Rapid City Public Library celebrates Native American Month

By Susan Braunstein, Programming Librarian

For the second year in a row, visitors to the Rapid City Public Library will find displays and be able to attend programs related to November’s theme of Native American Month.

One of the highlights is an exceptional traveling exhibit called “Living Traditions: Dakota, Nakota, Lakota Art,” provided by the South Dakota Historical Society. This exhibit showcases artistic work done during the nomadic hunting period, the reservation period, and modern times.

The Living Traditions exhibit features text, photographs, and images of objects from the museum collection, all shown on twenty display panels. The exhibit will be on display at both the Downtown and North libraries throughout the month of November, and is made available through funding from the South Dakota Heritage Fund and the state of South Dakota.

In addition to the art display, the book “Fools Crow,” by Native American author James Welch has been chosen for the November 16 Sunday Selections book discussion. Ruth Brennan will lead the discussion on this title from 2-4 p.m.
James Welch is of Blackfeet ancestry, and his novels are all set in or around reservation life in Montana. His most recent novel, the “Heartsong of Charging Elk,” is also available as a “Books to Go” collection. These collections consist of several copies of a book with reading and discussion guides, and are popular with book clubs. The library has over 80 titles in the “Books to Go” collections.

Programs featured in November start off with a Discovery Days program on Monday, November 10. Artist Johnny One Feather is a veteran who enjoys teaching and helping young people learn how to do different types of crafts. This time he will show them how to make bracelets and earrings that they can keep for themselves or give to a family member or friend as a gift. You can join in the fun at the North library from 9:30-11:30 a.m., and at the downtown library from 2- 4 p.m. The library’s Discovery Days program gives young people a chance to explore something new on a day when they are out of school.

Also in celebration of Native American month, the weekly Book Buddies and Baby Bookworm story times will include Native American stories during the first week of November.

The Lunch and Learn program on November 19 from noon to 1 p.m. will feature Diabetes Education Coordinator, Bonny Petersen, who works at the Regional Medical Clinic Endocrinology division in Rapid City. The focus of the information will be how the disease affects Native Americans. Lunch will be catered by Little Jewels.

Some of the more informative diabetes-related websites on the national level include www.diabetes.org, the website of the American Diabetes Association, and www.ndep.nih.gov, the National Diabetes Education Program. Locally, the Rapid City Regional Hospital Diabetes Education department, www.rcrch.org/services/diabetes/default.asp, or the Black Hills Diabetes Education Association at www.blackhillsdiabetesassociation.org contain helpful information and include other resources listed on their websites.

There is also an expansive collection of diabetes information in the library’s book collection and an excellent selection of cookbooks to assist with planning individual or family meals for someone with diabetes.

For a historical perspective of Native American culture in this region, the library’s South Dakota collection contains a number of rare glimpses into the Native American lives and stories of the people who lived in this area. This collection contains a variety of local history books, including those focused on Native American culture. It includes titles such as “Photographs & Poems by Sioux children from the Porcupine Day School,” selected by Myles Libhart and Arthur Amiotte; “Turtle Lung Woman’s Grandaughter,” by Delphine Red Shirt; “War Pipe – Peace Pipe Heritage on the Rosebud,” by Melvin H. Jackson; or “The Dull Knifes of Pine Ridge,” by Joe Starita.

Other titles include “Pictographic History of the Oglala Sioux”, by author and illustrator Amos Bad Heart Bull; “View from Wounded Knee – 1973: in the words of the participants, published by Akwesasne Notes”; “Red Horse Owners Winter Count: the Oglala Sioux, 1786-1968,” written by Moses Red Horse Owner; and “Sundancing at Rosebud and Pine Ridge,” by Thomas E. Mails.

The library’s special emphasis of Native American Month in November offers a chance to learn about another culture and that can enhance our life experience with a new perspective. Join us at the Rapid City Public Library to participate in these opportunities.