Speaker teaches audience about Native American culture

Sarah Pierce, guest speaker of Rockford, South Dakota, Oglala Lakota, shared her story on the history of Native Americans, Tuesday, at the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center.

In her presentation, Pierce discussed the urban Native experience, education prior to assimilation, Native American boarding schools, Title VI education and other factors regarding the history of the Native American culture and her own personal experiences. Pierce, a manager of Indian Education in Rapid City, talks about the struggle of being accepted in the American community as a Native American at a very young age, and this led her to become an advocate for the Native American community. She believes education is the best investment and encourages the youth to take public office if they have the passion to do so.

Pierce continued to express the struggles within the Native American culture and the problems she faced growing up. She discusses the role students had to play and their purpose, children being forcibly removed from their homes, haircuts being mandatory, language being forbidden and traditional clothing being stripped in boarding schools.

“I couldn’t succumb to the rules,” Pierce said. “Language and culture were forbidden, and we lost our last names.”

Pierce also talked about being an American citizen and adjusting to the Native American culture at the same time, and not being able to exercise their right to vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. She also discussed problems they face as Native Americans encourages her to work directly with educators, and often being the critical voice for the Native American community.

“The Lakota people have a connection to their land but have failed to establish that connection,” Pierce said.

There are 183 Native American elementary schools, secondary schools and universities across the nation and Pierce encourages the Native Americans to be dedicated to education and invest in it. Pierce worked 4 years as a high school teacher and has experience working with non-profit youth programs.