Class III of Rural Leadership North Dakota traveled to the Standing Rock Reservation for our seventh seminar, November 20-22, 2008.  At this seminar we opened our hearts and our minds to better understand cultural differences. 

We met Thursday afternoon at Prairie Knights Casino where we were welcomed by the Standing Rock Night Lights, a youth drum and dance group and Avis Little Eagle, Vice-Chairwoman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.  Other speakers on Thursday included Todd Humphrey, Senior Vice President of Starion Financial in Mandan, ND; Jody Luger, President of Fort Yates Chamber of Commerce; and Chuck Murphy and Chuck Archambault of Prairie Knights Casino.  They all shared their thoughts on cultural differences and uniqueness, specifically relating to the Standing Rock Reservation.

Thursday evening we had the honor of participating in an Inipi Ceremony (sweat), which is a spiritual ritual.  Our host for the sweat was Elliot Ward, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.  Elliot taught us the traditions and process of the ceremony; he made everyone feel welcome and comfortable throughout the day.  After the sweat, we had a traditional Indian meal prepared for us by Loretta Bad Heart Bull, another member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

Friday was our tour day.  We traveled to several towns on the Standing Rock Reservation.  Our guest/tour guide for the day was LaDonna Allard, from the Tourism Department.  First, we traveled to Cannon Ball to visit Charles McLaughlin, a local artist.  Next, we made our way to the Tribal offices in Fort Yates.  We were introduced to some of the Tribal Council Members, including Henry Harrison, Joe McNeil Sr., Robert Cordova, and Margaret Gates.  Henry and Joe took us to the Tribe's Paleontology Department to show us the fossils recently discovered on the Reservation.

Lunch was at Sitting Bull College where we were joined by Sue Isbell, Cindy Dunn and Mary Jean Hunter of the Sioux County Extension.  Also joining us was Jonathan Anderson from the Entrepreneurship Center and Ron Walters, Resource Development Director at Sitting Bull College.  Finishing up our tour, we stopped by Standing Rock Farms and the Bureau of Indian Affairs before our dinner in Selfridge. 

Saturday morning we each shared a cultural artifact and a story about our heritage.  We also participated in a study circle exercise, which again helped us understand cultural differences.  We reflected on our weekend together, and wrapped up the seminar by looking ahead to our next two seminars in Bismarck and Washington, D.C.

By Candice Hall