Wachiska Program and General Meeting — Thursday, May 14, 7:00 PM,
Unitarian Church,6300 A Street, and also via YouTube
link: https://youtube.com/live/6yv2aId0t8k?feature=share
WATER: LAKOTA SPIRITUALITY AND SCIENCE
with Jerome Kills Small
Living with his grandparents, Jerome Kills Small gained personal experience being around Lakota sacred sites in southwestern South Dakota. Kills Small is an Oglala Lakota from Porcupine, South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge Reservation. A 1997 graduate from the University of South Dakota, with an M.A. in Selected Studies, he retired after 20 years at USD. He taught Lakota Language, American Indian Thought, Siouan Tribal Culture, and Early Native American History. He’s featured in the book, Wounded Warriors: A Time for Healing, and has a story in the Silver Anniversary Anthology published by the SD Humanities Council. Jerome is a storyteller for public schools, museums, and colleges. He translates, explains, and sings Lakota ceremonial, sweat lodge, powwow, rabbit, round dance, warrior, vision quest, and sundance songs. He sings with the Iron Wing Singers of Wagner, SD. He’s a powwow organizer, announcer, arena director, helps in conducting Lakota ceremonies and is on the board of Directors for the Native American Advocacy Program .
The Lakota language represents the importance of water to the Lakota community and traditions. The root word that means water is in many of their words, such as their word for “create.” Kills Small believes water rewards us and makes things grow for us, which is reflected in his words:
“The culture feeds on the language, and, for us, the philosophy too,
because we have a lot of sacred instances in our culture.
It’s a beautiful language in that it contains philosophy and spirituality.
It’s a parallel existence.” Kills Small says he hopes people can
find the significance of the space around them and how the spiritual
and science combine to provide value and significance. He hopes
to keep the language and oral tradition alive.
Wachiska Program and General Meeting — Thursday, May 14, 7:00 PM,
Unitarian Church,6300 A Street, and also via YouTube
link: https://youtube.com/live/6yv2aId0t8k?feature=share
MAY 2026 Calendar of Events
May 3 PUBLIC VOLUNTEER DAY
10:00 am Prairie Pines
May 11 Conservation Committee 6:30 p.m. zoom
May 14 General Meeting: Jerome Kills Small
Unitarian Church 6300 A St. 7:00 pm
May 15 Newsletter Deadline
May 17 Comedy in the Pines
Celebrating Give to Lincoln
May 19 Board Meeting 7:00 p.m.
May 28 Give to Lincoln Day
givetolincoln.com/nonprofits/wachiska-audubon
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In September 2021, the Wachiska Board adopted the National Audubon’s Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as the Chapter’s own goals:
The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon will bring new creativity, effectiveness and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.
Wachiska Audubon Society's vision is to share the experience and love for nature and help protect its diversity.
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On November 18, 2025, the Board approved the revised Constitution and Bylaws. Members will be asked to vote on the revisions during the February 2026 general meeting, following publication of the document in the January and February newsletters, which will have more details. Both the 2022 and 2025 versions may be viewed or downloaded.
Join friends and neighbors to show your concern about our climate and our elected officials. Stop by the Wachiska office and pick up your Climate yard sign.
Signs that say “VOTE with CLIMATE in Mind” are available for $10 each. They are made of material that will hold up well to the elements and come with a metal holder to push into the ground.
The photos on this website were taken by Wachiska members. Many thanks to Bruce Wendorff,
Linda Brown, Paul Johnsguard, Tim Knott, Stu Luttich, John Carlini and Elizabeth Nelson.