THE “LITTLE SIOUX” and NORTHERN LIGHTS MISSION NEWSPAPERS

(Indian School Newspapers) “LITTLE SIOUX” ST. FRANCIS INDIAN MISSION. JESUIT FATHERS – FRANCISCAN SISTER. Five (5) “LITTLE SIOUX” newspapers including:

1. Vol. 3 – No. 1 – St Francis, South Dakota. Feb. - Mar., 1960. 8 pgs. Photos, information.

2. Vol. 3 – No. 6 – St. Francis, South Dakota. June – July 1960. 8 pgs. Photos, information.

3. Vol. 4 – No. 1. - St. Francis, South Dakota. Aug. - Sept., 1960. 4 pgs. Photos, information.

On September 26-27, 1877 Chief Sinte Gleska (Spotted Tail), leader of the Sicangu Lakota and Chief Red Cloud, leader of the Ogalala, met with President Rutherford B. Hayes and formally requested that the Black Robes come to their lands to educate their people. Sinte Gleska told the President, “I would like to say something about a teacher. My children, all of them, would like to learn how to talk English. They would like to learn how to read and write. We have teachers there, but all they teach us is to talk Sioux, and to write Sioux, and that is not necessary. I would like to get Catholic priests. Those who wear black dresses. These men will teach us how to read and write English.”

With the death of Sinte Gleska in 1881, Chief Two Strike invited the Jesuits to enter the Rosebud Reservation and begin a school. The site was located near camps of Two Strike’s band called Hinhansunwapa (Owl Feather Bonnet). Father Jutz and Brother Nunlist built a large frame building financed by American born St. Katharine Drexel (whose feast day is March 3rd) and dedicated it in 1886. Father Florentine Digmann arrived in 1888 bringing with him Franciscan Sisters Kostka, Rosalia, and Alcantara. Together they established the Mission School which was commonly referred to as Sapa Un Ti (“where the Black Robes live”) by the Sicangu. Father Digmann also established 37 Mission stations throughout the Rosebud Reservation and is considered the founder of St. Francis Mission.

In 1886 the school, initially a Christian elementary school of St. Francis Mission meant to serve Native students with English as a second language, was established. It had 200-person boarding facilities, with all students boarding, and had one building, though a second was later added and the boarding facilities filled. A fire destroyed the existing facilities in January 1916. Concrete replacement facilities were built and school resumed in fall 1916. The high school classes began in 1931. It had a peak enrollment of 500 in the 1940s and 1950s. The dormitories were decommissioned in the 1960s after improvements to the roads were implemented. Tribal control came in 1979. Residents had a positive reception to gaining tribal control.

“The newspaper was published in the interest of poor Sioux Indian children of the Rosebud reservation who either are welfare cases or who live too far from a public school and need boarding school care.”

NORTHERN LIGHTS – SAINT MICHAEL’S INDIAN MISSION.

1. Vol. 13 – No. 6 – SAINT MICHAEL, North Dakota 58370 – Nov. - Dec., 1967 – 4 pgs. Photos, Information including a day to day itinerary of events.

2. Vol. 15 – No. 1 – SAINT MICHAEL. North Dakota 58370 – Jan. - Feb. 1969 – 4 pgs. Photos, information.

Rev. Louis Bonin established and administered Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel and School (Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota) near present day St. Michael Mission, Fort Totten, Spirit Lake / Devil’s Lake Reservation, St. Michaels between 1874-1878.

Between 1884 to the 1980’s the Benedictines established and administered St. Michael Mission (Sisseton – Wahpeton Dakota).

All 5 newsletters in vg cond.

Sources: Marquette University – Archival Collections and Institutional Repository

St. Francis Mission