GNAProjects07

Sarah Chapman went to see the computers installed at Lame Deer High School, and spoke with the kids about careers in native tourism. We hope to create internships for students from Lame Deer so they have opportunity to see what they might achieve in representing their tribe to visitors.

Lame Deer High culture tutor, Mrs Rachel Magpie (middle, far right) helps students make their first connections via cyberspace.

GIVING BACK

"You are doing great work . . .

You have my sincere appreciation for the book, Of Earth and Elders.

Thank you for that, and I wish you everything of the best."

President Nelson Mandela

1st President of the Democratic Republic of South Africa

(From a letter to Serle Chapman dated February 25, 1999)

If you ever heard the term ' the Indian give-away', or in Lakota, Wopila you may know that lterally it means 'thank you' and in essence it is the system that measures a person's stature and standing by what they do for others in a society where generosity is one of the four virtues.

Although the principal is that if everyone is giving, everyone must also be receiving, and the traditional people believe what you give will return to you four-fold, remember that for example, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, home of the Oglala Lakotas is in Shannon County - which has consistently ranked as the poorest county in the US for over 40 years with a per capita income of less than 45% of the median income elsewhere in South Dakota.

Go Native America is committed to helping individuals and communities - from the very inception of the company, that has been an important part of our reason for operating and here are just a few of the projects we have involved ourselves in. We are honored that amongst others, somebody as great as Nelson Mandela took the time to comment on what we continue to try and do within the community.

Martin Headstart Program, South Dakota

We heard of a project that had been initiated a few years back over in Europe to raise money for a Taos Drum for a Head Start pre-school program in Martin, SD. They wanted to have the elders come and teach teach the Lakota language through song, not just to the kids, but also the kids' parents. We were surprised that Lakotas wanted a Taos drum, but called the director of the program, first to see if we could help, and secondly out of curiosity about why they needed a Taos Drum - an expensive southwestern instrument made on very different lines to a Lakota drum.

The director told us they really didn't want a Taos drum and quickly explained that actually they had a local artist they wanted to engage to create a drum so that the elders could come and teach their kids the traditional songs.

We responded by pledging US royalties from the first printing of Serle Chapman's first book, and so the artist could be engaged, buy the materials he needed and complete the project as the People wanted it completed.

Martin Head Start program had their drum within 2 months.

Sitting Bull Journey 2005

Helped Raise Funds for Sitting Bull College at Fort Yates on the Standing Rock Sioux Nation

"I would like to take this time to thank you for your contribution . . . I also want to assure you that the full force of your investment in our college mission is being utilized to empower our students, support the local community and assist in the development of the entire Standing Rock Nation. Your generosity and commitment are building a better future for all of us. Once again, in the words of our ancestors, pidamaya!"

Amerian Indian College Fund

March 18, 2003

"I wanted to take a moment to personally thank you for your generous support of the American Indian College Fund. Your giving has gone a long way toward helping tribal colleges enroll over 26,000 students - and award over 6,000 scholarships just last year.

Okankuye Waste Yelo (in a good way),

Computers for Northern Cheyenne Youth -

From the Northern Cheyenne "TRIBAL REPORT," MARCH 2006 ■ VOL. I ■ NO. 5.

"Chapman recently facilitated the delivery of two new computers to Lame Deer High School. In addition to his books, Chapman is known for his tour company, Go Native America, which helped to pioneer tribal tourism on the Northern Plains. “One of our tour members, Laura Fall, a teacher from the United Kingdom, was so moved by visiting Lakota and Cheyenne country and meeting with tribal members that she went home and secured funds from her own school, Scalby Technical College, to buy a computer for Lame Deer Elementary,” explained Chapman. “So we matched it and bought one for Lame Deer High,” he said. “I think it will be great for the kids in Lame Deer to connect with the kids in the United Kingdom, and vice-versa, so they might share experiences, stories, and learn about their respective cultures just by interacting. Hopefully there may be some lasting connections made. But more importantly, our Indigenous kids should have every opportunity to access the same technology that is taken for granted by so many of their non-Indigenous peers,” said Chapman. “I’m a great believer that as human beings there is more that unites us than divides us,” he said. “Maybe some of the kids will come to feel that way too after communicating with young people on the other side of the world.”

Read the full article from The Tribal Report at www.ncheyenne.net