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When LaRayne looked over the stock of children’s powwow regalia at St. Joseph’s Indian School, she noticed a limited amount of female Traditional and Jingle dresses.

LaRayne, St. Joseph’s Native American Studies teacher, said popularity among the different powwow dances changes year to year. Some years, more girls want to dance Fancy, while other years Jingle or Traditional take the lead. Recently, that has been the case. While St. Joseph’s has a seamstress, Bonnie, to carefully create new dress designs to replace worn out regalia, the demand for Jingle and Traditional dresses has been outpacing her sewing machine. Continue reading “Regalia by Notable Native American Designer Donated to St. Joseph’s”

The 45th Annual St. Joseph’s Indian School Wačhípi will take place on Saturday, September 18. The school has offered this cultural experience since the mid-1970s, though school records indicate students have performed traditional dance there since the 1950s. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Indian School Announces Powwow Royalty”

Frogs and kids were jumping for joy at St. Joseph’s Indian School during the campus home frog races!

To participate, each home that signed-up for the races had to catch their own frogs. Catching a gnašká — frog — is not an easy job. They are wriggly, slimy and just when you think you are about to successfully sneak-up on the slippery little feller, it leaps away at the last second. Continue reading “Hip-hop-hooray! St. Joseph’s Indian School hosts frog races, other activities”

To step into the 5^th-grade classroom the second week of school at St. Joseph’s Indian School was to step into anything but business-as-usual. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Indian School Students Experience Starbase Week”

The St. Joseph’s Indian School Bookmobile wrapped up a busy summer on Thursday, August 8. The outreach made stops in 42 communities, zig-zagging South Dakota to serve more than 1,300 children and adults. Forty-one alumni came to visit with Alumni Liaison and Bookmobile Coordinator Andy and the crew. Continue reading “VIDEO: Bookmobile Gives Nearly 6,500 Books to Children and Adults”

Staff from all over St. Joseph’s Indian School’s campus turned out for an outdoor parade on Tuesday, August 10, to welcome back students in grades 1-8.

Laughter, music, colorful signs and bubbles filled the air as students walked the campus. Horses from the school’s equine therapy program took up the rear, adding to the parade atmosphere. Continue reading “First Day of School Energizes St. Joseph’s Staff and Students”

St. Joseph’s Indian School’s new and returning staff are currently in “busy bee” mode as the start of a new school year is just around the corner. Continue reading “Student Benefits from Wraparound Services at St. Joseph’s Indian School”

The following is a guest blog written by Erin, one of the Family Service Counselors at St. Joseph’s Indian School.

One thing I appreciate most about working with children is having the opportunity to utilize creativity in a variety of ways. One way I have done this is through art.

St. Joseph’s Indian School’s counseling services includes an art therapy room filled with art supplies and artistic mediums for any creative interest. This has been incredibly useful when working with children who may not have the words to express how they feel. Art in therapy allows kids to explore ideas and practice mastery of a new skill while learning frustration tolerance and processing experiences. Continue reading “Art Therapy: Using Creativity to Heal”

The following guest blog is written by Nicole, one of the Licensed Professional Counselors at St. Joseph’s Indian School

“Today is going to be a good day!”

That is just one of the positive affirmations I teach the girls I counsel. Sometimes we become stuck in negative self-talk, worries and doubt. Reframing our thoughts with positive affirmations is a great way change our mindset for the better. Continue reading “Counselor Reflection: The Power of Positive Affirmations”

The sun bathed the crowd gathered on Tuesday, June 22, to dedicate the Sacred Heart Chacon Family Shelter in Eagle Butte, S.D. Continue reading “Sacred Heart Chacon Family Safe Shelter Dedicated”