Thank You for Celebrating 10 Years of Dignity of Earth & Sky With Us
On Sunday, September 20, hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Dignity of Earth & Sky. The sculpture was dedicated to the State of South Dakota on September 17, 2016, after Norm and Eunabel McKie commissioned sculptor and SD Hall of Fame Inductee Dale Claude Lamphere to create it.
The day began with a stunning Grand Entry led by the Bad Nation Singers and the Akicita Winyan, the Lakota Women Warriors. This profound cultural display was a fitting reminder of the sculpture's heart: Dignity brings to light the beauty, resilience, and promise of the Indigenous people of South Dakota, the Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota nations. These people and cultures still thrive here, and the Grand Entry was a beautiful example of that living presence. Lamphere's intent is for Dignity to stand as an enduring symbol of our shared bond with this land, and our shared belief that all here are sacred and that we stand in a sacred place.
The celebration continued with a prayer from Faith Spotted Eagle and remarks from Vice Chair Erica Peterson, Dale Claude Lamphere, Norm McKie, Roquel Gourneau, Peter Lengkeek, Tamara St. John, and Troy Heinert.
A highlight of the day came when Belinda Joe and Danica Miller introduced the newly crowned Dignity Princess, Bella Traversie, a Cheyenne River tribal member, and runner-up princess Brenda Carpenter-Didier, a member of the Lower Brule Kul Wicas tribe. The Dignity Princess represents Lady Dignity and all that she stands for in a good way with integrity.
Attendees also enjoyed traditional-style dances performed by the Bad Nation Singers in full regalia. In an especially touching moment, students from Crow Creek Elementary presented artwork to Lamphere, a gesture that captured the same spirit of connection the sculpture itself was built to honor.
After the celebration at the Sculpture concluded, guests attended a luncheon of Indian Tacos at the South Dakota Hall of Fame Visitor & Education Center in Chamberlain. Here, Dale Lamphere announced and presented the Dignity of Earth and Sky Leadership Awards to Belinda Joe Rencountre, Tamara St. John, Arlouine Gay Kingman, Cante Heart, and Cecelia Fire Thunder for their dedication to their communities. Attendees also enjoyed beautiful performances by the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra String Quartet and 2024 Inductee Bryan Akipa.
Ten years after Dignity first rose above the bluffs along the Missouri River, this gathering was proof of how deeply the sculpture has woven itself into the life of the community it represents. What began as a tribute to the Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota nations has become a living gathering place, one that draws people back year after year to celebrate, to remember, and to honor the resilience and promise the sculpture was always meant to reflect.
Many hands came together to bring this special event to life. The committee would like to thank the event sponsor, POET, for supporting this beautiful celebration, as well as the Dakota Indian Foundation for their guidance and contributions. To everyone who joined us in celebrating the tenth anniversary of Dignity of Earth & Sky, thank you.