Eagle Butte
Our day began with breakfast at the Native-run Outrider Café. The Chief Administrative Officer of the Cheyenne River Tribe joined us.
We spent a significant amount of time at Eagle Butte Upper Elementary School, a newly constructed building and modern in every sense. The session focused on Tribal Ventures- and Four Banks-initiated youth programs, such as financial literacy programs as a part of the school curriculum, beginning in kindergarten.
We heard from the faculty, and the honesty, passion and articulation of their efforts blew me away. I haven’t heard four educators speak that well about curricula—ever!
Four high school students who were participating in paid internship programs spoke. The programs, funded by Tribal Ventures and Four Bands, pay hourly wages to students working in local businesses.
Our bus rolled out of the Cheyenne River Reservation through the plains with a brief stop and Badlands National Park. The landscape was powerful and breathtaking as we made our way to the Pine Ridge Reservation.
A stop in Badlands National Park
We had dinner and were treated to a short program at Oglala Lakota College, which included a video guided tour of a museum on Wounded Knee, and a spoken word performance by Tiana Spotted Thunder, organizer of the Pine Ridge Youth Speaks/Poetry Slam competition. Tiana just turned 18 years old and is using spoken word to help youth find their voice and address the ongoing youth suicide issues. She was flat-out amazing!!
About Greg