ROSEBUD
Go out and seek the weapons of the white man, cultivate
that arsenal and use it to empower your people. These were the
words spoken to Wizipan Garriott by his Unci Edna Little Elk when
he left for Yale University four years ago.
He is
the son of Charlie Garriott and Elizabeth Little Elk of Grass
Mountain and graduated with a degree in American History/Pre-Law
from the Ivy League institution in May 2003. He was honored by
his family last month in a special ceremony held in conjunction
with the 127th Annual Rosebud Fair.
He
served as the President of the Association of Native Americans at
Yale. He was also awarded the Rita Lipson Cup one of four
cups conferred by the Ezra Stiles College for outstanding contributions
to student life.
He
was the founding student of the Grass Mountain Demonstration Home
School where he completed his elementary education. He graduated
from St. Francis Indian High School in 1998 as Class Salutatorian
and Warrior of the Year.
In
addition, he was named Indian Student of the Year in 1998 by the
National Indian School Board Association.
He
is the only indigenous person from a reservation, and the first
Sicangu Lakota, to graduate from Yale University. Also, he was one
of 12 Morris K. Udall Native American Congressional Interns in the
summer of 2002 and completed his internship under Senator Tom Daschle.
In addition, Wizipan has worked on international indigenous rights
issues, such as helping to write various policy statements which
Lakota elders had him present to the United Nations in Geneva, switzerland
Unci Little Elk stressed the importance of feeding the sacred food
wasna to our children. I fed him wasna to strengthen the spirit
of his heart and for his overall well-being. The sacred food helped
him in his pursuit of this great accomplishment - a diploma from
Yale University, she said.
"When
a mother feeds her children she is putting Wo'ope (Ancient Spiritual
Law) into the food she serves and that is why it is very important
to feed our children the wasna because it helps them to develop
into proper human beings,"said Dinah Crow Dog. "If we
don't feed our children the right food it may affect their development
as Lakota people."
A
circle of star quilts was laid upon the ground in the Adam Bordeaux
Memorial Arena at Rosebud. The Crazy Horse singers rendered an honor
song as Wizipan was escorted by spiritual leaders Sam Moves Camp
and Dinah Crow Dog into the circle.
The
Garriott/Little Elk family distributed wasna and gifts to all who
attended the honoring.
They
also acknowledged several individuals who were instrumental in supporting
the educational goals Wizipan set to achieve. Including Sherry Red
Owl-Neiss, Sam Moves Camp, Dinah Crow Dog, Lila Kills In Sight,
Tillie Black Bear, Ollie Napesni, Albert White Hat, Sr., Alice Four
Horns and Rosalie Little Thunder.
Also
Rick & Anna Chavolla, Dr. Ed Valandra, Jack & Sue Davey,
Caroline Kills In Sight, Marie Kills In Sight, OST President John
Steele, Paul Baines and Lorna Bullard, Lori Walking Eagle, Don Moccasin
and Maggie Mackichan.
Currently,
Wizipan resides in Washington, DC where he is employed by Senator
Tom Daschles office. He plans to enter law school at Columbia
University in New York after gaining some experience working with
policy issues, especially in the area of economic development.
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