Tonight was the final night of Sinte Gleska’s 46th Annual Founder’s Week. Mary was honored tonight for her work on Dances With Wolves, her support Sinte Gleska University, and her continued commitment to raising awareness about and providing opportunities for the Lakota people.
After participating in the Grand Entry with hundreds of singers, dancers, and musicians, Mary was introduced by Lakota Elder and History/Culture Professor at Sinte Gleska Duane Hollow Horn Bear. After a brief explanation of her career, he presented her with a plaque.
“Mary is a beloved member of Sinte Gleska University. Her generosity and selfless giving through the years is so appreciated, and we’re blessed to have her as a supporter and friend. The Lakota Oyate of the Sicangu nation wholeheartedly welcome her and would like for her to return to our lands. She will always have a home and a family here on the Rosebud.”
Mary - who was joined by the family of her late mentor Doris Leader Charge, Sinte Gleska President Lionel Bordeaux, and fellow Dances With Wolves actor Nathan Chasing His Horse - then spoke briefly:
“Wopila Tanka. Hi! I just wanted to say that 28 years ago I came here for the first time, and I had no idea where I was, and I was sure I did not belong here. And Doris Leader Charge - her whole family’s standing behind me - took me under her wing, and she taught me many things about all of you. She took me to my first powwow. This is my second powwow - I know, it’s funny! And I’m very proud to be associated with Sinte Gleska University. I understood when I had to be instructed in the Lakota language what a beautiful thing it is. I understood as I was learning it that it was something that needed to be preserved and enlivened, and all of these kids out here would benefit from knowing it. So I’m kind of committed to helping out with that. You’ve all taught me a great deal - you’ve opened your hearts to me, you’ve opened your homes to me, you’ve opened your families to me. I’m deeply grateful to all of you, and it’s a whole lot of fun to be here. And I thank you and I thank Lionel Bordeaux and Sinte Gleska and his whole family for all of the wonderful warmth they showed me in this situation, and I hope to see more of you again. Thank you. Wopila Tanka.”
President Bordeaux spoke about the significance of Dances With Wolves and the ongoing mission of Sinte Gleska.
“We take the opportunity here to thank and honor a young woman who I feel was spiritually brought to us through the movie Dances With Wolves. Then she had the opportunity to meet a couple of our instructors, Doris Leader Charge and Albert Whitehead Sr. and Nathan Chasing His Horse and Floyd Westerman, and they become a family. They taught Kevin Costner and Mary a lot about who we are. That movie was well received throughout the country and we thank the actors, we thank Jim Wilson and the producers and the others for putting Dances With Wolves out there. That showed America and the world who are as tribal people in the sense that it was the first time you saw Lakotas laughing, smiling, loving, enjoying who we are as indigenous peoples. And that movie went a long way, and because of that we want to honor Mary. Through her role and knowledge about who we are she continues to look back at the tribal people, the families, and she continues to show her compassion for tribal people. And I know that in the future we have a long way to go with Sinte Gleska University, and with ourselves as tribal nations trying to educate and teach our young people. But it’s gonna be through the help of people like Mary and her supporters and her friends that I know she’ll draw into her her circle of friends, and they’ll continue to assist and become part of the Sicangu Oyate. Because of this we feel very honored to be the institution that helped Dances With Wolves become the institution it did.”
After a speech from Nathan Chasing His Horse, in which he discussed his family, spirituality, and told the story of how he became involved in Dances With Wolves, Mary was presented with a number of gifts - including a Star Quilt in the colors of the Green Bay Packers!
We’ll be sharing more about the Founder’s Week celebration in the days to come, but in the meantime, be sure to check out the SGU YouTube channel and the SGU Media Productions Facebook Page and Twitter account. Thank you very much to the Media Department for making the livestream available to people across the globe, to the Donor Relations Department for their continued support of Mary and the Mary Cares efforts, and to everyone who watched and participated in the celebrations this weekend either in person or from afar.
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