St. Joseph's Indian School

Air-dry clay was the medium and sixth through eighth-grade students at St. Joseph’s Indian School were the artists who enjoyed the guidance and wisdom of visiting artist Sculptor Darwin Wolf.

Their task: create sculptures of the animals that inhabit the South Dakota Prairies. The fist-sized finished products will find a home in the Native American Studies classroom, where they will be used to learn the Lakota names of the buffalo, turtle, coyote, eagle, spider and other creatures significant to Lakota cultural life. Students chose from several animals that are part of the Lakota language curriculum used at the school. Continue reading “Darwin Wolf Sculpts Prairie Life with Students at St. Joseph’s Indian School”

Black Friday.
Small Business Saturday.
Cyber Monday.

Although dates that help people score great holiday deals, the days after Thanksgiving can be a little overwhelming.

But then, like a breath of fresh air, enters Giving Tuesday. Have you ever heard of it? Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Makes Christmas Magic on Giving Tuesday”

It’s not often you see students out and about at St. Joseph’s Indian School after dark. It’s even less often you see them out after dark dancing in their moccasins to the beat of a Lakota drum.

But, that’s exactly what two high school kids were up to last week in preparation for Rock Your Mocs (RYM)! Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Celebrates ‘Rock Your Mocs’ and ‘Native American Heritage Month’”

The kids at St. Joseph’s Indian School are just regular kids. While they may not be actors, a handful received the opportunity to star in a pair of new public service announcements that will likely broadcast across the country. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Indian School Films New TV Public Service Announcements”

“Let us put our minds together and see what life we will make for our children,” instructed Húŋkpapȟa Lakota leader Sitting Bull.

In much the same spirit, the American Indian Catholic Schools Network (AICSN) board gathered for its Fall Summit at St. Joseph’s Indian School. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Hosts American Indian Catholic Schools Network Summit”

The following is a personal reflection by LaRayne, the Native American Studies teacher at St. Joseph’s Indian School.

The smell of čhaŋlí pȟaȟtá — tobacco offerings — made my heart feel many emotions as I quietly tied the prayers of the St. Joseph’s Indian School students, staff and donors together for the All Souls Day prayer service.

I cannot take a photo of what I describe (as it is a sacred process), but I will explain it from my heart in a way that I hope you can see, feel, smell and have a small taste of how we combine our Lakota, Dakota and Catholic traditions together for the good of our students. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Indian School Remembers Loved Ones on All Souls Day”

When he arrived in town, Hector Curriel went for a walk as he pondered the subject for his artist’s residency with grades 3 through 5 at St. Joseph’s Indian School the following week. Coming upon Dignity, he snapped a photo of her against the turbulent South Dakota sky and knew at once he had met his model for the week’s classes. Continue reading “Visiting Artist and Students Bring Dignity to Life through Artwork”

October is the month of the year that his Servant of God, Nicholas Black Elk called the, “Moon of the changing seasons.” As the weather continues to change, one thing that never changes is that I am keeping you all — our benefactors, staff and students — in my prayers.

As I continue to place all of you in my thoughts and in my prayers, I thought I would share with you a few wonderful events that have been happening at St. Joseph’s Indian School.  Continue reading “From the Desk of Fr. Greg: October 2021”

The sun was not yet awake as a group of high school girls and houseparents from St. Joseph’s Indian School made their way to the Missouri River’s edge. The sky was a dark navy, matching the blue of the waves slapping the pier. As the vehicle’s headlights clicked off, darkness of the early morning surrounded them.

In their hearts, they carried with them loss and sadness. In their hands, they carried memorial lanterns. Continue reading “Arriving with Grief, Leaving with Hope: St. Joseph’s Remembers Lost Loved Ones”

As the sun peaked over the dark eastern horizon, bright shades of red and yellow, fringed by the white edge of a band of stratocumulus clouds spelled out “This is Native American Day,” in the traditional colors of the Lakota people. Thirty minutes after the sun rose, St. Joseph’s Indian School students and staff gathered at the school’s Wisdom Circle to pray the Four Directions Prayer.

While others observed Native American Day on October 11, St. Joseph’s Indian School was just getting started with what became an entire week of education and fun. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Indian School Celebrates Native American Week”