It's been another eighty-five river miles this week as the Discovery Expedition moved from Fort Randall, South Dakota to Chamberlain, South Dakota. As we continue to move through the homelands of the Sioux Nation, this week's Feature Focus takes a closer look at the cultural heritage of the tribe, with a visit to the Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center, located in Chamberlain. Take a virtual field trip to the Center and find out about events of the original expedition in the area.
Contents of the Broadcast:
1. Opening to 2:58--Introduction, welcome, information on today's location, orientation to today's topic
2. 2:58 to 7:14--Scott Mandrell, portraying Meriwether Lewis for the Discovery Expedition, discusses events of the original expedition in the area around today's location. Highlights include York shooting his first buffalo, increasing sightings of animals new to the Corps, changes in terrain near the river, searching for the volcano fields, and Shannon's return from his lost days.
3. 7:14 to 9:51--Scott shares highlights of events of the previous week of the re-enactment. Video footage includes events at Whetstone Bay, the keelboat and pirogues navigating the river's shallow waters, and river terrain.
4. 9:51 to 28:29-For this week's feature focus we go on a virtual tour of the Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center with its Director, Dixie Thompson. As we see footage from the museum, numerous topics are discussed. They include: 1) history of St. Joseph Indian School and its mission; 2) Indian life on the plains prior to contact with Europeans, including use of tipi and parfleche; 3) organization of the museum; 4) changes in lifestyle after contact with Europeans; 5) extent of Sioux homelands at the time of the expedition; 6) impact of treaties with the government and life on the reservation; 7) contemporary arts and crafts.
5. 28:29 to End--We answer e-mail questions concerning Red Cloud, the St. Joseph Indian School, and Native spiritual practices and view some final artifacts in the museum including a package of trade beads from the early 1800s and items made from the buffalo. Finally, we offer closing comments, topics of upcoming webcasts, thanks, and goodbye
