On Saturday, October 15, 2022, Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, came to Sinte Gleska University to hold a “Road to Healing” session. Secretary Haaland is touring reservations across the United States gathering testimony from people who had survived or experienced the boarding school system. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe collaborated with Sinte Gleska University to put on this important event. In his welcome address, RST Tribal President and SGU graduate Scott Herman, stated “Secretary Haaland made history when she became the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary.”
The event took place in the University’s Wakinyan Wanbli Student Center building which is located upon the grounds of the former Rosebud Boarding School. Hundreds of people participated in this moving, and often heart wrenching, event. The opening prayer was led by spiritual leader Richard Moves Camp. Of particular note was the hard work of Marcida Eagle Bear and the youth who made sure the elders had water, and were comfortable and served during the lunch meal. They also acted as mic runners, keeping the process going. RST Councilman Russell Eagle Bear was the moderator who did a superb explanation of events using bilingual language.
The SGU Maintenance and Security staff worked all day at the event and did a fine job getting the facility ready, and involved themselves in activities throughout the event. SGU works to support learning activities that impact our communities amongst its many duties. The archives will be gathering the transcripts from the event after the Department of Interior has them completed and will be able to make them available to the public. If possible SGU will place the testimony on the SGU web site in the future.
Original source can be found here
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