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Oyate Today in September

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Bruce Long Fox & Amy Sazue SDPB1: Sunday, Sept. 1, noon (11am)

Bruce Long Fox is the Executive Director of Rural America Initiatives and Amy Sazue is the Development Coordinator for Rural America Initiatives (RAI). Founded in 1986, RAI is Rapid City’s longest-operating Native non-profit community organization. RAI partners with at-risk and low-income Native American families to strengthen the development of healthy, sober, self-sufficient lifestyles. Educational programs include Early Head Start and Head Start programs, the Ateyapi role-modeling mentorship program in Rapid City elementary, middle and high schools and an elementary school Ateyapi Lakota language program. RAI also operates Early Head Start and Head Start programs on the Crow Creek Indian Reservation. RAI employs over 100 people, more than 90% of whom are Native American, and is the secondlargest employer of Native people in the area.

Julie Jensen SDPB1: Sunday, Sept. 8, noon (11am)

Julie Jensen is president & CEO of Visit Rapid City!, an organization working to increase tourism to the area. Jensen discusses the role and impact Native American culture has on marketing the Black Hills to national and international visitors. Jensen discusses how Native board members like Whitney Rencountre are helping Visit Rapid City! learn about the area’s indigenous culture and history.

Larry Pourier SDPB1: Sunday, Sept. 15, noon (11am)

Oglala Sioux filmmaker Larry Pourier was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Pourier’s film credits include Urban Rez, Skins, We Shall Remain (PBS), New World (Feature), Dreamkeeper (ABC), Skinwalkers (PBS), Lewis & Clark (IMAX), The Witness (IMAX), Crazy Horse (TNT), Tecumseh (TNT), and Doe Boy (Indie). His latest achievement was to help develop and produce an ongoing Native American public history program for historical Colonial Williamsburg, the first in the their history. 

Zane Swan & Stephen Swan SDPB1: Sunday, Sept. 22, noon (11am)

Brothers Zane and Stephen Swan run He Sapa Enterprises, a Rapid City-based family business. Since 2015, He Sapa has provided textiles and goods using laser engraving, sand carving, screen printing, embroidery, and custom knitting to clients like the Lakota Nation Invitational and Crazy Horse Monument.

Dale Lamphere SDPB1: Sunday, Sept. 29, noon (11am)

The designer and sculptor of “Dignity” and the “Arc of Dreams” discusses his growth from early assemblage work to large-scale work, artists who inspire him, and the significance of South Dakota cultures and landscapes in his work.