NACT Tiospaye

The next family powwow is on Sept. 7, 2024, on the Hill. Remind your men that their religion needs to be shown as Native American Spirituality on COMS if they wish to attend. If they need to change religions, they can get a form from the Cultural Activity Coordinator to do so. Religious preference can only be changed once a year. They also cannot have a write-up in the 6 months prior to the event.

Remind the men to be sure they have their family members on their visit list.

On Tuesday, June 25th, I was honored to attend part of a Spiritual Dance at the Durfee State Prison in Springfield, SD. It was similar to a sun dance except that it was just one day long and piercing was not allowed. As far as I know, this was the first ceremony like it anywhere in a prison. This was the culmination of 4 years of planning. Covid stopped the original planned date. Many thanks to George Apple for leading the ceremony. Due to the length of their sentences, some of the dancers will never have the opportunity to sun dance on their reservations. This dance touched me to the bottom of my heart.

😎
💖dk💖

Interesting!! 🦅

Credit: Ricardo Cate
💖dk💖

Dear Cheyenne River Lakota Oyate Family, please note the passing of a CRST tribal member with prayerful consideration for him and his family:

Cole T. "Coco" Brings Plenty, age 27, of Eagle Butte, SD, entered the Spirit World on Friday, April 5, 2024 at Edgerton, KS.

A two night wake service will begin at 7:00 PM, Sunday, April 14-15, at the CEB High School Gym. A Celebration of LIfe funeral service will begin at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at the CEB High School Gym. After a luncheon, concluding services will take place at the Brings Plenty Family Cemetery at Red Scaffold, SD.

(A more complete obituary will be provided soon)

Kindly,
Charlie Rooks

REST IN PEACE: Authorities say '1923' actor Cole Brings Plenty was found dead in a wooded area in Johnson County on Friday.

Happy Easter 🐰

SD DOC collected $1.25M in fees for calls and messages since 2021 John HultSouth Dakota Searchlight The state prison system collected at

A message from Pr. Jeff Backer:

People of God, this morning we woke to news of yet another night of unrest in the South Dakota State Penitentiary on the Hill in Sioux Falls. Tensions are very high inside the facility, and there continue to be actions that exacerbate those issues. On this Good Friday, we recognize the brokenness of our humanness, and the prison environment certainly reveals that. But on this day, we soak in the greatest gift of God, which comes through the cross of Jesus Christ, the death that reconciles us from sin and death.

Today, we pray for all of our sisters and brothers in Christ in the prison, those serving sentences, the staff, and the administration. We pray for healing for those who have been injured. As they navigate the challenges of these events, may all people involved recognize each other’s humanity. Lord, have mercy!

Time for the annual St. Pat's comic!