LANGUAGE SCHOLAR. Sinte Gleska University faculty member Albert White Hat, Sr., spoke to faculty and staff about his experiences writing books about the Lakota language. His first book is titled Reading and Writing the Lakota Language, and his forthcoming book will soon be available from the University of Utah Press. Photo by Laura Paskus

In May, Sinte Gleska University (SGU, Mission, SD) hosted a two-day professional development gathering for faculty. The gathering titled “Wotakuye Glusuta – Making Relationships Strong” included faculty and staff from SGU as well as from nearby Oglala Lakota College (OLC, Kyle, SD)

During his welcoming talk, Everett “Butch” Felix pointed out that since the tribal college movement’s “humble beginnings”—the first SGU graduating class consisted of two students—there are now about 30,000 students attending tribal colleges today. “We’re making a change, a difference,” he told the crowd.

Other speakers included Colette Keith, Ahmed Al-Asfour, Mary Henson, Stephanie Bordeaux Seeger, Kevin “Hoch” DeCora, Dr. Shannon Amiotte, Dorraine “Rainey” Benson, Steve Tamayo, Nora Antoine, Susan Auer, Andrew Thompson, Albert White Hat, Sr., and Dr. Raffaella Rainieri. Prayers throughout the two days were led by Stanley Red Bird, Jr., and his daughter Winnie Red Bird.

The workshop was sponsored through funding from the Lily Endowment through the American Indian College Fund and facilitated by David Cournoyer of Plain Depth Consulting.