Tonight, the five participants of the Maȟpíya Lúta Summer Research Institute (MLSRI) presented their research projects to the community. Friends, family, and student council representatives from Maȟpíya Lúta, St. Francis Indian School, and Little Wound School gathered to celebrate the students’ accomplishments.
Each student shared their original research, participated in a thoughtful Q&A session with the audience, and ended the evening by sharing a meal together. Congratulations to Athena White Elk, Chalene Ten Fingers, Azilya Iron Eyes, Judea Condon, and Max Buckley for their insightful and powerful presentations—and for contributing to the ongoing work of Truth and Healing at Maȟpíya Lúta.
About the Program
The Maȟpíya Lúta Summer Research Institute is a two-week immersive experience hosted in partnership with Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin—home to the archives of Holy Rosary Mission, the organization’s original name before becoming Red Cloud Indian School.
During their time at Marquette, students and two Maȟpíya Lúta faculty members engage in hands-on archival research, exploring historical records to deepen understanding of the school’s past. The MLSRI not only builds research and critical-thinking skills but also empowers students to bring that history home—sharing their discoveries with the Pine Ridge Reservation community as part of Maȟpíya Lúta’s continued commitment to truth, healing, and education.
The research projects explored key moments in the school’s history. Here’s the proejct titles and researcher:
- Self-Determination and Student Writings in 1975 — Max Buckley
- Deciding the Future of Holy Rosary Mission: A Juncture in the 1960s — Judea Condon
- Runaways at Holy Rosary Mission in the 1930s — Azilya Iron Eyes
- The Motive of Red Cloud School Staff and Administrators in the 1970s — Chalene Ten Fingers
- The Holy Rosary Mission School Board’s Hope for Indian Control in 1971 — Athena White Elk
In a poignant closing moment, an elder and former boarder, speaking through tears, expressed her deep gratitude to the students for giving up part of their summer to conduct this important research. She thanked them for continuing and expanding the body of history, recognizing their work as an act of healing, remembrance, and hope for future generations.