Author Archives: Vi Waln

January 21, 2019 Vi Waln     The strength of Nathan Phillips, an Indigenous elder and veteran, was witnessed by many over the past week. Perhaps the most important teaching to emerge from the Indigenous People’s March last Friday is the world knows we still exist as a spiritual people; singing our prayer songs forContinue reading “When Ignorant People Terrorize Indigenous People”

December 27, 2018 Vi Waln It is winter on the Great Plains. This is the time of the year when our ancestors fled after the murder of Sitting Bull. There were sick, elderly, children and women all traveling in the caravan. They headed south towards Pine Ridge, walking as fast as they could. They wereContinue reading “Why We Remember Wounded Knee”

December 9, 2018 Vi Waln The Lakota Nation Invitational (LNI) will once again host large groups of student athletes and scholars as they compete in a full program of high school activities. The forty second annual Lakota Nation Invitational will celebrate the athletic talents, academic skills and cultural knowledge of our Indigenous youth. What beganContinue reading “It’s LNI Week”

November 22, 2018 Vi Waln Native American Heritage Month is designed by Presidential Proclamation in November. Native American Heritage Day is observed on the day after Thanksgiving. Yet, this month is really no different for the Native American people living on Turtle Island as many in Indian Country actively embrace their tribal heritage every day.Continue reading “We Embrace Tribal Heritage Every Day”

August 16, 2018 Vi Waln In 2018, some of the most damaging attacks are coming from government officials. Criticizing the news media — for underplaying or overplaying stories, for getting something wrong — is entirely right. News reporters and editors are human, and make mistakes. Correcting them is core to our job. But insisting thatContinue reading “Fake News”

Vi Waln July 22, 2018 July 26 is the date set for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s Primary Election. Voters will narrow down the list of candidates in preparation for the August 23 Primary Election. If you are registered to vote with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, I encourage you to go to the polls to voteContinue reading “Exercise your Right to Vote”

July 8, 2018 Vi Waln   While officials in Thailand have brought together emergency personnel from all over the world to conduct a delicate rescue operation to save a dozen teenagers trapped underground, the United States continues to detain children of Indigenous people in cages. America is an expert when it comes to inflicting traumaContinue reading “The Cycle of Trauma on Children”

06-15-2018 Vi Waln As Lakota people, we’ve always shown reverence to our elders. Any person who is older than you are is considered your elder. Lakota people at least 55 years old are likely tribal citizens carrying an abundance of our ancestral cultural knowledge. The majority of fluent Lakota speakers are people in this ageContinue reading “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day”

May 9, 2018 Vi Waln Lots of small Lakota children are being traumatized as you read this. Parents, guardians, grandparents or other caregivers are inflicting trauma on our children every minute of every day. Trauma isn’t just physical abuse. Mental, emotional and spiritual trauma is also child abuse. There are lots of small children actingContinue reading “National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day”

  February 27, 2018   Vi Waln Students currently attending He Dog school in rural Parmelee, SD have been studying for over a year in an unsafe building. Parents were made aware of this issue only by reading an article recently published in the Argus Leader. Since the release of that skewed news report, parentsContinue reading “Todd County School District Needs New Leadership”