Student Richard Iron Cloud is working on a video about the lesser known Wajaje Band.
This past week Richard, Jesse and I went to the Knife Chief Estates area where some of the Wajaje band settled.

Richard Iron Cloud shooting video of the Knife Chief Estates area.

The Wajaje band spoke with a "J" dialect compared to the "L" of the Lakota, or the "D" or "N" dialect of the Dakota or Nakota. They settled in various locations, near Porcupine and Wanbli on the Pine RIdge, some at Cheyenne River Agency and others on the Rosebud.


Shot overlooking the Knife Chief Estates area, one of the locations of the Wajaje band.

Richard is a descendant of this band and family members still live in this area.
In the outcropping above, there were footholds to help get to the top!


We don't know if these footholds are just a natural part of the rock or fashioned on purpose. But we were definitely not the first or last to go up!
The air was fragrant with the smell of honeysuckle, and the bees were busy at work.


When we went back down to the bottom of the valley. I screamed to alerted Richard and Jesse that we where not alone... we had company.


Although we got some footage of the bullsnake slithering along, Jesse wanted to hold him!
Plum Blossoms fill the trees along Porcupine Creek.

Sunday, May 3rd the TV Production students joined Dawn Frank's Traditional Plants class on a field trip as they looked for different varieties of plants they had learned about in class.

Looking for the early spring plants.

Wilmer Mesteth explaining the traditional uses of some of the plants found on the Prairie.

Thanks to Wilmer for sharing his knowledge!

The Buffalo Rose!

One of the more interesting finds were these furry roses!

Wild Onion Plant

One of springs early bloomers, the wild onion plant.

Pine Tree Sap has many traditional uses!


Students shared their knowledge.

Leaves of the strawberry plant.


Spring Violets


It was a good day to be out, not too hot or cold. But in another month there will be much more to see!
We hope to go out again then! The TV Production students were very interested in the the Traditional plants.

Thanks to everyone who was able to take the time to attend the "We Shall Remain" event at the Elks Theater on Saturday, May 2nd. It was nice that one of OLC's students was able to show their project on the big screen.
For those of you that missed it, you can probably find the longer version of the project on the web.
Other projects that OLC students helped in recording can be found there as well. Those include Cheryl Hill, Chief Dave Bald Eagle, Vic Runnels, Anne Whipple, and others.

http://www.sdpb.org/weshallremain/Stories.asp?&broadcast_link_root=&org_id=&broadcast_id=&page=1&agent=&div_id=share_dyn_content&referer=&page=1&paging=1

http://www.sdpb.org/weshallremain/index.asp

Oglala Lakota College's TV Production students attended the Annual Crazy Horse Journalism Conference this April. Student's were put into various mentoring groups with volunteer professionals and produced a variety of reporting projects from print, multi-media, radio and tv.
OLC's students were all in different mentoring groups.


Students with their mentors.
Highlights of the conference included an opening talk with Gerard Baker, Superintendent from Mt. Rushmore and a question/answer period with Al Neuharth and book signing.




Students took turns shooting some of the events as well.




What was really nice about this year's conference was the involvement of the students. One young man from the Crow Reservation sang an honoring song for the event and said his own words of encouragement to the students. He also showed his respect for where he was by speaking in Lakota.]

If you would like to see some of this year's projects produced by students attending the conference, see the following url:
See the multimedia projects from the 10th Annual Native American Journalism Career Conference here http://freedomforumdiversity.org/native-american-journalism-career-conference/
or by going to freedomforumdiversity.org and click the Native American Journalism Career Conference link.
You can also find a radio piece done by Marlon Yellow Boy and his group at the following.

http://www.sdpb.org/archives/ProgramDetail.asp?ProgID=7775

The 2009 American Indian Higher Education Consortium was held March 28th through April 1st in Missoula Montana. Once again Oglala Lakota College students attended the event winning many honors in a variety of events.


OLC students ready for competition!

Among the many events where OLC students shone were various categories in the Art Competition.



Not only did Stephanie Sorbel win 1st place in the Quillwork category, she also won Best of Show and People's Choice!


Also placing in the Quillwork category was Mike Curan in 2nd place!

Other art competition winners included Sabrina Hodges 3rd place dance dress, Tonia Stands 3rd place drawing, and Stephanie Sorbel 3rd place beadwork.





And the last of the Art Competition winners were TV Production students for their movie posters.




Cherie Washburn took 3rd place in the Computer Art category


Marlon Yellow Boy won 2nd place in the Computer Art category.

Another fun event at AIHEC this year was the fashion show. Two OLC students entered this, Stephanie Sorbel with her beadwork dress and Helene Gaddie as her model.

But it was Aaron DuBray along with model Ashley Phelps who took 2nd place in the Fashion Show.



Aaron doing some finishing touches before Ashley takes it to the runway!

Wearing traditional regalia students Helene Gaddie, Stephanie Sorbel, and Chayo Torres presented their business plan!



Chayo, Stephanie and Helene show off their 2nd place win in the Business Plan Competition.

Also bringing back honors were Richard White with 1st and Helene Gaddie with 2nd place in the Oral Poster Competition.




Richard and Helene signing for their prize!

Traditional Plants also took home 3rd place thanks to student Tonia Stands.





Leslie and Teresa at the awards banquet.

Oglala Lakota College students were also recognized for their leadership abilities.
Student Valerie Collins was elected to serve as the 2009-2010 secretary of the AIHEC Student Congress.



Student Anthony Velalla looks on anxiously as he awaits the results of Mr. AIHEC!




Anthony waves with relief, he is now Mr. AIHEC 2009 and will faithfully perform his duties as such!

Also bringing back honors were Volleyball, Basketball and Archery.




Marcel Bull Bear with the Archery students!

There were many other winners as well that I don't have shots of including Speech, Critical Inquiry, Powerpoint, and FIlm Festival. Oglala Lakota College students did an outstanding job at this year's AIHEC. Many thanks to Lenora Hudson for all her hard work in coordinating everything.
Congratulations to the winners, coaches and college, everyone can be very proud of all their hard work.

Also was Tony Brave's pool tournament win of 3rd place.


Congratulations Tony!

I was also please to hear that Brian Charging Cloud's poster for his program was chosen in the top three. I had all the fun of working on it, so I was glad we did a good job for him.




Brian's Immersion poster!