Water: Lakota Spirituality and Science
with Jerome Kills Small
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
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 .
From guided bird walks to children’s storytime or building a human sized bird nest, there will be something for everyone!
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.
Wendy Bantam, our newsletter editor, applied for a grant from Humanities Nebraska to bring Jerome Kills Small to Lincoln from South Dakota. Special thanks to the Nebraska Humanities Council. The mission of Humanities Nebraska is to help people explore what connects us and makes us human.
Please plan on sharing this event with friends and attending this very special free public event:
Thursday, May 14, 7:00 PM, at the Unitarian Church, 6300 A St. stream live:
https://youtube.com/live/6yv2aId0t8k?feature=share
The Board recently completed its biannual review of the Constitution and Bylaws and now turns to membership for your input.
You may access both the 2022 version and the 2025 version on Wachiska’s homepage – www.wachiskaaudubon.org. If you’d prefer a hard copy, call (402-486-4846) or email the office: office@wachiskaaudubon.org.
If you have any questions or comments about the edits, please email me at pella_t@yahoo.com.
An explanation of the revisions follows:
Constitution
*The purpose of the chapter and its relationship to the National Audubon Society was clarified.
*The chapter vision was added and reads – Wachiska Audubon Society’s vision is to share the experience and love for nature and help protect its diversity.
*In the event the chapter is dissolved, dispersion of assets was clarified.
Bylaws
*The election of officers and directors will still take place at the November general meeting. An annual meeting will be held in March to allow for a full and accurate report out of the previous year’s fiscal year activities and financials (Jan – Dec).
*Wachiska is now under contract with a CPA firm so duties of the treasurer and responsibilities for the annual budget were clarified. The Finance Committee’s authority was clarified to include oversight of the investment accounts.
*The authority of the Prairie Conservation Management Committee was clarified.
*The purpose of the Membership Committee was updated.
*The Nominating Committee will be replaced by a Nominating and Governance Committee to assist the board in identifying best practices, improve the nominating process, and participate in oversight of executive director performance.