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.
Powwow Royalty was crowned September 7. From left to right: Romeo, Aleighya, Sherrilynn, and Fr. Greg Schill, SCJ.
The 46th Annual St. Joseph’s Indian School Wačhípi – Powwow – marks the return to a public powwow for the students for the first time since the onset of the pandemic. September 17 marks the long-awaited powwow comeback. Students have been hard at work practicing dance since their August 16 return to campus. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Indian School Announces Powwow Royalty”
Michele and Jim (adults, centered) made a trip from Iowa in order to bless children at St. Joseph’s Indian School with a gift that had a personal touch.
Michele and Jim thought they were coming to Chamberlain, SD, in the summer of 2021 purely as a way to enjoy a road trip away from their Iowa home. They were in search of relaxation and connection with nature, which they found, but they also found something else — something else with which they would soon form a connection …
St. Joseph’s Indian School.
They were staying in a quaint Airbnb hosted by Maija, a St. Joseph’s employee who enjoys hosting visitors in her free time apart from her work at St. Joseph’s. A fluid conversationalist, Maija likes talking to her guests and making them feel at home. Because Maija displays some items from St. Joseph’s within her cabin, more often than not, the topic of St. Joseph’s comes up. She tells visitors about our students, programs, services and all the reasons why our campus is such a special place.
St. Joseph’s Indian School buses and vehicles hit the road this summer delivering much-needed food to help Native American families all over South Dakota.
What happens to St. Joseph’s students during the summer? Where do they go? Do they have what they need? Will they eat every day?
Rising Eagle Day Camp was back for Summer 2022 and oh, what a blessing it was!
The highly anticipated return of Rising Eagle Day Camp felt like a trip back in time to 2019 when things seemed so much simpler — like a breath of fresh air, as they say.
The first two weeks of camp served 372 children, ages six to 14 from the Crow Creek Reservation. The second two weeks of camp served 358 children from the Lower Brule Reservation. Calculate those together, and the total attendance this year was 730 children. If we do more math, that includes over 3,100 miles traveled and over 2,100 meals and snacks provided to reservation children in four weeks.
Creating art is essential for St. Joseph’s Indian School students, but it also was used to serve another purpose recently: blessing others in need!
For a hospitalized child, receiving a message from children their age can be extra special. It brightens their day. It lets them know someone is thinking about them. For a moment, it lifts their spirits as they undergo their unique battles.
St. Joseph’s Indian School seventh grade girls posing for a photo with the Crazy Horse Monument in the background. It was one of many stops during the annual Cultural Trip.