Celebrating kinship at the 52nd Annual Wowapi Ohiiciyapi Oglala Lakota College Graduation

KYLE – Once again, the pageantry, beauty, and deeply rooted cultural traditions of the Lakota people—woven into the tapestry of their daily lives—was vividly showcased at the 52nd Annual Wowapi Ohiiciyapi graduation ceremony at Oglala Lakota College’s Piya Wiconi Campus.

On Friday, June 13, a vibrant procession of 143 students proudly participated in the Grand Entry, adorned in vividly decorated ribbon skirts and intricately crafted clothing that highlighted the timeless artistry of the Lakota Oyate.

With temperatures comfortably settling in the mid-seventies, the graduation ceremony commenced, creating a pleasant and uplifting atmosphere for graduates, families, and attendees alike.

President of Oglala Lakota College, Dr. Dawn Tobacco Frank, Ta Oyate Winyankapi Win, Her People See Her, proudly addressed the 2025 graduating class, emphasizing the significance of this day in honoring their achievements, legacy, and the strength of their community. She stated, “We are not here just celebrating degrees. We’re honoring the legacy,” highlighting that graduates embody the hopes and sacrifices of their ancestors.

Tobacco acknowledged the support systems, including donors, community members, elders, and partners, especially recognizing Oglala Sioux Tribal Vice-President Dr. Alisha Mousseaux for her leadership. She also celebrated keynote speaker, Dr. Cheryl Crazy Bull, for her dedication to Native education and tribal colleges.

She shared a powerful message about purpose and resilience: “We are resilient, we are strong. We are still here, and we will continue to be here,” urging graduates to carry forward traditional knowledge, Lakota values, and cultural practices. She encouraged them to let core values—Wacá.tognaka, Wóohitika, Wóksape, Wówau.šila— guide their leadership and decisions.

She concluded by expressing pride and hope for the graduates’ futures, reminding them, “You are the strength. You are our future,” and emphasized that their journey extends beyond earning a degree to living and upholding their culture and values for generations to come.

Rosalie Janis, Board President of Oglala Lakota College Board of Trustees, expressed her honor in celebrating the strength and achievements of the 2025 graduates. She emphasized the significance of grounding and community, noting, “Our ways are rooted in connection, in humility and in community.”

Janis acknowledged the contributions of the Board of Trustees, staff, faculty, and volunteers, thanking them for their dedication and leadership that support student success. She praised the graduates for their perseverance through challenges, sacrifices, and courage, highlighting that they carry the hopes of their families and ancestors.

“You stayed the course through challenges and triumphs. You made sacrifices, showed courage and never gave up on your journey. You have made your families proud and now carry the hopes of the generations before you and those still to come,” Janis said.

She then thanked the families, supporters, mentors and community members, of the students “who were there through the long nights, the early mornings and the moments when encouragement was needed most. Your love has helped bring each of these graduates to this moment. Let us celebrate together in joy, in unity and in the spirit of our Lakota way of life. Congratulations to the Oglala Lakota College class of 2025. Whopila Thanka.”

Dr. Cheryl Crazy Bull, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, delivered a heartfelt speech and emphasized her connection to the community, sharing her Lakota name, Wacinyanpi Win, (They Depend on Her) and her Sicangu Lakota heritage. She reflected on her longstanding involvement in the tribal college movement since 1981, expressing gratitude for working with the founders of Oglala Lakota College and Sinte Gleska University, and highlighting the significance of the accomplishments of the American Indian College Fund.

“I’m really proud that this year the college fund has given out over $20 million in scholarships to Native students. I’m really proud of that and you know how come we can do that? Because of you, because your stories are powerful and we’ve learned how to tell those stories. We’ve learned to how to listen to your voice and to be able to share those stories so that people give us the resources that we need so that we can have access to education,” Crazy Bull said.

The American Indian College Fund CEO acknowledged the challenges facing Native communities, including ongoing civil unrest and threats to essential needs like food, housing, and healthcare, emphasizing that these are responsibilities the federal government must uphold based on treaties. She drew parallels between current struggles and the historic American Indian renaissance of the 1960s and 70s—a time when tribes revitalized their languages, ceremonies, and systems of control, marking a time of cultural reawakening.

“What happened in the 1960s and 70s, during a time of great civil unrest in the U.S., was an American Indian renaissance—a movement where our people, who had been in the shadows, stepped into the light. We brought our ceremonies and ways of life back out into the open for everyone to participate in. Our people looked to restoring our languages and taking control of our education systems. As the late Floyd Westerman often said, we told the BIA, ‘We’re not your Indian anymore.’”

She passionately affirmed that with the efforts of students, families, and communities, a similar renaissance is happening again, creating opportunities to restore language, land rights, and systems. She reminded graduates of the founding purpose of tribal colleges— to help students succeed and give back to their communities— and encouraged them to carry that legacy forward.

Crazy Bull summarized four pieces of advice, three rooted in Lakota values: Wolakota, Nake nula waun, Mitakuye Oyasin and a forth more practical tidbit of advice rooted in the modern world, being responsible users of social media.

“I always tell people, Wolakota, for me is two things, courage and generosity. It takes great courage to be a Sicangu woman and get up and talk in front of all the Oglala’s,” she jokingly giggled. “Wolakota is courage, and you get that courage from your loved ones.”

“I think back to my late relative Albert White Hat, who always said. ‘Generosity, yeah, it’s giving somebody some of your resources. But more than anything, it’s giving them your time and your love, giving them your time and your love teaching and being with them when they need you.’”

“What does Mitakuye Oyansin mean? Crazy Bull asked. “It means we’re one. We are related to each other, even those people who might be our enemies, but we are one with the land. We are one with the sky, with all the animals and the plants that is that is so powerful.”

She then emphasized the significance of what Nake Nula Waun means for students. She shared her own story, “When I was younger, I didn’t have the resources I have now. I was a single mother, working full-time, with children, and I had to prepare for all the ceremonies, celebrations, and memorials that came up. I always think about being ready—getting prepared well in advance. That’s what school is also about. You have to get ready.”

She agreed with the message shared by Emmanuel Black Bear, encouraging students to “get up, go to class, do your work,” and noting that they have the potential to make the President’s List. “We’re happy to see you do that. So, be ready—that’s really important.”

In conclusion Crazy Bull emphasized the critical role of social media and the impact of disinformation on our current struggles. She pointed out that disinformation has played a significant role in bringing Tribal Colleges to where we are now—fighting for financial resources and the fulfillment of trust and treaty obligations. She stressed that in this modern era, understanding and responsibly using information is more important than ever. While grandparents may not be on social media, their grandchildren are, and it’s crucial for them to understand what’s happening in that digital space.

She shared her personal use of social media to stay connected— sharing pictures of proms, graduations, and grandchildren—while acknowledging that social media can also be toxic and a breeding ground for misinformation.

Next Dr. Dawn Tobacco Frank, President of Oglala Lakota College called out the name of each graduate and as they walked on stage, Karla Witt OLC VP for Instruction, assisted by registrar Anthony Barajas handed out the degrees.

Following the graduation ceremonies, attendees rose to join in a traditional round dance, beautifully exemplifying the pageantry, spirit and pride of the graduates and their families. The celebration continued with a Wacipi, lasting into the evening and the next day, embodying the cultural pride of the Lakota people.

(Contact Ernestine Anunkasan Hopa at editor@nativesunnews. today)

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