St. Joseph’s Sets New Record for Scholarships Awarded

Trinity Sazue, far left, was one of 94 students who received a St. Joseph’s Indian School scholarship for his higher education pursuits.

St. Joseph’s Indian School recently announced $115,970 in fall-semester scholarships for Native American students across the nation, bringing the total awards for the calendar year Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Sets New Record for Scholarships Awarded”

St. Joseph’s Indian School Announces Powwow Royalty

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”

St. Joseph’s Indian School Students Demonstrate Powwow Dances at American Island Days

Hot sun and hotrods were the recipe for this year’s American Island Days in Chamberlain, S.D, on August 20, 2022.

Adding some flair and beauty to the afternoon, eleven St. Joseph’s Indian School dancers and eight drummers enjoyed displaying the powwow dance styles of their cultural heritage to festival-goers. The school’s drum group, Pahá Makȟásaŋ Lowáŋpi (the Chalk Hills Singers), provided the heartbeat of the people at the event. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Indian School Students Demonstrate Powwow Dances at American Island Days”

First Time Donor Tackles Big Project to Make Big Difference: ‘We chose to learn how to quilt to do this’

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.

Hearing Maija talk about St. Joseph’s resonated with Michele and Jim. So much so, that it prompted Michele with an idea. An idea she couldn’t wait to share with her mother, Flo. Continue reading “First Time Donor Tackles Big Project to Make Big Difference: ‘We chose to learn how to quilt to do this’”

Tackling Hungry Tummies this Summer All Over South Dakota

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?

We receive those questions quite often at St. Joseph’s. They are important questions, and questions we have designed outreach services around to address. Continue reading “Tackling Hungry Tummies this Summer All Over South Dakota”

The Return of Rising Eagle Day Camp was Amazing!

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.

What did children do while they were here? A lot of cool stuff! Continue reading “The Return of Rising Eagle Day Camp was Amazing!”

St. Joseph’s Indian School Students Spread Kindness to Hospitalized Children

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.

Surely, messages with words are wonderful. However, the thing about art is it is a universal language. There are no words to comprehend — only a feeling to be shared. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Indian School Students Spread Kindness to Hospitalized Children”

St. Joseph’s Wins Communicator Award, Receives National Recognition

St. Joseph’s Indian School celebrates special recognition of its public service announcement (PSA), “More Than a School.”

The PSA is the winner of a Communicator Award of Excellence in the category Integrated Campaign Winner – Campaign-Non-Profit. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Wins Communicator Award, Receives National Recognition”

Cultural Trip Forms St. Joseph’s Students for Future with 15th Anniversary Trip

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.

On a fair-weather Tuesday in May, the 18 seventh-grade students of St. Joseph’s Indian School prayed and smudged before embarking on the trip that has become a spiritual and cultural rite of passage. The journey prepares them to become leaders at school and in life. Continue reading “Cultural Trip Forms St. Joseph’s Students for Future with 15th Anniversary Trip”

Fr. Greg’s Hoší — News — for May 2022

The high school Class of 2022 in their cap and gowns.

Greetings everyone,

As we prepare ourselves for the summer months this gives cause for pause as I reflect on my very first year at St. Joseph’s Indian School.

I feel like it was just yesterday that I drove my vehicle from the hot and humid climate of Mississippi to South Dakota. Continue reading “Fr. Greg’s Hoší — News — for May 2022”