SURF launches new Deep Roots summer public lecture series with seed planting June 12

LEAD — The Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) is launching a new series of monthly public presentations called Deep Roots. The summer lecture series is an extension of SURF’s longstanding monthly Deep Talks series that runs October-May each year.

 Deep Roots events will sometimes take place at the newly constructed ethnobotanical garden at SURF called Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ, with transportation provided to the garden from the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center. Some lectures in the series will also be held at the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor center in Lead.

 “We look forward to showcasing Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ this summer as a space where we can reflect on our region’s shared culture and history,” says Rochelle Zens, (Sičháŋǧu Lakȟóta), community relations specialist at SURF. “From ethnobotany to art and other topics, our hope is to create a space of collaboration and connection.”

The first in the Deep Roots series, Sowing the Seeds of Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ, is a community seed planting and celebration for the opening of Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ. The event takes place on June 12 from 10 a.m. until noon. The garden is accessible through transportation provided by the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center beginning at 9:45 a.m. Transportation back to the Visitor Center will be provided on the hour. The public is invited and encouraged to attend and enjoy planting, storytelling and a musical performance.

On July 18, the Deep Roots series continues with Phil Gover, from the Minneapolis Federal Reserve, Center for Indian Country Development, who will speak on the topic of tribal data sovereignty. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center located at 160 West Main Street in Lead.

 SURF’s 2024 Artist in Residence, Marty Two Bulls Jr., will lead the August 15 edition of Deep Roots. Two Bulls will share his wealth of experience in the field of art and how his culture influences his artistic choices. The event begins at 10 a.m. at Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ. In the case of inclement weather, this event will be held at the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center located at 160 West Main Street in Lead.

On September 12 Amy Sazue, the director of the Remembering the Children Memorial in Rapid City, will share an overview of the project’s mission: “To honor the lives, memories, and spirits of the children and relatives who passed away at the Indian Boarding School and the Sioux Sanatorium TB Clinic.” The event begins at 10 a.m. at Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ. In the case of inclement weather, this event will be held at the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center, located at 160 West Main Street in Lead.

The monthly Deep Roots speaker series at SURF is free and open to the public. Each installment of the series will be posted to SURF’s upcoming events web page and will include contacts for visitors in need of accommodations.

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