American Indian writer to speak at CSC

Tim Giago is expected to discuss a variety of topics as he relates his experiences as someone who grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation and became an author, newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist.

Twenty-five years ago, he founded Lakota Times, which became South Dakota’s largest weekly newspaper and was renamed and expanded into Indian Country Today. He stepped down as publisher of the newspaper this summer, but is continuing to write his column.

In a recent column announcing his retirement as a newspaper publisher, Giago said he “endured bullets through our windows, firebombs on the roof, bullets through our windshields and so many death threats that after a while they became mundane.”

Within 14 years after founding the newspaper, it had subscribers in all 50 states and 17 foreign countries. Giago’s newspapers won more than 50 awards from the South Dakota Newspaper Association for excellence in publishing.

Last month, Giago was the instigator behind the Sioux Summit at Crazy Horse Memorial near Custer. South Dakota Senators Tim Johnson and Tom Daschle met with presidents, chairmen and representatives of South Dakota’s nine Indian reservations to discuss issues affecting tribal members’ health, education and welfare.

Following the meeting, Daschle reportedly suggested that such gatherings take place at least twice a year and that they be named “the Giago Conferences.”

Giago’s appearance at Chadron State was arranged by Aaron Grow, a new multicultural counselor at Chadron State. Among the sponsors are the Diversity Committee, Multicultural Services, the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center and the Schools of Professional and Graduate Studies and Arts and Sciences, all at Chadron State, and the Native American Center in Chadron.