- This is a production of SDPD.

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- Join our crew as we meet the people who are creating, educating, rejuvenating, protecting, and calling this remarkable place home.

Small - Town USA is right here.

- McLaughlin, South Dakota, bear Soldier District, or City of McLaughlin, right here on the Standing Rock Reservation.

- Greetings from - McLaughlin, South Dakota.

- Greetings from McLaughlin.

Greetings from motto Kechi to Bear.

Soldier McLaughlin, South Dakota.

- Good afternoon from Bullhead, South Dakota.

Greetings - From Bullhead.

Greetings from Bear Soldier District McLaughlin, South Dakota.

- Greetings from Bear Soldier - Greetings from - Bear Soldier.

Oh, - That's perfect.

Dakota Life Greetings from McLaughlin is supported with your membership in the Friends of SDPB.

Thank you.

With help from Sitting Bull College located on the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota.

Sitting Bull College offers master's, bachelor's associates and certificate level programs sitting bull.edu.

And from Ag Tegra Cooperative, an ag partner that shares the values of its members, strong, stable, dependable, and local - Donors to the explore South Dakota Fund support the production of local documentaries and other programs of local interest presented by SDPB.

Friends of SDPB appreciates their support of this program.

- My name is Tim Davison with SDPB and we are here today in the town of McLaughlin.

My first experience with this place was a few months ago when the crew and I set out to ask what stories we should tell about this town.

We met a lot of great people, but James Little Eagle not only pointed us in the right direction, but he also gave me his hand carved walking cane.

Months later I finally got to ask him why.

The first question is, what is this - Red willow?

Red diamond Willow is the actual full name for that.

And you got the individuals out there that, I dunno, they, they have their own creativity, their own ideas on how they work on those.

Some, like myself, I I make walking kings out of them.

But you have people that will make crosses furniture, wall hangings, just to name a few.

Well there's, there's people out there that, so when they go out to harvest these, they would like to get the ones that are loaded that have quite a few on here.

But me, I just not really particular about it.

Just go out and get what I can.

I prefer ones that had the handles on the readymade handles on them already.

Well, I've, I've seen some individuals that, that were, were making them and, and while I was out harvesting other plants, I came across a few of these and decided to give it a try.

And that was like what, 10 years ago.

Been working on them since, for about 10 years now.

- What made you give this to us or give it to me?

- Well, first time meeting you just, I dunno, something to as, as a remembrance of this place, you know, you being here visiting, visiting with the natives here, Lakota people, as I say Lakota 'cause like you got a majority of the people that don't, that do not like the word Sioux.

They don't like to be called S Indians because Sioux is a French word and the French de definition of Sioux is sneak in the grass.

And that's one thing we don't like to be called.

So like the majority of the people will say Lakota like it was like for the tribe here.

- Honestly, I didn't know that when James first told me, but I'm always trying to learn.

According to Chan elder and language teacher, Albert White hat French fur traders asked a leader near the Great Lakes, who are the people living out west near the winding river.

A snake-like hand gesture and a mistranslation set off a game of telephone that continues to echo through time.

An Ojibwe word modified in French and adopted into English came to refer to countless people, places and things.

Only by learning from the past can we hope for a better future.

- Nearly a decade ago, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe set in motion events that sent shockwaves throughout North America and the world.

- A protest in North Dakota against a major oil pipeline continues to grow over 100 Native American tribes have joined the fight against the project saying that it threatens one tribe's water supply and its sacred lands.

- Hundreds of thousands of Native Americans and non-native allies made their way to North Dakota to stand in solidarity with the tribe.

With so many children and teenagers in the camp, organizers needed to come up with the solution for education defenders of the Water school.

- I was not a part of the school when it was formed at Dapple, but I was up there.

My colleagues, the founders, Camila Locke and Elena Eagle Shield were up there who founded it because a lot of families were coming and had to bring their children.

But truancy laws all across America, they were starting to get involved.

So they had to come up with something to where they could educate the children too.

While the parents were fighting against the pipeline, - The defenders of the water school shuttered.

Once the camp shut down, the school's leadership decided to keep it going.

Asking White Mountain a teacher at the time and her husband to bring the next phase of the school into reality.

- The school is student led, project based cultural school.

So everything they do is they pick what they wanna learn about and then we'll pull like their credit science math credits.

So they're taking control of their own education - By being able to take the reins of their education.

The students came together to create a unique venue for themselves.

- Right now we are in the earth lodges out in the Bear Soldier community located in McLaughlin, South Dakota.

The students were looking for a different type of structure to utilize 'cause we are a project based school.

So they wanted a different feeling of a classroom and so they came up with building the two earth lodges.

- These lodges serve as not only as an opportunity to further their education, but also a place to gather amongst peers in solidarity - For any chance they get.

They wanna be out here.

It is just so calming and it's just comforting and a safe place for them to go and be free and giving them ownership that whatever they want to do, they're able to do it and we're just standing in the back guiding them if they need help.

- White Mountain is also the director of the Yeha Aku Youth Services Center in McLaughlin.

This program serves the youth of Standing Rock by providing a safe place to go while also incorporating into them the values of the Lakota and Dakota culture.

Many of the youth that attend the center are also associated with the defenders of the water school, which means on both ends opportunity.

- I wish I had this opportunity when I was younger because I didn't fit in with the school system.

I didn't learn that way by sitting in a classroom.

I dropped outta school when I was 16 and never went back.

But later on I ended up obtaining my bachelor's degree in education and was able to help form the school and the teen center as it is right now.

And I noticed a lot of Native American children don't learn the, the same way as like the public school system.

And so that's what we are trying to get away from is that mentality of the public school system where you have to learn this, you have to learn that you know where this, it's all their own interests and what they wanna learn.

We're just continuing on.

- This is the Grand River.

A little ribbon that winds through the landscape just south of McLaughlin.

The world around this river has changed significantly since Sitting Bull was born where it meets the Missouri while the river remains.

Modernity has brought bridges, cars and electricity.

They say the only constant in life is change or rivers are constantly in a state of change.

The water that flows by is always new to its landscape.

The river may be a staple of this environment, but its water is always different.

You can say the same thing about McLaughlin.

The town has been here for over a century and the people who call it home, they've changed.

McLaughlin was founded in 1909 named after James McLaughlin, a US Indian agent and inspector.

He's the agent who ordered the arrest of Sitting Bull in 1890.

That was the precipitating event of the Wounded Knee massacre.

The town that took his name hasn't always been like it is now.

McLaughlin was what's called a sundown town in the fifties through the eighties.

That meant that Native Americans in town limits had to leave by the time the six o'clock whistle sounded anyone who remained was subject to violence.

The people of McLaughlin, however, have changed.

The town has changed too.

For one, its demographics are different.

Around 70% of the town is Native American today.

It also has a few Filipino teachers who helped grow and beautify the town they call home.

But more on that later, 96-year-old cowboy.

Sam Mortenson saddled his horse and rode west at 17 years old since the sixties.

He's raised a family while ranching this stretch of the Grand River.

- I read the Western stories, I guess cowboy, I wanted to be a cowboy.

Couldn't do that back there in that farming country.

So I just had a couple of saddle horses.

I just didn't tell my dad.

I just got up and saddle up and headed west and I ended up in Millbridge.

We had two boys and they, they went to school down there little ago.

It was what they called an Indian Day school.

They was the only white kids there.

And during the year they got a new principal or whatever you call it.

And the new guy that come in comes from Eagle Beauty, was an Indian fellow and he had a little boy the same age as George.

This little boy's name was Ricky.

After about a month or something.

And George come home and he says, you know Ricky, he ain't going to make it.

He come too late in the year.

He won't make it.

I'll become an Indian, but Ricky won't.

Ricky was already an Indian.

And I just, you know if, well the Bible says unless you become as a little child, you won't enter, enter the kingdom of God.

You, but if you know the people today, the grownups and never, if they had that same thinking, you know, the world would be better off when I mean they're getting along with each other or something, you know, you follow me.

- A world better off.

That's what many here are trying to build.

One step in that direction is a recent push to change the name McLaughlin to Bear Soldier.

- Yeah.

That that is going on as we speak.

They are, the ball is rolling.

They do have it in motion to get the name changed.

- That's another issue that the kids are doing is they're trying to get the name changed of McLaughlin to their soldier.

Our city is named after the guy who ordered the killing of chief Sitting Bull.

So they took it to the tribal council and asked for their support and they received their support as well.

So then the next step was going to the city of McLaughlin printed off a bunch of petitions and went around all over Corson County and they received over 300 signatures that were in support of changing the name.

- A new mural in town is infused the spirit of change and reinvention of identity.

- So these are all our, all our local leaders here on the South Dakota side of Standing Rock.

This one's gall sitting bull running antelope right in the face.

And then my grandpa at the end kills pretty on me.

And I'm gonna continue to keep going down the line, but for now, I'm just focusing on one piece at a time here, like I said, to give back to the people, but to kind of remind everybody that we come from a strong bloodline and you know, these are our leaders.

You know, I'm sure you guys have seen recently with all the street people and stuff like that.

You know that that's not our legacy.

You know, this is what they, they died for us.

They live for, they survive or not for us to be like how we are now.

So I'm hoping that by, by seeing this, it'll bring pride back to the, the people and kind of give people to stand up for things and maybe even change their ways because I was once in that, that same rut of alcohol, depression, addiction and all that.

And I've been sober 10 years now and I just celebrated year 10 a couple months ago.

And so I know it's, it is a hard thing to get through.

But you know, with my artwork and my business, I was able to give back and now I'm able to stand on my own two feet and do do things like this.

It's gonna be a donation from me back to my community and my, my reservation, my tribe.

Something to make the, the people the proud to be h Papapa, once again, - A depiction of the area from a lifelong resident, a mural one block away sees this community from a newcomer's eyes an immigrant, someone who has been welcomed into the community, if not the country.

- I received a call, you know, from a friend who is already teaching here in the United States.

She just asked me, would you like teaching United States?

I was totally shocked.

I dunno how to answer, but to be safe, you know, I just said yes.

So interview will be tomorrow.

Okay.

And I went to the interview, I saw set of Americans, it's the already ready for me to be interviewed.

After like 15 minutes, I received a confirmation letter, like an offer letter saying that they like me to be in their team.

And that's the start of everything.

It's a lot of paperwork to do, particularly our visa.

I need to do my teaching job in Philipp is a different place, different from the Philippines, I should say.

Particularly the weather.

It's extremely cold.

Originally it's a city council project.

So I received a call asking me, I can able to welcome Europe.

And then the ideas part, what if I incorporate my students doing that mural as an extension project of the school to the community.

So we actually work during school hours, so maybe eight 15 the earliest.

And then we need to go back like before lunch and go back to the work by one o'clock.

And then we need to go back before the school bus.

That's the daily routine.

We are, we have a sudden change of weather, the whole, you know, those are the factors that, you know, takes the process slowly.

And it's only Friday.

We don't want to compromise the entire week just to work for the mural.

It takes time.

The year before we calculated it, iconic historic icons of, you know, the, the old main street.

And then I extended to contemporary or local culture and I asked them which one would like to take this part, that part.

So it's all about like a voluntary, simply because it's important.

They really like what they are doing, you know, on such part I I like this, I like that.

So then let's make a start.

So I guide them, you know, from step by step, not un until we completed the process.

And then of course give them the trust, you know, as you give them the opportunity, privilege to work because it's like, this is work.

You know, they, they need each and everyone to support, particularly the teacher.

They are talented.

You know, they, if if you win their their, their trust, their respect, they, they will treat you as like a genuine family member.

Well there's some of the students called us like relatives, you know, cousins uncle like that.

That's what I showed the miss - To the dismay of colleagues, friends and students.

J one visa holders, like am Nassa and his family have to return to the Philippines after making an impact on this community for half a decade.

- South Dakota and surrounding here as a beautiful relation, it has its own beauty that we should appreciate the arts, the culture, the people, everything.

- People who leave a community leave a lasting imprint - Behind us is our, is a memorial park for our son Cote.

Cohen was diagnosed with CDH at five months in the womb.

After three days he underwent corrective surgery and everything was corrected and he grew stronger and stronger every day.

And the doctors were amazed by him every day.

They said he was a rock star.

He was born September 13th, 2022.

He was able to come home on October 6th, 2022.

And unfortunately he grew ill. And by the time we were able to find out it was too late.

But he was able to be home for a week.

And that was such a good week to have the whole family together.

And it was, it was, it truly was.

We wanna just remember him and honor him.

And even though he is not here to still give him a life, he still does look at, he brought everyone here.

His Indian name is Waki Paso, which means to return and show the heavens.

And I believe he's done that, especially with this park standing here today after Cohen died.

You know, you just have a different love for the kids, any kids that are yours or not.

And we decided these kids need a new park - When it finally came and they dropped off all the, all the equipment.

And I was like, wow, you know, that's, it's finally here, you know?

And, and it was just a good feeling.

And you know, and, and knowing that having good people come in to help build it, you know, and put it together.

Gee, there was a couple little tiny kids that were, they were, they were waiting around since the beginning.

Kept asking questions, you know, when's it gonna be done?

Couple more days, three days, two more days.

We kept telling him, you know, and on that day it was good to see him and many others, you know, have all the kids just take off.

When we, when it was finally opened, - It was really hard to tell them no and to stay off.

'cause you're like, oh man, how do you tell a kid to stay off of a playground?

Like to help celebrate the grand opening.

We had a feed and a little giveaway.

- A lot of people really liked it, you know, they were glad to see all the kids here.

You know, there was a lot of kids there.

They were just waiting, waiting to play - In front of our eyes.

Our mom's dream for her baby.

The memory of her baby.

What do you - Think about the new part?

It's beautiful.

- You know, it was a good, it was a good gathering, you know, and we got to say a good prayer, you know, right before everything started we, everybody smudged had a good, good, good, you know, way here - Today, we remember that the kids are sacred.

That they are our tomorrow.

We must love and give respect to them always.

We held the community event so that today we can love the kids and respect them because at any moment Tila can call us home.

I humbly ask the parents and the children to respect this part and to take care of it.

So the kids who are not here yet can also make memories on it.

Please let us heal and hold each other accountable so we can be better for the kids and for the next seven generations we'll be La Tonka - Can bring a lot of people together.

You know, there's a lot of separation within our community right now.

- It looks pretty nice.

It's gonna be a big upgrade from the last one.

It'll be good for the kids in the area.

It - Hasn't been a big change around here for a long time.

They were happy to see the playground up.

- It looks great.

It's so much better than what was here before.

And looks a lot safer too as well.

- Oh, all the work was worth it.

- We just hope that doing something positive in the community can be like a domino effect and just keep it going.

And there are, you know, black people are more excited to do good things for the community because they see that you don't have to be on council or anything like that to make an impact in your community.

You just have to have the heart and people will come and they will support.

The good things will come and help you out.

- Good actions have a way of sticking around in a community.

We traveled to nearby Rock Creek for another memorial celebration in the town of Bullhead.

- Today we're celebrating the hundredth anniversary of post 82.

When World War I came along and, and America needed help, our, our men and women joined the service.

The Dough Boys in 1924 got the charter darted.

So today's 2024.

So that means we're gonna have an anniversary today.

The other things that we're gonna do today, honor Vietnam veteran, my brother Lawrence Dean Brown Otter was a corporal and the US Army.

He was in a recon in Vietnam and he was killed in active duty and his son and relatives and are gonna honor him, his best friends, a Vietnam veteran and we're gonna honor him too.

And there's honor the gold star mothers that come from this community that lost their sons.

So we're gonna honor them also.

- And those of you that been here to the celebration, the late Cecilia au, her son was killed in action on November 18th, 1967.

You know, what about grandfathers who were common men who were fathers that protected their families?

They knew how difficult it was to be la but the only society they acknowledge this of our, it was protectors.

- Today we're gonna have Iwo Jima reenactment.

That's what we're gonna do today.

- Attack that mountain.

And my dad's a really active member as a sergeant, as arms, and he kind of, he got that going.

So I've been carrying onto the petition of how we do value dream and how the guys suffered and died for that.

You know, on that mountain, that fish field.

- Of course those were marines that went up to Mount Sir bocce on I Jima and put that flag up and I'm proud of that.

There was one Native American Ira Hayes that was there when that happened.

Patriotism is important in this community.

We always respect our veterans, our people.

Since the battle of Little Bighorn, a lot of descendants in the retina in this community.

We fought for freedom and independence and sovereignty.

So what that fighting spirit's always been in us.

That's who we are.

- If you've missed any of our stories here on Standing Rock Reservation or just want to go back and take another look, you can see more at sdpb.org/dakota Life.

For all of us at sdpb, I'm Tim Davison here in Bear Soldier.

Thank you so much for watching.

- Hey.