More of the world's tallest tipi building

Those keeping an eye on this blog may have noticed that I've been adding photos of the progress of the new Lakota Studies building every week as construction continues. Today a 22-ton crane was delivered to the Antelope Lake campus for the construction of the top of the tipi, and onlookers watched in amazement from throughout the campus as the tops of the tipi poles were put in place to crown the giant tipi. Poles from the tipi could even be seen from the Main Campus two miles away.

photos taken on August 22, 2011

photos by Mary RedOwl-Begay

There is discussion of having the new SGU Lakota Studies building measured and recorded in the 

Guinness Book of World Records for the World's Largest Functioning Tipi Building when it's complete. A larger tipi is already in place in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, with a sculpture topping 20 stories high. However, since it is not an actual building, SGU's building may qualify as the world's largest tipi-shaped building.

A large metal eagle feather sculpture will be added to the top tipi poles when the construction of this section of the building is completed. The eagle feather sculpture was designed and built by Ted Bordeaux of White River, who also plays steel guitar for many SGU functions such as Graduation, Founders' Week and the Annual Elder's Holiday Dinner. 

Sinte Gleska University's 39th Annual Commencement next weekend

Sinte Gleska University invites the families, friends and public to the 39th Annual Graduation Ceremony on Friday, August 26th, 2011, at Wakinyan Wanbli Multipurpose Student Center in Mission, SD. Ninety-three students will receive diplomas and certificates and have an eagle feather tied on at this year's ceremony. The theme of this year's graduation is Oyate, nahan, tiwahe, nahan wayawaki lena wounspe iyoglog iglubli hecapi nahan tokatakiya wicozani gluha iyuskinyan manipelo (Enhancing Individual, Family and Nation through Education and Culture.)

Graduation Day will begin with a Sunrise Ceremony at 8:00 AM on the grounds of the Wakinyan Wanbli Multipurpose Building, followed by the Purification of the MP Building. At 10:00 AM the dedication of the Business/Education Building grounds will occur east of hte MP Building. At 11:00 AM the University will conduct a Wiping of the Tears Ceremony in the MP Building gymnasium. Grand Entry for the Graduation Ceremony is at 1:00 PM.

This year Sinte Gleska University is honored to have Secretary Arne Duncan of the U.S. Department of Education and Larry EchoHawk, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs as Keynote Speakers. Other dignitaries in attendance will be U.S. Congresswoman Kristi Noem, Director of the Bureau of Education, Keith Moore; Acting Director of the White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities, Bill Mendoza; and retired Publisher and Founder of the Native Sun Times and nationally-syndicated columnist, Tim Giago.

Following the graduation ceremony a meal will be served for all those attending the graduation. Sinte Gleska University students, staff, faculty and graduates would be honored if all will attend this celebration of our graduates. Thank you for your support of Sinte Gleska University!

New SGU Lakota Studies Building under construction

SGU staff and administrators were treated to a welcome sight this week as the construction crew began putting in beams for the walls and roof. The hundred foot high steel tipi will make the Lakota Studies building the tallest on the University's Antelope Lake campus. After an especially rainy spring and summer, many despaired of the building being completed on time as the construction company continually battled flood waters and mud while trying to build the basement.

Adding photos of progress weekly:

Photo taken on July 29, 2011

Photo taken on Aug. 5, 2011

Photo taken on August 15, 2011

SGU Campus in summer time

Visit the SGU Bookstore this week to see sage bundles hung from the eaves outdoors to dry. The SGU Bookstore sells several locally grown and harvested plants for use in ceremonies, cooking and personal care. 

Seen outside the SGU Library, a bird has made a new home on the knotted metal sculpture (or maybe the nest was simply relocated to a more visible spot?) The Library was recently given a little makeover with fresh paint and new carpeting.

SGUTube adding more videos every day

By Sammie Bordeaux
SGU's Media Guru, Jim Cortez, has added some new videos to the SGU YouTube channel, a two-part video of SGU adjunct instructor Peter Gibbs teaching Todd County Middle School students about life inside a tipi. Both videos are about 8 minutes long and available in high definition format.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6og_89w6bbU

Cortez has been creating videos for SGU for the past three years and making them available via YouTube with an SGU YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/sintegleskautube  Most SGU events are covered by Cortez and edited and made available quickly to viewers. Videos include the SGU Founders' Day activities, the SGU frybread video, Lakota elder Albert White Hat speaking about Lakota women's roles, and even a teaching-related video featuring SGU Human Services Chair, Sheryl Klein, developed to help students understand Service Learning.

Cortez has been working on the past 38 years' worth of video and film created by the University media staff, trying to digitize it and make it available via YouTube and/or through DVDs. Cortez believes that the video collection of Sinte Gleska University could be used to raise money for the University through sales of rare and never-seen videos that the University owns. The value of these videos, he believes, lies in their research potential for students and faculty of SGU and other academic institutions.

Additionally, the SGU YouTube channel offers potential students the opportunity to see what's available at Sinte Gleska University in terms of technology, classes, and people. Many will find that SGU is a place like no other in its course offerings, expertise on the Lakota way of life, and the availability of the knowledge and wisdom of Lakota elders.

Faculty Development Workshop September 17

SGU's Policy Institute is hosting a faculty development workshop on September 17 at 10 AM at the Student Services Building on the Antelope Lake Campus. Titled "Blogs, wikis, IMs, Facebooks, YouTube, and Second Life: Technology in the Grounded Classroom," this is the second time this workshop has been offered to SGU faculty.

SGU Faculty who are confused about technology or just want a refresher-course can sign up with Marlies White Hat at the SGU Policy Institute or with Mary Henson-Saunders at the SGU Arts & Sciences Building to attend this workshop. You must sign up to attend the workshop to ensure enough workshop materials and food are available for all.

Science/Math Knowledge Bowl upcoming

Sinte Gleska University's ongoing Science and Math Knowledge Bowl will continue this fall, challenging students and parents alike to recall all their knowledge of math and science on-the-spot to win prizes.

Prizes up to $1000 (plus pizza and pop) are available to those who attend, and anyone is eligible to win the prizes for answering science and math-related questions.

Quiz No. 27 will be held September 14 at 5:00 PM at the SGU Multipurpose Building Commons Area at 5:00 PM. For more information contact Dr. Subodh Singh, 605-856-8215 at the SGU Technology Building. This event is sponsored by SD-EPSCoR.