Hihani waste – good day

I’ve stopped by the high school tutoring center each of the past two days, and found it filled with our kids hitting the books.  It’s getting to be midterm time and lots of school work is due before Easter. Our American Indian students are realizing what it takes to succeed, and I’m glad to see them putting in the effort and getting help where they need it.

Miles who is on our high school staff was celebrating his birthday. We have security cameras in the hallways of the homes and one of Miles’ duties is to review the tapes and make sure no one is wondering where they’re not supposed to be. He had to laugh that on the tapes a few of the students poked their head into the hallway just a little past curfew and held up sings reading, “Happy Birthday Miles”. They know we’re watching for their safety.

Three of our SCJs from Indonesia are visiting the area for Easter and staying on the Lower Brule Indian Reservation. Vincent, Donatus and Anthony called to see if they could tour St. Joseph’s Indian School and I enjoyed their company. We visited a few classrooms, and they taught our students greetings in Indonesian in exchange for learning the Lakota phrase hihani wastegood day. I left them at the Akta Lakota Museum & Culture Center where they could learn about history, culture and look at the contemporary art at their own pace.

Author: St. Joseph's Indian School

At St. Joseph's Indian School, our privately-funded programs for Lakota (Sioux) children in need have evolved over 90 years of family partnership, experience and education. Because of generous friends who share tax-deductible donations, Native American youth receive a safe, stable home life; individual counseling and guidance; carefully planned curriculum based on Lakota culture and individual student needs and tools to help build confidence, boost self-esteem and improve cultural awareness. All of this helps children to live a bright, productive, possibility-filled future.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *