Oceti Sakowin

SDPB

Oceti Sakowin: The People of the Seven Council Fires

For six-hundred years we have lived under the misconception that Columbus discovered America. What he did was stumble on a land already occupied by many people and many nations. In the center of that land were a people who call themselves Oyate: "the People". This is their story, in their words.

Photos

Photo courtesy South Dakota Historical Society

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Cheyenne River Indian School, S.D., circa 1900

Photo courtesy South Dakota Historical Society

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Crow Creek, S.D., on the Crow Creek Reservation, about 1900

Photo courtesy South Dakota Historical Society

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Two Native Americans take a ride, one on horseback, one on a travois, in South Dakota, circa 1900.

Photo courtesy South Dakota Historical Society

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Nicholas Black Elk of "Black Elk Speaks" fame, South Dakota, circa 1900

Photo courtesy of the Edward S. Curtis Collection, National Archives

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Yanktonai Dakota camp, South Dakota, circa 1900.

Photo courtesy of the Edward S. Curtis Collection, National Archive

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Three Native American riders in South Dakota, circa 1900.

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Oceti Sakowin: The People of the Seven Council Fires

For six hundred years, we have lived under the misconception that Columbus discovered America. What he did was stumble on a land already occupied by many people and many nations. In the center of that land were a people who call themselves Oyate: "the People." This is their story, in their words. Original music composed and performed by Lakota artist Kevin Locke. running time: 59 minutes
(View Online/ YouTube) (Credit List)

Bridging the Gap: Native American Education

Due to cultural differences and socio-economic conditions, the challenges facing Native American students are many. This video/teaching tool offers insight into the problems and possible solutions for educators of Native American young people. running time: 24:14 minutes (Watch) (Credit List)

Workshop Facilitator's Guide for Teacher In-service Presentations

The Oceti Sakowin and Bridging the Gap programs are meant to be used in in-service situations to promote strategic thinking about how to address the specific needs of Native American students as well as curriculum-level thinking and planning about when, where, and what to teach. The purpose of the guide is to offer workshop facilitators a variety of options for using the programs in teacher workshops. (Workshop Guide)
Note: Some of the links are broken in the Web section of the guide.

Documents
Amendments to Program (Suggested Changes)
Oglala Mythology
Reading List
Common Lakota Terms Table
Song Translations
Dakota Pathways: A History

Press Materials
Basic Press Release
Biographies
Promotional Script
Music

Funded by a grant from the SD Department of Education