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So much good takes place in the St. Joseph’s Indian School Rec Center every day. Whether it’s through organized athletics, a dip in the pool or a workout session in the weight room, Native American children and young adults are learning the importance of movement.

But, the building in its current state can only allow for so much. The existing facility was constructed in 1974, almost 50 years ago. A nearly half-century old building means there are many shortcomings. In fact, the list of shortcomings is becoming longer than the list of positives. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Rec Center to Receive Renovation, Expansion”

The Lakota (Sioux) culture is rich with tradition and St. Joseph’s Indian School looks for ways to honor and connect our students to their culture as much as possible. One of the ways we do this is by providing an inípi.

Inípi, also known as a sweat lodge, is a basic purification ceremony of the Lakota (Sioux), as well as other Native Americans. It’s a ceremony offered several times a year for students, and holds great depth of meaning. Continue reading “Inípi Ceremony Connects Students to Their Culture and Each Other”

Students at St. Joseph’s Indian School celebrated what likely everyone in the area has been thinking – “I Hate Winter Day.”

Students slurped red and blue slushies and munched on popcorn while a team of five judges viewed beach home projects constructed for the day. Categories were first-third grade, fourth-sixth grade and seventh-eighth grade. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Indian School Celebrates ‘I Hate Winter Day’”

March is Women’s History Month and March 8 is also International Women’s Day! We thought we’d take a look at the historical significance of Native American women, as well as the role Native American women play now in the present and into the future.

Traditionally, Native American women played an essential role in their tribal communities. While women were in charge of the more traditional matriarchal roles within the tribe, they also had an array of other responsibilities. Yes, they were wives and mothers, but they were also builders, farmers, craftswomen, cooks, teachers, nurses and more. Continue reading “Growing and Empowering Strong Girls for the Future”

St. Joseph’s Indian School is proud to announce it has awarded 67 scholarships to Native American students this spring semester!

This recent round of awards brings the total for the school year to a record $213,970! This spring, the school granted awards to 16 St. Joseph’s alums, nine alum family members and 42 other scholars enrolled in a federally recognized tribe and pursuing higher education. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Indian School Awards $95,000 in Spring Scholarships”

Imagine you wake to the sound of your alarm sounding in the morning. You groggily turn over to shut it off, while your mind’s eye sees bits and pieces of the dream you were having prior to being woken up. Maybe you see blurry shapes or figures and you’re left with a feeling, but you can’t quite grasp what it was you were dreaming about.

For children living in one of South Dakota’s nine reservations, life can sometimes be a bit like this. They dream of a brighter future, but perhaps lack the opportunities to realize that dream — to see it through clearly. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Indian School Helps put Dreams into Focus”

St. Joseph’s Indian School students enthusiastically joined nationwide Catholic Schools Week. Beginning January 30, the school and others across the country observed Catholic education’s value.

Students celebrated the theme, “Faith, Service and Excellence.” Continue reading “Catholic Schools Week Celebrated at St. Joseph’s Indian School”

Candid, a leading assessor of nonprofit organizations, recently announced that St. Joseph’s Indian School achieved the Platinum GuideStar Seal of Transparency for providing comprehensive information about the school’s programs, success measures and services. Platinum is the highest possible rating for a nonprofit organization.  For the past three years, the organization earned the Silver GuideStar Seal of Transparency. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Indian School Goes Platinum with Candid/GuideStar”

Crow Creek Sioux Tribal Chairman Peter Lengkeek, in his Jan. 12, 2023, State of the Tribes Address to a joint session of the South Dakota State Senate and House of Representatives, called the experience a “humbling opportunity.” His words likewise summed up the feelings of St. Joseph’s Indian School students who participated in the day. Continue reading “State of the Tribes Address Is Humbling Opportunity for Students”

Mike Tyrell has served St. Joseph’s Indian School for 38 years in multiple roles leading up to his presidency of our organization. It might surprise you, but Mike didn’t come to St. Joseph’s with his wife, Kim, in 1985 with the intention of staying very long. They thought it would be a pit stop. A place to sow some good into the world before they settled down somewhere else.

However, God had other plans. Plans that Mike recently recounted by putting pen to paper. Continue reading “Our President Wrote a Book!”