Imagine your grandpa, who shares with you tales of old.  He may talk of a fishing trip or stories of war.  And, if you're lucky enough, he is captivating and vivid in his storytelling.  Last night, we met with Leonard Littlefinger.  He shared with us a history of his family and his life. 
 
One day, his grandpa took him fishing.  After a while, his grandfather wanted to show Leonard something.  He took off his shoe and revealed that half of his heel was missing.  Leonard, at a very young age, was shocked.  His grandfather then shared that he had been at Wounded Knee, managing to escape death.  He hid in the hills for a few months until the winter ceased.  Soon after, he married and began a new life.
 
The story was compelling, but even more powerful because this did not happen in a faraway place.  Rather, it happened on the very place where the building we occuppied, sat.  As I listened to Leonard, I looked out the window at the perpetual splash of green and blue, envisioning the events, retold.  This event reminds us just how the Lakota people were striped of their lands and culture.  Leonard hopes to restore his culture.  His plan, is to educate the children in an immersion study program where they will develop their skills in speawking the Lakota language.  The dream came to fruition when a German rockstar donated the money needed to construct the building and with volunteer workers, the dream is alive and strong.  I never realized how important language is to a culture.  We can learn so much by understanding a native tongue.  I am attempting to learn some from my good Lakota friend, Linn Cross Dog.  And so, I end by saying,
 
Wa-pe-la-tanka "Thank you"