It is only natural that Oglala Lakota College (OLC) would be founded on spirituality. OLC was the dream of our elders who were deeply grounded in spirituality but who knew that we would have to learn Western ways to survive. Together with our young leaders, they realized the possibilities of higher education on their reservation.

Gerald One Feather, who was one of the founders of OLC, would often recall that the college’s origins were deeply embedded in Lakota spirituality. One Feather said that before the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council took up the vote to charter what was then called the Lakota Higher Education Center, he went up the hill to pray (hanblecha) for the strength and courage to lead the effort in getting the charter approved. Fortunately, the tribal council voted unanimously to proceed with a tribal college for the Oglala Lakota people. Today, with all of its meetings, including the board of trustees meetings, Oglala Lakota College begins with a Lakota prayer.

Native spirituality was also a part of the establishment of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC). According to One Feather, the leaders of the first six tribal colleges met with a Department of Education official about receiving federal funds to support an advocacy organization for the tribal colleges. At the end of this meeting, the official stated that he could not approve their request. When the tribal leaders returned to their hotel, there was a discussion about what they should do next. Stanley Red Bird, the board chair of Sinte gleska College, suggested that they go to one of their rooms and pray. One Feather immediately agreed that this was what needed to be done. When the tribal leaders arrived at the room, they moved the bed and furniture to the side walls and made a circle in the middle of the room where they all sat and burned sage while they prayed to Tunkashila. The next morning, One Feather received a call from the Department of Education official who told him that he had changed his mind and that there would be funding for what would become AIHEC.

Oglala Lakota College is deeply grounded in spirituality with ceremonies and the smoking of the pipe for the spiritual ceremonies of the college. Frank Fools Crow told college officials that OLC needed its own pipe, and so the college has had its own pipe for the last 40 years.

Over the years, OLC has had great spiritual leaders to guide the college, including John Around Him, gerald One Feather, and Wilmer Mesteth, who have all passed on to the Spirit World. Today, we are honored to have Richard Moves Camp, who is an elder and a spiritual leader, guide us.

The road to success for Oglala Lakota College has been long and at times difficult. A few years ago, the college was criticized by individuals who seemed to ignore all the good OLC was doing and wanted to focus instead on personal issues. We had to go before the tribal council for a public hearing. As president, I approached Wilmer Mesteth and other members of the Lakota Studies Department and asked their advice on how to handle the situation. I was advised that we should simply continue to do things in a good way with prayer throughout the year. All of this brings to mind something Vine Deloria Jr., the great Native philosopher and author, said: “By lifting our vision, the petty quarrels of our daily existence will be overcome by a view of our future, and our communities will emerge as sacred places.”

With the guidance of OLC’s Lakota Studies Department, the college begins each year with a spiritual ceremony to welcome back all staff and students for a new year. In addition, when there are many deaths in the community, the college’s centers hold a “wiping of the tear” ceremony. The academic year is concluded with a wopila ceremony, which is held to give thanks.

One Feather was asked to serve as keynote speaker for AIHEC’s lecture series in Albuquerque, New Mexico, because of the major role he played in the tribal college movement. After sharing the history of the tribal college movement and his experiences over many years, he congratulated the colleges for doing a great job and educating so many students. However, he said that students are leaving tribal colleges and falling off a cliff because they lack spirituality. “We need to go back to spirituality,” he stated. The challenge for each tribal college is to make sure that Native spirituality is incorporated into college culture.

Thomas Shortbull (Oglala Lakota) is president of Oglala Lakota College.