviewed in three ways on three days. Monday was a Zoom webinar, an interview and presentation method that was essentially...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:18 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:18 Emailed to Subscribers

Saturday, October 17, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

CAIRNS Director Interviewed for Educational Podcast

CAIRNS Director Interviewed for Educational Podcast

Friday, October 16, 2020

JR LaPlante, Director of Tribal and Governmental Relations for Avera Health, has a new educational podcast, “Fireside Chat with JR,” that he developed for...

CAIRNS Director Filmed at The Heritage Center

CAIRNS Director Filmed at The Heritage Center

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

The CAIRNS director traveled to The Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School in the Pine Ridge Reservation, where the Articles of a Treaty exhibit about...

Lucy Keith Turns in Poem for Takuwe

Lucy Keith Turns in Poem for Takuwe

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

“The Gift of Life” is the title of the poem Lucy Keith wrote for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The poem is for Tapa Wankayeyapi,...

A Look Into the Making of Takuwe

A Look Into the Making of Takuwe

Monday, October 12, 2020

Arts South Dakota featured two videos today, which is Native Americans’ Day here in South Dakota. The first is a video “Takuwe” by filmmaker Dalton Coffey...

Barton Brewer Turns in Poem for The Gift

Barton Brewer Turns in Poem for The Gift

Saturday, October 10, 2020

“Keeping the Soul” is the title of the poem Barton Brewer wrote for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The poem is for Wanagi Yuhapi,...

Micheal Two Bulls Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Micheal Two Bulls Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Friday, October 9, 2020

“Wanagi Yuhapi” is the title of the artwork Micheal Two Bulls created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is for Wanagi...

This Native Americans’ Day, Make a Difference

This Native Americans’ Day, Make a Difference

Monday, October 5, 2020

One person can make a difference. In the case of two holidays in South Dakota, that person is Lynn “Smokey” Hart, who was a professional bullfighter and...

A Gift of Words: Lydia Whirlwind Soldier’s Survival Songs

A Gift of Words: Lydia Whirlwind Soldier’s Survival Songs

Friday, October 2, 2020

“Sicangu Lakota poet and author Lydia Whirlwind Soldier spent 30 years teaching elementary school and Indian studies to Todd County students. Even in retirement...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:17 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:17 Emailed to Subscribers

Thursday, October 1, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

CAIRNS at Eiteljorg Museum

CAIRNS at Eiteljorg Museum

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Though the Eiteljorg Museum is open, its Native American Advisory Council meeting was conducted virtually, so this afternoon the CAIRNS director zoomed in...

CAIRNS at Lakota Tech High School

CAIRNS at Lakota Tech High School

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

This afternoon, the CAIRNS director zoomed in as a guest speaker to Lakota Tech High School in the Pine Ridge Reservation. The speaking opportunity was facilitated...

This Month in Lakota History - September

This Month in Lakota History - September

Monday, September 21, 2020

September is the month when many children go to school. But September is also the month when a well-known American Indian boarding school closed. The United...

Buffalos & Lakotas at Washington & Lee University

Buffalos & Lakotas at Washington & Lee University

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Late this afternoon, the CAIRNS director zoomed into an American Indian religion class at Washington & Lee University for an hour-long presentation that...

Trust and Distrust of Indian Trust Land

Trust and Distrust of Indian Trust Land

Monday, September 7, 2020

The loss of Lakota land to the United States can be traced through time by examining legal records. These records include the 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty, the...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:16 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:16 Emailed to Subscribers

Thursday, September 3, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

Filmmakers Return to Wingsprings

Filmmakers Return to Wingsprings

Monday, August 31, 2020

Micah, Marie-Helene and Flora (R-L) returned to continue interviewing the CAIRNS director about Lakota history, cosmology and astronomy that they began five...

CAIRNS Director Zooms into University of Iowa Course

CAIRNS Director Zooms into University of Iowa Course

Monday, August 31, 2020

Phil Round, professor of English and American Indian and Native Studies at the University of Iowa, invited the CAIRNS director to discuss allotment during...

American Indian Advisory Council Meets at The Brinton Museum

American Indian Advisory Council Meets at The Brinton Museum

Saturday, August 29, 2020

Yesterday and this morning The Brinton Museum’s American Indian Advisory Council, of which the CAIRNS director is a member, gathered for its annual meeting....

Independent Filmmakers Visit Wingsprings

Independent Filmmakers Visit Wingsprings

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

This evening Micah, Marie-Helene and Flora (R-L) of Four Corners Media came to Wingsprings to interview the CAIRNS director about Lakota history and cosmology....

Can You Identify These Persons and Places?

Can You Identify These Persons and Places?

Monday, August 24, 2020

This week CAIRNS received a donation of photographs. They were taken by Gordon Plowe, an Episcopal priest, and donated by Chris Plowe, one of his sons. In...

Lakota Emergence Online Exhibit in Newsletter

Lakota Emergence Online Exhibit in Newsletter

Thursday, August 20, 2020

The weekly newsletter of the Dakota Indian Foundation that was published today includes a link to the online version of the Lakota Emergence exhibit. This...

Takuwe: A Gallery Talk with the CAIRNS Director is Now Online

Takuwe: A Gallery Talk with the CAIRNS Director is Now Online

Friday, August 14, 2020

This morning The Brinton Museum published online a gallery talk about Takuwe, the educational art exhibit about the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre. The announcement...

This Month in Lakota History - August

This Month in Lakota History - August

Monday, August 10, 2020

Important events in Lakota history that happened in August include the Indian Peace Commission meeting with six of the seven Lakota oyates at Fort Sully...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:15 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:15 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

Newest Lakota Link Podcast Features CAIRNS Director

Newest Lakota Link Podcast Features CAIRNS Director

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Sandy Swallow, the host of Lakota Link, uploaded the latest episode of her podcast that features an interview with the CAIRNS director during which he discusses...

Takuwe Exhibit Featured in Arts South Dakota Video Series

Takuwe Exhibit Featured in Arts South Dakota Video Series

Friday, July 31, 2020

One of the five new videos that were posted to the Arts South Dakota website is about the Takuwe exhibit that CAIRNS curated in 2018. The short, dramatic...

Takuwe Presentation at The Brinton Museum

Takuwe Presentation at The Brinton Museum

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Due to the pandemic, the Brinton Museum recorded a gallery talk this afternoon about the Takuwe exhibit by the CAIRNS director and exhibit curator, without...

Sticks and Stones May Break Our Bones, But Your Words Indict Thee

Sticks and Stones May Break Our Bones, But Your Words Indict Thee

Monday, July 27, 2020

“Ten little, nine little, eight little Indians; Seven little, six little, five little Indians; Four little, three little, two little Indians; One little...

CAIRNS Returns to Inestimable Gift Cemetery

CAIRNS Returns to Inestimable Gift Cemetery

Saturday, July 25, 2020

The CAIRNS director spent the day, along with cousin Harvey, cleaning, mowing and weed whipping the entire cemetery. Afterwards, they flew a drone and took...

Permanent Home for Lakota Emergence Taking Shape

Permanent Home for Lakota Emergence Taking Shape

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

We are excited to announce that a new gallery space is under construction that will be the permanent home of our 2015 Lakota Emergence exhibit, the first...

This Month in Lakota History - July

This Month in Lakota History - July

Monday, July 13, 2020

In July, Congress passed a major Act and a United States president visited an American Indian reservation in South Dakota. Quick quiz: Can you name the president,...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:14 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:14 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

Taté Walker Turns in Poem for The Gift

Taté Walker Turns in Poem for The Gift

Monday, July 6, 2020

“From Ptesanwin With Love” is the title of the poem Taté Walker wrote for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The poem is for the narrative...

CAIRNS Director Filmed at The Brinton Museum

CAIRNS Director Filmed at The Brinton Museum

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

The CAIRNS director traveled to The Brinton Museum near Big Horn, Wyoming, where the Takuwe exhibit about the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre is on exhibit. He...

Learning from the Treaty

Learning from the Treaty

Monday, June 29, 2020

On June 30, 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the “Sioux Nation” was entitled to $17.1 million for the 1877 taking of the Black Hills from the Great...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:13 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:13 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

Angela Babby Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Angela Babby Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

For the time being, there is no title of the artwork Angela Babby created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is for the...

CAIRNS Returns to Inestimable Gift Cemetery

CAIRNS Returns to Inestimable Gift Cemetery

Saturday, June 20, 2020

The CAIRNS director spent the day, along with cousin Harvey and brother Kent (R-L), cleaning, mowing and weed whipping the entire cemetery. Afterwards, they...

Systemic Discrimination in South Dakota

Systemic Discrimination in South Dakota

Monday, June 15, 2020

There is a systemic lack of American Indian representatives in businesses and government agencies across South Dakota. For examples, the South Dakota Board...

Takuwe Review Published in The Sheridan Press

Takuwe Review Published in The Sheridan Press

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Reporter  Allayana Darrow reviewed the CAIRNS educational art exhibit about the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, Takuwe, that is on display at The Brinton Museum...

CAIRNS Director Interviewed for Podcast

CAIRNS Director Interviewed for Podcast

Friday, June 12, 2020

Sandy Swallow, a Lakota artist who has created artworks for a number of CAIRNS educational art exhibitions, interviewed the CAIRNS director for her new podcast,...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:12 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:12 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

Brinton Museum Announces Takuwe Gallery Talk

Brinton Museum Announces Takuwe Gallery Talk

Thursday, June 4, 2020

In conjunction with its display of the educational art exhibit about the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, Takuwe, the Brinton Museum in Big Horn, Wyoming, is...

Takuwe Opens at the Brinton Museum

Takuwe Opens at the Brinton Museum

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

The provocative educational art exhibit about the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, Takuwe, is now on display at the Brinton Museum in Big Horn, Wyoming. It will...

We Can’t Breathe

We Can’t Breathe

Monday, June 1, 2020

The killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by Derek Chauvin, a White man, sparked protests in the largest cities across the United States last week. These...

The Wake Singers Turn in Song for The Gift

The Wake Singers Turn in Song for The Gift

Thursday, May 28, 2020

“Keeping of the Ghost” is the title of the song The Wake Singers composed for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The song is for Wanagi...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:11 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:11 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

Roger Broer Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Roger Broer Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Thursday, May 21, 2020

“Humble” is the title of the artwork Roger Broer created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is for the fourth of seven...

CAIRNS Returns to Inestimable Gift Cemetery

CAIRNS Returns to Inestimable Gift Cemetery

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

The CAIRNS director spent the day, along with cousins Harvey and Merle, cleaning, mowing and weed whipping the entire cemetery. The dark headstone over the...

South Dakota Public Broadcasting Posts Medicine Knoll Video

South Dakota Public Broadcasting Posts Medicine Knoll Video

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

SDPB associate producer, Michael Zimny, published a transcript of his video about the large snake effigy at Medicine Knoll in central South Dakota. The video...

This Month in Lakota History

This Month in Lakota History

Monday, May 18, 2020

Tuesday, May 8, 1973: The Wounded Knee Occupation ended after 71 days. The occupation began on Tuesday, February 27. The Rapid City Journal reported that...

South Dakota Art Museum Posts Articles of a Treaty Webinar

South Dakota Art Museum Posts Articles of a Treaty Webinar

Saturday, May 16, 2020

If you missed the live online curator’s talk on Thursday about the Articles of a Treaty exhibit, it is now available as a SDAM Zoom webinar. Click here to...

Articles of a Treaty on South Dakota Public Broadcasting

Articles of a Treaty on South Dakota Public Broadcasting

Friday, May 15, 2020

Chynna Lockett, a reporter for South Dakota Public Broadcasting, produced a story about the Articles of a Treaty webinar that South Dakota Art Museum hosted...

Iris Sully Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Iris Sully Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Friday, May 15, 2020

“The Gift of Spirit” is the title of the artwork Iris Sully created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is for Wanagi...

Articles of a Treaty Webinar at South Dakota Art Museum

Articles of a Treaty Webinar at South Dakota Art Museum

Thursday, May 14, 2020

This afternoon the CAIRNS director presented a curator’s talk for South Dakota Art Museum’s first ARTbeat webinar. The talk had been scheduled to be conducted...

Bennett County Allotment at Washington & Lee University

Bennett County Allotment at Washington & Lee University

Thursday, May 14, 2020

First thing this morning, the CAIRNS director Zoomed into the “Land in Lakota Culture, Economics, and History” course at WLU in Lexington, VA. The focus...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:10 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:10 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

Del Iron Cloud Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Del Iron Cloud Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

“Vision of Blue Man” is the title of the artwork Del Iron Cloud created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is for Hanbleceya,...

Trevino Brings Plenty Turns in Song for The Gift

Trevino Brings Plenty Turns in Song for The Gift

Sunday, May 10, 2020

“Wopila” is the title of the song Trevino Brings Plenty composed for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The song is for Hunkapi, one...

South Dakota Art Museum ARTbeat Webinar from CAIRNS

South Dakota Art Museum ARTbeat Webinar from CAIRNS

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Join South Dakota Art Museum (SDAM) Thursday May 14 (4:00 Central / 3:00 Mountain) for their first ARTbeat webinar!
Live from the Center for American...

“The Gift of Truth” by Terri Fried

“The Gift of Truth” by Terri Fried

Monday, May 4, 2020

In public education, history classes tend to marginalize and gloss over the Native American experience as being inevitable in the face of progressive American...

Keith BraveHeart Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Keith BraveHeart Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Friday, May 1, 2020

“(re)Turning to Them” is the title of the artwork Keith BraveHeart created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is for...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:9 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:9 Emailed to Subscribers

Thursday, April 30, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

Charles Her Many Horses Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Charles Her Many Horses Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Thursday, April 30, 2020

“Untitled” is the title of the artwork Charles Her Many Horses created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is for Wiwanyang...

Patrick LeBeau Turns in Poem for The Gift

Patrick LeBeau Turns in Poem for The Gift

Sunday, April 26, 2020

“Center Pole” is the title of the poem Patrick LeBeau wrote for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The poem is for Hanbleceya, one of...

Sequoia Crosswhite Turns in Song for The Gift

Sequoia Crosswhite Turns in Song for The Gift

Friday, April 24, 2020

“Oniya Wakan” is the title of the song Sequoia Crosswhite composed for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The song is for Inipi, one...

Autumn White Eyes Turns in Poem for The Gift

Autumn White Eyes Turns in Poem for The Gift

Thursday, April 23, 2020

“Makha’s Womb” is the title of the poem Autumn White Eyes wrote for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The poem is for Inipi, one of...

Lorri Ann Two Bulls Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Lorri Ann Two Bulls Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Thursday, April 23, 2020

“Ista Awicalowan” is the title of the artwork Lorri Ann Two Bulls created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is for Ista...

Dwayne Wilcox Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Dwayne Wilcox Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Thursday, April 23, 2020

“Hinhanni Waste” is the title of the artwork Dwayne Wilcox created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is for the second...

JhonDuane Goes In Center Turns in Artwork for The Gift

JhonDuane Goes In Center Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Thursday, April 23, 2020

“Wapegnaka Tabloka Pejuta” is the title of the artwork JhonDuane Goes In Center created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork...

This Month in Lakota History

This Month in Lakota History

Monday, April 20, 2020

Perhaps the most important event in Lakota history to take place in the month of April was the signing of the Fort Laramie Treaty in 1868. The treaty was...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:8 Emailed to Subscribersv

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:8 Emailed to Subscribersv

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

National History Day Awards Sponsored by CAIRNS

National History Day Awards Sponsored by CAIRNS

Friday, April 10, 2020

Two teams of middle school students, one from each side of the state, created projects that won American Indian History Awards at this year’s National History...

New Poetry Book Published

New Poetry Book Published

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Today we picked up from the printer, Survival Songs, a collection of over 40 poems by Lydia Whirlwind Soldier that she gifted to CAIRNS in support of the...

Lakota Star Knowledge at Oglala Lakota College

Lakota Star Knowledge at Oglala Lakota College

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

This evening the CAIRNS director Zoomed in to the Lakota Environment Management and Protection graduate course that is meeting online. When he linked in,...

Ghostsong Elegy Turns in Song for The Gift

Ghostsong Elegy Turns in Song for The Gift

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

“Crying for a Vision” is the title of the song Ghostsong Elegy composed for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The song is for Hableceya,...

Education and Lakota Art

Education and Lakota Art

Monday, April 6, 2020

There is a long tradition in Lakota society of creating artworks that are aesthetically pleasing and intellectually instructional. An example is the winter...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:7 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:7 Emailed to Subscribers

Sunday, April 5, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

Tracy Hauff Turns in Poem for The Gift

Tracy Hauff Turns in Poem for The Gift

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

“Stay Out of the Weeds” is the title of the poem Tracy Hauff wrote for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The poem is for Isnati Awicalowan,...

Sandy Swallow Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Sandy Swallow Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Monday, March 30, 2020

“Tapa” is the title of the artwork Sandy Swallow created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is for Tapa Wakanyeyapi,...

Lanniko Lee Turns in Poem for The Gift

Lanniko Lee Turns in Poem for The Gift

Sunday, March 29, 2020

“Corn Woman’s Lodge” is the title of the poem Lanniko L. Lee wrote for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The poem is for Hunkapi, one...

Alfreda Beartrack Algeo Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Alfreda Beartrack Algeo Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Saturday, March 28, 2020

“Tapa Wakanyeyapi” is the title of the artwork Alfreda Beartrack Algeo created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is...

Renelle White Buffalo Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Renelle White Buffalo Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Friday, March 27, 2020

“Giving” is the title of the artwork Renelle White Buffalo created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is for the third...

Richard Red Owl Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Richard Red Owl Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Thursday, March 26, 2020

“The Sun is Your God” is the title of the artwork Richard Red Owl created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is for Wiwanyang...

Donald Montileaux Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Donald Montileaux Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

“Hold On Brother” is the title of the artwork Donald Montileaux created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is for Inipi,...

Build Educational Capital by Learning Tribes, Reservations & Capitals

Build Educational Capital by Learning Tribes, Reservations & Capitals

Monday, March 23, 2020

The United Nations recognizes 193 nations as “member states,” and the Holy See and the State of Palestine as “non-member states.” Two additional countries,...

Lydia Whirlwind Soldier Turns in Poem for The Gift

Lydia Whirlwind Soldier Turns in Poem for The Gift

Saturday, March 21, 2020

“Sundance Ceremony” is the title of the poem Lydia Whirlwind Soldier wrote for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The poem is for Wiwanyang...

Andrea Lekberg Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Andrea Lekberg Turns in Artwork for The Gift

Friday, March 20, 2020

“Transformation 2020” is the title of the artwork Andrea Lekberg created for the upcoming CAIRNS educational art exhibit, The Gift. The artwork is for the...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:6 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:6 Emailed to Subscribers

Thursday, March 19, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

New Poetry Book Available Soon

New Poetry Book Available Soon

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Survival Songs, a new collection of poems by Lydia Whirlwind Soldier, was sent to the printer today. Lydia donated her poems to support the non-profit mission...

Teaching about American Indians at Tiospa Zina Tribal School

Teaching about American Indians at Tiospa Zina Tribal School

Friday, March 13, 2020

The CAIRNS team traveled all the way to Lake Traverse Reservation to conduct a Professional Development workshop, “Teaching about American Indians in South...

Get on the Bus! Lakota Lands & Indian Arts Registration is Open

Get on the Bus! Lakota Lands & Indian Arts Registration is Open

Friday, March 13, 2020

Arts South Dakota announced today that registration is open for the popular traveling workshop, “Lakota Lands & Indian Arts.” This summer’s edition of the...

Takuwe in the West River Eagle Newspaper

Takuwe in the West River Eagle Newspaper

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Today’s edition of the newspaper based in the capital of the Cheyenne River Reservation, Eagle Butte, includes an article by Aliana Beautiful Bald Eagle...

Articles of a Treaty Reception at South Dakota Art Museum

Articles of a Treaty Reception at South Dakota Art Museum

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

South Dakota Art Museum announced a reception and curator talk on April 23, 2020, from 5-7pm for the Articles of a Treaty exhibit that is now on display....

American Indians and Anti-Intellectualism

American Indians and Anti-Intellectualism

Monday, March 9, 2020

Last week we picked up the second printing of our “Tribes, Reservations and Capitals” flashcards. They are packaged into sets of nine because there are nine...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:5 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:5 Emailed to Subscribers

Thursday, March 5, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

Takuwe Exhibit Deinstalled at Lakota Cultural Center

Takuwe Exhibit Deinstalled at Lakota Cultural Center

Friday, February 28, 2020

Ted, Bruce and Trini (R-L), of the Lakota Cultural Center in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, visited with the CAIRNS director after the community-based version...

The Rule of Threes

The Rule of Threes

Monday, February 24, 2020

The “rule of threes” suggests that organizing things or events into groups of three is inherently better than organizing them into groups of any other number....

Niobrara School Ministry Weekend, Day Two

Niobrara School Ministry Weekend, Day Two

Saturday, February 22, 2020

This second day of the “What Everyone Should Know About American Indians in South Dakota” workshop began with participants creating “Activities” for how...

Niobrara School Ministry Weekend, Day One

Niobrara School Ministry Weekend, Day One

Friday, February 21, 2020

The CAIRNS director traveled to the South Dakota state capital to conduct a workshop, “What Everyone Should Know About American Indians in South Dakota.”...

McCrory Gardens Director and Intern Visit Wingsprings

McCrory Gardens Director and Intern Visit Wingsprings

Friday, February 21, 2020

Landry and Lisa (R-L) stopped by Friday on their way from Rapid City to Brookings. Lisa is the Director of McCrory Gardens on the campus of South Dakota...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:4 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:4 Emailed to Subscribers

Friday, February 21, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

Lakota Lands & Indian Arts Traveling Workshop Announced

Lakota Lands & Indian Arts Traveling Workshop Announced

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Arts South Dakota, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose purpose is to “advance the arts in South Dakota through service, education and advocacy,”...

Lakota Artists Announced for New Educational Art Exhibit

Lakota Artists Announced for New Educational Art Exhibit

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Nineteen emerging and established visual artists from across the United States are creating twenty-one original artworks for The Gift, a new educational...

CAIRNS Director Travels to Eiteljorg Museum

CAIRNS Director Travels to Eiteljorg Museum

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Thursday evening, after the first of two days of Native American Advisory Council meetings, two staff members and five council members continued discussions...

The Birds & Bees and Sovereignty

The Birds & Bees and Sovereignty

Monday, February 10, 2020

“The birds and the bees” is a euphemism for sex. Instead of examining the details of human reproduction, “bees” suggest insemination while “birds” suggest...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:3 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:3 Emailed to Subscribers

Thursday, February 6, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

CAIRNS Director Interviewed for Medicine Knoll Video

CAIRNS Director Interviewed for Medicine Knoll Video

Monday, February 3, 2020

South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s associate producer, Michael Zimny, traveled from Rapid City to Wingsprings to interview the CAIRNS director for a video...

Lakota Tribes and Lands by the Numbers

Lakota Tribes and Lands by the Numbers

Monday, January 27, 2020

There are seven federally recognized Lakota tribes; six in the United States and one in Canada. In alphabetical order, they are Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes...

Takuwe Opens at Holter Museum of Art

Takuwe Opens at Holter Museum of Art

Friday, January 24, 2020

In a preview of the Takuwe opening, the Independent Record says, “This provocative educational art exhibit ... responds to the [Wounded Knee Massacre] through...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:2 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:2 Emailed to Subscribers

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

Opening Reception for Wounded Knee Exhibit

Opening Reception for Wounded Knee Exhibit

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

This Friday, January 24, 2020, the Holter Museum of Art in Helena, Montana, is hosting a Grand Reopening featuring Takuwe--our educational art exhibit about...

Lakota Poet and Educator Donates Manuscript to CAIRNS

Lakota Poet and Educator Donates Manuscript to CAIRNS

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Lydia Whirlwind Soldier was born at home in Bad Nation, Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. She attended Indian boarding schools for 12 years, receiving...

The Gift

The Gift

Monday, January 13, 2020

Especially during the holiday season, gifts are pleasant exchanges of presents, embodying good thoughts and feelings. Gifts embody the desire to strengthen...

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:1 Emailed to Subscribers

CAIRNS Newsletter Y15:1 Emailed to Subscribers

Saturday, January 11, 2020

The latest CAIRNS newsletter was emailed to subscribers today. If you wish to receive the free biweekly newsletter that describes many of the activities...

Wounded Knee Massacre Exhibit Delivered to Holter Museum of Art

Wounded Knee Massacre Exhibit Delivered to Holter Museum of Art

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Takuwe, the educational art exhibit about the Wounded Knee Massacre, was driven from the CAIRNS office to the Holter Museum of Art in Helena, Montana, where...

Lakota Origins and Development Now Available

Lakota Origins and Development Now Available

Friday, January 3, 2020

The latest publication in our series of educator handbooks, Lakota Origins and Development, is now available. It can be ordered soon from Amazon.com and...

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