August News: Ground Penetrating Radar Results, Apology from Jesuits

AUGUST UPDATES

Ground Penetrating Radar Results

On May 18-23, 2022, Marsha Small (Northern Cheyenne) and Ohio Valley Archaeology, Inc. (OVAI) carried out Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) on the campus of Red Cloud Indian School. The scan served to demonstrate the GPR technology to the Pine Ridge community on the front lawn as well as scan one testimonial site of a possible grave.

Report Findings

The report indicated two major findings: 1) The area front lawn shows no signs of grave-like anomalies. 2) The testimonial site in Drexel Hall does indicate two anomalies that cannot be definitively identified and recommends further investigation.

The full report from Marsha Small and OVAI is available on our Truth and Healing Website.

Next Steps

Marsha Small and OVAI provided the following recommendation for moving forward: “Though definitive indications of graves are not present in the radar data, areas of small, distinct differences are visible in the slice maps from beneath the concrete. Removal of the concrete and careful excavation of the sediment below is recommended to test this area for indications of graves.”

Red Cloud is committed to a transparent and full process of investigation. We will be working again with Marsha Small and OVAI to follow their recommendations. The removal of concrete and excavation will take place in October 2022 where law enforcement, spiritual advisors, and the community member who brought forward the testimony will be present.

GPR is one step in our commitment to Truth and Healing. We will continue to keep the public updated as the process moves forward. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Maka Black Elk at [email protected] or by phone at (605) 867-5491 ext 2212.

Dialogue with and Apology from the Jesuits

This past week, Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ the Superior General of the Jesuits worldwide traveled from Rome to visit Lakota Country. Fr. Sosa visited with representatives from both Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations. Part of this trip included a chance to meet with and hear from former boarders at Holy Rosary and St. Francis Mission. Fr. Sosa offer his support for the continued work and collaboration of the Lakota people and the Jesuits. He also offered an apology to the Lakota people for the grave mistakes of the Jesuits in participating in the reprehensible assimilation polices of the U.S. Government. Fr. Sosa also met with Tribal Leadership from Rosebud and Oglala Sioux Tribes. Both Tribes gave him a letter to Pope Francis urging him to repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery. Fr. Sosa shared that he would deliver the letter to Pope Francis. The full statements from Fr. Sosa can be found by clicking here.

Ongoing Research Efforts

In June, members of the Truth and Healing Community Advisory Council, Mary Irving and Cecilia Fire Thunder, made a visit to the archives of Holy Rosary Mission at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Truth and Healing staff members, Maka Black Elk, Tashina Banks-Rama, Billy Critchley-Menor, SJ, and Gabrielle Guillerm also joined. This visit underscored the importance of historic records in the process of Truth and Healing. Being able to page through attendance lists, old photographs and yearbooks, and correspondences made the history more tangible. This visit also allowed Mary and Cecilia to highlight important research questions for Gabrielle to work with when she begins full time research in the archives in September.

Gabrielle Guillerm will begin as our new full time Research Coordinator in September. She will be based in the archives at Marquette and will begin a comprehensive process of researching the history of Holy Rosary Mission boarding school, beginning with topics emphasized by the Community Advisory Council.

Continued Outreach to Boarders

If you or a member of your family boarded at Holy Rosary Mission and would like to share some of your story from boarding school, please reach out to Mary Irving, Cecilia Fire Thunder, or Maka Black Elk at (605) 867-5491 ext 2212.

Visit our Truth and Healing website

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