Celebrate Native American Culture at the Library

In celebration of Native American month the Rapid City Public Library has two special programs. The Community Voices program planned for November 10 at 6:30 p.m. features Donovin Sprague and is titled, “Hump & Crazy Horse: a Lakota Cheyenne History from a Family Perspective.”

Sprague was born and raised on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation and is an enrolled member of the tribe. He is a Minnicoujou Lakota and a descendent of Chiefs Hump and Crazy Horse. Sprague’s great great great grandfather Chief Hump I (High Back Bone) was the uncle of and mentor to Chief Crazy Horse. His great great grandfather, Hump II, fought in Custer’s Last Stand and Calhoun Hill at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Sprague plans to bring a number of historic family photographs to the program and will do a book signing and sale of his books.

In addition to writing, Sprague is the owner of Rock N Records, a professor at the University of Iowa and Black Hills State University, makes bead and quillwork, carves bows and plays the flute.

Did you know there is a proposed He Sapa Black Hills Center for Northern Plains Indian Arts and Performance planned near the Journey Museum? Plan to attend the library’s monthly Lunch & Learn program on November 16 and the project manager, Randy Ross, will share details of the vision for this center. Plans include a performance amphitheatre and pow wow grounds, bronze sculptures, an artist plaza where Native products can be on display and for sale, a living history encampment with teaching areas, demonstration gardens tipis and a dry creek bed.

There would also be concessions and food vending areas operated in partnership with the Intertribal Bison Cooperative plus wireless technologies and touch screen kiosks featuring tribal tourism destinations and other Native services, routes and attractions.

The Alliance of Tribal Tourism Advocates is leading this endeavor. Their goal, according to their website, www.attatribal.com, is to enhance and promote tourism as a means of economic development and growth while maintaining respect for tribal traditions and lands. Their membership includes the nine tribes in South Dakota.

The city of Rapid City has committed $812,000 in 2012 funds toward the project’s estimated 1.8 million Phase I construction.

The Lunch & Learn program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library and if you would like to receive a lunch, please contact the library or sign up on our website by noon on November 14.

In addition to the featured presentations, a traveling exhibit from the South Dakota State Historical Society entitled, “Living Traditions: Dakota, Nakota, Lakota Art will be shared at both library locations throughout the month of November. Bringing out the beauty in everyday objects led to strong traditions of decorative quillwork, beadwork, painting, and carving.  This exhibit showcases artistic work done in three different time periods – the nomadic hunting period, the reservation period and modern times.

For additional information on November programs check out the library’s website, www.rapidcitylibrary.org.