St. Joseph’s Indian School Announces Powwow Royalty

St. Joseph’s Indian School is proud to present the 2023 Powwow Royalty. (Pictured left to right): Caden, Clarysia , Fr. Greg Schill, SCJ, Persais and Rylee.

The 47th Annual St. Joseph’s Indian School Wačhípi is September 16. Students have been hard at work practicing dance and drum group since their August 13 return to campus.

As is the tradition, a royalty competition set the event in motion on Wednesday, September 6. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Indian School Announces Powwow Royalty”

St. Joseph’s Student Selected as Participant for Prestigious Medical Forum

Mersayis, a St. Joseph’s Indian School student, said goodbye to the amber waves of grain of the Midwest, and hello to the blue waves of the Pacific Ocean for an adventure she will never forget.

Mersayis took a few deep breaths before boarding a plane headed to California. At 17 years old, this flight would be the St. Joseph’s Indian School student’s first flight.

Although the idea of traveling alone to an unknown place may seem like a daunting experience for some, Mersayis harnessed her bravery and took her seat. Before she knew it, she’d be at the University of California Berkeley for a week-long experience as a participant of the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) Medicine & Health Care. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Student Selected as Participant for Prestigious Medical Forum”

Back to School at St. Joseph’s

Students at St. Joseph’s Indian School were welcomed back with a parade to kick-off the 2023-24 school year!

A new tradition borne of the pandemic continued at St. Joseph’s Indian School under bright and shiny skies along the banks of the Missouri River. Nearly 200 students and dozens of staff from across the campus celebrated the fourth annual outdoor back-to-school parade. Continue reading “Back to School at St. Joseph’s”

Students at St. Joseph’s Discover their Cultural Identity

Students at St. Joseph’s Indian School are immersed into many cultural experiences to strengthen their bond to their Lakota culture. One of those experiences is powwow.

If you were to ponder the important subjects taught in classrooms across the country, what might you think of?

Perhaps math, science, reading and English are the first to come to mind. While these subjects are, of course, important for a well-rounded student to succeed in the real world one day, among the list of subjects provided to students at St. Joseph’s Indian School, there is one that is extra special. Continue reading “Students at St. Joseph’s Discover their Cultural Identity”

St. Joseph’s Delivers 160 Food Boxes, Receives Countless Smiles in Return

St. Joseph’s Indian School strives to provide a nurturing, supportive environment for Native American children from South Dakota reservations. We strongly believe education is a powerful tool for empowering our students and creating a brighter future. Additionally, we understand the importance of ensuring their well-being beyond the classroom, especially during the summer months when our students spend precious time with their families. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Delivers 160 Food Boxes, Receives Countless Smiles in Return”

St. Joseph’s Indian School Gives 16,990 Free Books to Residents of Reservations

Kindness from others allows St. Joseph’s Indian School to provide free books to people in reservations all over South Dakota each summer.

As St. Joseph’s Indian School’s Bookmobile was setting up for a morning of serving in Fort Thompson on the Crow Creek Indian Reservation, a cheerful voice rang out from a distance. Turning toward the voice, staff members could see it was a woman. She was running and screaming all the way from the road. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Indian School Gives 16,990 Free Books to Residents of Reservations”

The Chapel: A Symbol of Hope at St. Joseph’s Indian School

There are many buildings on the campus of St. Joseph’s Indian School. But, one seems to shine brighter than all the rest, especially on Sunday mornings.

Our Lady of the Sioux Chapel, with its scrawling ivy that beams bright green in the summer and amber in the fall, stands as a beacon of light … of hope … of faith in a higher power. It’s also an illustration of the Lakota (Sioux) culture. The stained glass windows glisten in the sun with shimmering blues, greens, yellows and reds. Continue reading “The Chapel: A Symbol of Hope at St. Joseph’s Indian School”

St. Joseph’s Indian School Repeats as Top-Rated Nonprofit

A camp counselor and child stop to smile for the camera at a fun outdoor activity during Rising Eagle Day Camp, an outreach program of St. Joe’s.

St. Joseph’s Indian School was recently named a “2023 Top-Rated Nonprofit” for the seventh year running by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews of charities and nonprofits. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Indian School Repeats as Top-Rated Nonprofit”

Holy Water and Lakota Smudging: The Similarities and Differences

Students take part in smudging at St. Joseph’s Indian School.

St. Joseph’s Indian School, located in Chamberlain, SD, has a unique way of incorporating both Christian and Native American traditions into daily activities. Two of these practices are the use of holy water and Lakota smudging. Although they may seem different, both traditions have important spiritual significance and are valued in their respective cultures. Continue reading “Holy Water and Lakota Smudging: The Similarities and Differences”

Wičhóni Wašte Retreat Provides St. Joseph’s Indian School Students Opportunity for Reflection

The view from the top of Bear Butte on a beautiful South Dakota day.

St. Joseph’s Indian School High School Program juniors and seniors embarked on the first-ever Wičhóni Wašte (Good Life) Retreat this past spring!

The retreat day, called “The Summit,” came about after Joe, Mission Integration Director, listened to student feedback and consulted with Mount Marty University and the University of Notre Dame regarding similar experiences those schools provide. Continue reading “Wičhóni Wašte Retreat Provides St. Joseph’s Indian School Students Opportunity for Reflection”