2019-01-18 01:42:25
CONNECT WITH NORTHERN PLAINS HERITAGE Attractions and art galleries throughout the Black Hills and Badlands honor the traditions and history of the indigenous people who populated this vast tract of Western South Dakota. The Lakota Nation’s proud people and rich heritage are deeply ingrained throughout western South Dakota. Treasured artifacts blend with modern Native American art in museums and galleries. Cultural celebrations, such as the Black Hills Powwow, mix rich traditions with contemporary interpretations. SACRED SITES The Black Hills, and much of western South Dakota, are home to a number of sites that many Native Americans consider to be sacred, from Wind Cave and Bear Butte to the Badlands. NATIVE AMERICAN ART For many, Native American art is a cherished memento commemorating their Black Hills and Badlands travels. Purchase authentic Lakota art at many places throughout the region. The Lakota tribes are known for their intricate quill and beadwork, which remains an integral part of life on reservations. It’s an honored and even competitive art form that continues to be passed through generations. Authentic beaded art is made with the fin st handmade and natural materials, based on long-established designs. The items they embellish take on the spirits of their owners and are still worn at powwows and recognition ceremonies. Your purchase encourages this critical aspect of Native heritage and recognizes the Lakota artisans who have perfected the craft. Other authentic Native American items have undergone a modern revival and seen increased popularity, including traditional and silver jewelry, moccasins, Native American antiquities, buffalo robes and skulls, pottery, recorded music, books, paintings and sculptures. Symbolism unique to the Sioux is weaved throughout Lakota artwork. You may notice that human images are often paired with wild animals. This stems from their belief that all of the Great Spirit’s two-legged and four-legged creatures are related. Others may depict mystical experiences, ancestral spirits, or illustrate Wankan Tanka’s omnipotent guidance. Many artists showcase their creative vision by incorporating both traditional and modern influenes. The imagery of the buffalo, or tatanka, is prominent in most all Lakota works. These massive six-foot tall creatures, weighing up to 2,000 pounds, are worshiped as a sacred animal. From spoons to tipis, buffalo provided virtually everything the Sioux Indians needed for their existence. Its spirit is praised before every hunt, and every part that isn’t used for food is put to use in other ways. Sioux Pottery is a large supplier of decorative ceramics that are handcrafted by Native American Sioux Indian artists using red clay from the Black Hills. The artists have skillfully adapted Sioux symbols into the unique decorative designs of Sioux Pottery, expressing the spirit and culture of the Lakota people. Sioux Pottery vases make wonderful gifts and are great for Native American home decor. Visit their factory in Rapid City where you can meet the artists and see the process from start to finish. Visit the area’s most extensive collection of Plains Indian art, crafts and jewelry at Prairie Edge Trading Co. & Galleries. The two-story, historically restored building in downtown Rapid City houses an arts and crafts gallery, fine art gallery, bookstore and unique crafts supply center. The greatest gift you’ll take home is the experience. One mile south of the Badlands, Native West Trading Company specializes in contemporary and traditional arts and crafts from local Lakota artists. They’re eager to help you add an authentic piece to your collection allowing you to share your knowledge and appreciation of Native American art. New pieces are added to the gallery daily, ranging from contemporary to historical works. MUST-SEE STOPS South Dakota’s reverence for its rich Native culture is celebrated throughout the western part of the state. Located near Pine Ridge, The Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School houses an extensive collection of prize-winning paintings and sculptures, as well as historical and contemporary Lakota art, including beadwork and porcupine quillwork. The center is open year-round. Admission is free to take in the impressive works. Stop into the on-site gift shop and browse the astounding variety of authentic Native American art. The store buys directly from local artisans and consciously works to support their craft. Tour the historic campus where Chief Red Cloud is laid to rest with Lakota Culture and Art Tours at Red Cloud Indian School. Each summer, the center hosts the world-renowned Red Cloud Indian Art Show. It is the largest and longest running Native American art show of its kind in the country. It’s one of only a few held on an Indigenous reservation hundreds of miles from any urban area. The show attracts thousands of visitors to view impressive works of art by seasoned Native American professionals alongside young artists just beginning their careers. The show runs from June 1 to Aug. 11, 2019, showcasing more than 150 pieces in a variety of categories. All artwork in the show is available for purchase. Two museums at Crazy Horse Memorial® honor the living heritage of the North American Indians. The INDIAN MUSEUM OF NORTH AMERICA® and THE NATIVE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL CENTER® feature American Indian art and artifacts from tribal Nations across North America. They offer guests the opportunity to be hands-on with “make and take” activities. In the summer, visit with Native American artisans, watch American Indian dancers perform and learn more through the Talking Circle Speaker Series. Gain a deeper understanding of the Lakota way of life at the Oglala Lakota College Historical Center. Situated on the Oglala Lakota College campus, visitors can view historical photographs and artwork, accompanied by an audio recording that depicts the tumultuous history of the Oglala Lakota from the early 1800s through the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890. The White River Visitor Center is located about 20 miles south of the town of Scenic in the south unit of Badlands National Park — where SD Hwy 2 intersects with SD Hwy 27. The Center is open during the summer months, featuring fossils, a video program, and Lakota exhibits and artifacts to learn more about Sioux culture. The Wounded Knee Museum in Wall tells the story of the events surrounding the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890, painting a vivid picture through exhibits and photographs. The museum presents a carefully researched and thoroughly documented history of the deadly massacre by the U.S. Army that left more than 150 Lakota men, women and children dead. Travel south of the community of Porcupine on SD Hwy 27 to see the Wounded Knee Massacre site fisthand. The site itself, though scarred by modern intrusions and fragmented by a road system, remains a harrowing reminder of the horrific vents that took place there. PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION Majestic Badlands, rolling grassland and hills, dryland prairie and pine-dotted areas await you at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. It’s a place where you’ll learn about ancient legends, colorful history and heritage as old and wondrous as the surrounding Badlands. The Pine Ridge Reservation is the home of the Oglala. The reservation is the eighth-largest reservation in the country, covering 11,000 square miles (approximately 2.2 million acres) in southwestern South Dakota. The tribal headquarters is in the town of Pine Ridge, but the reservation includes the communities of Kyle, Oglala, Manderson, Porcupine, Wanblee and Long Valley. While on the reservation, be sure to tour the Pine Ridge Visitor Center just west of Kyle. Enjoy the wildlife exhibit, browse art displays and discover traditional and contemporary works of art by Lakota artists. Relax in the comfortable seating area while enjoying informative videos about Sioux artists and the Lakota way of life. For Pine Ridge business listings, turn to page 156.
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Native Roots
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