Reconciliation on a Border Town: New School Dance Group Holds Pow Wow in Martin, S.D.

MARTIN, S.D. ñ A gathering of schoolchildren, in full or partial regalia and driven by a few of the best singing and drum groups in the region, pulled off the first ever pow wow in Martin for a newly formed school dance group on April 28.

The new dance group is fully sanctioned by the Bennett County School system. It is part of a larger organization made up of 15 schools from mainly the Pine Ridge Reservation, but includes a school from Rosebud and two off-reservation schools.

The Bennett County elementary school population is more than 80 percent American Indian, but they have never had a dance group. There has been only one school pow wow, and that was in 1997 for high school students.

Bennett County may be situated between two reservations, Rosebud and Pine Ridge, but it is considered part of the Pine Ridge Reservation and is home to the La Creek District of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

Bennett County and the town of Martin have been given poor marks for treatment of American Indians in the past. The town has seen protests and allegations of illegal political actions that ended up in federal court.

The federal court found in favor of the town in a voting district dispute. Today, Oglala Sioux tribal members are on the school board and county commission.

On this memorable day, young people from kindergarten through 12 cared very little about the adult problems; they donned their regalia and danced ñ all afternoon and into the evening.

Some of those childrenís school chums watched their classmates dance, but it wasnít too long after the first inter-tribal dance that those classmates also joined in.

This was not just any pow wow: this was a pow wow of reconciliation and cultural understanding, even though it may not have been intended that way.

ìThis begins the first step to get along,î said Cecilia Fire Thunder, president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Martin has a reputation.

ìI like being an Indian; itís OK. Itís also OK to be white,î she told the large crowd of students, parents and faculty.

ìThe reason God made white people and all of us is that God meant for us to get along.

ìItís hard to do sometimes. I would like to see many more days like this in Martin,î Fire Thunder said.

Fire Thunder, who has lived in Martin for the past 16 years, said she has never had any problems and was helped when she needed help.

ìIf we love our children, all of us in this room, we can all learn to be better mothers and fathers and raise our children better,î Fire Thunder said.

Fire Thunder was on hand to present awards to Wayne Semmler, superintendent of schools, and to Belinda Ready, principal of the elementary grades, for their work in assisting the organization of the dance club and the pow wow.

ìIt was a healthy situation, a wonderful event.

ìObviously people put a lot of effort into organizing this with the kids,î Semmler said after the pow wow. ìIt was special for me to be part of the ceremony.î

Jason Drapeaux, of Martin, adult leader for the Martin dance group, asked the board of education to make it a school function, which they did.

He said the school does not financially help the group; some other schools have some financial help from their districts.

Semmler said the district had a $700,000 cut and had to cut some activities and staff.

Fire Thunder also presented a star quilt to Colton Gotheridge, 9, who suffers from cerebral palsy. Colton has been dancing for three years, and according to his father, Mike Gotheridge, since Colton has been dancing he has improved physically.

Gotheridge said that when Colton was a baby, heíd jump to the beat of the drum while in his parentsí arms. Colton is a member of the newly formed dance club of Bennett County schools, which has 25 members.

Each school hosts a contest pow wow during the school year. Dancers are given points that take them into final competition at the end of the school year, according to Mike Carlow, Pine Ridge, president of the organization.

The groupís purpose is to promote culture, Carlow said.

Each school is assessed a fee to belong, some schools that have funds provide transportation for the dancers, other schools must use parents to transport the children.

Each dancer is awarded a prize, such as a T-shirt or a bag. At the end of the season, those dancers with the most points in a category receive a trophy.

ìEducation is the answer to wipe out poverty and we will try harder in the future,î Fire Thunder said.

MARTIN, S.D. ñ A gathering of schoolchildren, in full or partial regalia and driven by a few of the best singing and drum groups in the region, pulled off the first ever pow wow in Martin for a newly formed school dance group on April 28.The new dance group is fully sanctioned by the Bennett County School system. It is part of a larger organization made up of 15 schools from mainly the Pine Ridge Reservation, but includes a school from Rosebud and two off-reservation schools.The Bennett County elementary school population is more than 80 percent American Indian, but they have never had a dance group. There has been only one school pow wow, and that was in 1997 for high school students.Bennett County may be situated between two reservations, Rosebud and Pine Ridge, but it is considered part of the Pine Ridge Reservation and is home to the La Creek District of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.Bennett County and the town of Martin have been given poor marks for treatment of American Indians in the past. The town has seen protests and allegations of illegal political actions that ended up in federal court.The federal court found in favor of the town in a voting district dispute. Today, Oglala Sioux tribal members are on the school board and county commission.On this memorable day, young people from kindergarten through 12 cared very little about the adult problems; they donned their regalia and danced ñ all afternoon and into the evening.Some of those childrenís school chums watched their classmates dance, but it wasnít too long after the first inter-tribal dance that those classmates also joined in.This was not just any pow wow: this was a pow wow of reconciliation and cultural understanding, even though it may not have been intended that way.ìThis begins the first step to get along,î said Cecilia Fire Thunder, president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Martin has a reputation.ìI like being an Indian; itís OK. Itís also OK to be white,î she told the large crowd of students, parents and faculty.ìThe reason God made white people and all of us is that God meant for us to get along.ìItís hard to do sometimes. I would like to see many more days like this in Martin,î Fire Thunder said.Fire Thunder, who has lived in Martin for the past 16 years, said she has never had any problems and was helped when she needed help.ìIf we love our children, all of us in this room, we can all learn to be better mothers and fathers and raise our children better,î Fire Thunder said.Fire Thunder was on hand to present awards to Wayne Semmler, superintendent of schools, and to Belinda Ready, principal of the elementary grades, for their work in assisting the organization of the dance club and the pow wow.ìIt was a healthy situation, a wonderful event.ìObviously people put a lot of effort into organizing this with the kids,î Semmler said after the pow wow. ìIt was special for me to be part of the ceremony.îJason Drapeaux, of Martin, adult leader for the Martin dance group, asked the board of education to make it a school function, which they did.He said the school does not financially help the group; some other schools have some financial help from their districts.Semmler said the district had a $700,000 cut and had to cut some activities and staff.Fire Thunder also presented a star quilt to Colton Gotheridge, 9, who suffers from cerebral palsy. Colton has been dancing for three years, and according to his father, Mike Gotheridge, since Colton has been dancing he has improved physically.Gotheridge said that when Colton was a baby, heíd jump to the beat of the drum while in his parentsí arms. Colton is a member of the newly formed dance club of Bennett County schools, which has 25 members.Each school hosts a contest pow wow during the school year. Dancers are given points that take them into final competition at the end of the school year, according to Mike Carlow, Pine Ridge, president of the organization.The groupís purpose is to promote culture, Carlow said.Each school is assessed a fee to belong, some schools that have funds provide transportation for the dancers, other schools must use parents to transport the children.Each dancer is awarded a prize, such as a T-shirt or a bag. At the end of the season, those dancers with the most points in a category receive a trophy.ìEducation is the answer to wipe out poverty and we will try harder in the future,î Fire Thunder said.