The Great Plains Art Institute at Sinte Gleska University (SGU) aims to provide students with the space, materials, knowledge, and tools to create art that is true to their self-expression and culture. Located in Mission, South Dakota, on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, the Great Plains Art Institute (GPAI) opened its doors in 1987. In the fall of that year, Margaret “Maggie” MacKichan was hired as the GPAI director. MacKichan and SGU wanted to create a program centered upon a strong Sicangu Lakota foundation alongside high-quality art education.

MacKichan went on to serve as director for 35 years, her legacy long-reaching and her contribution to the institute everlasting. Ned Day, the current GPAI director, was hired in 2013. He brings a multitude of experience with an MFA from Fort Hays State University, where he studied ceramics, sculpture, and art history.

The GPAI has strived to provide students with an enriching education that allows them to create art from an inner source, a place of heart and authenticity. Students partake in an intensive study of both mainstream and Native American art, whilst developing as independent artists. Jared Jennings, a current instructor at the institute said, “My goal is to help [our students] develop not only as artists but also as individuals who are confident in their ability to think critically, take risks, and express themselves authentically.” Jennings and the rest of the GPAI faculty are committed to teaching a bicultural viewpoint, promoting the study of Sicangu Lakota aesthetics, incorporating elders and their teachings, and interfacing with the community.

The GPAI currently offers two degrees, an Associate of Arts, and a Bachelor of Arts. These degrees provide a foundation for further graduate studies, studio art degrees, or jobs in art-related fields. Day says, “Within the last few years, courses were developed that are specifically tailored for the visual arts in professional practice and entrepreneurship, as well as a senior capstone course.” Additional course levels were also added to create eight distinct emphasis areas, including drawing, painting, batik, printmaking, photography, ceramics, sculpture, and silversmithing.

Courses offered at the GPAI are tailored towards the students, teaching them Native perspectives within art and providing them the space to explore their artistic endeavors. Two distinct art history courses are required in the programs, “one focusing on all of North America and the other on Northern Plains tribes with the pursuit of examining and identifying Lakota art through an expanded context,” says Day. He also adds that art students “are encouraged to study traditional art forms by enrolling in courses offered by SGU’s Lakota Studies Department as well as take required courses in Lakota language, history and culture, [and] thought and philosophy.” These required courses are essential and help to create the unique Sicangu Lakota perspective the GPAI proudly stands upon.

Jennings shares a bit about his classroom and instruction: “I challenge students to push beyond what feels safe and familiar. I lead by example, showing them the value of approaching every project with curiosity, dedication, and a willingness to explore the unknown. I encourage them to view unfamiliarity not as a barrier, but as an opportunity for growth and discovery. True learning happens when we step beyond our comfort zones and embrace the challenges of what we have yet to understand.” Last spring, GPAI students earned eight awards from AIHEC’s student art show in a range of both traditional and contemporary categories, showcasing their immense talent.

With small class sizes, students receive more hands-on experience and build strong connections with their peers. This also creates a tight-knit family atmosphere throughout the institute made possible by the dedicated hardworking faculty and the students’ commitment to making authentic art.