The South Dakotans

 

Created from millions of years of the ruthless ravage of wind and water, the Badlands of South Dakota is home to the Oglala Sioux Tribal Nation. The Badlands is a place of extremes. The summer brings oppressive heat and violent thunderstorms, whereas the winter is chilled by cold and winds that roar unhindered out of the north. The deep gorges, jagged saw tooth ridges, cliffs, spires, eerie rock formation and mixed prairie grasslands that make up this harsh terrain are called “mako sika” by the Sioux. “Mako sika” literally translated means “land bad”. The over 244,000 acres that make up the Badlands contains the world’s rich Oligocene epoch fossil beds, dating 23 to 35 million years old.

 

   

 

   

 

 

In 1947 sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski accepted a commission from the Sioux Tribal Nation to carve a likeness of Crazy Horse in their sacred Black Hills. The finished creation will depict a mounted Crazy Horse pointing to the surrounding land.

Celebrated for his ferocity in battle, Crazy Horse was recognized among his people as a visionary leader committed to preserving the traditions and values of the Lakota way of life.

 

   

 

 

The 66th Annual Black Hills Motor Cycle Rally was held from August 7-13 in Sturgis, SD. The Sturgis rally traces its beginning to the Jackpine Gypsies, a motor cycle club started in 1936 by Clarence (“Pappy”) Hoel. The first rally in Sturgis on August 14, 1938 was only a weekend celebration featuring a lineup of only nine races and a small audience watching the races. Today the ralley routinely hosts over 6000 spectators and hundreds of races during the week long rally.

 

   

Click on hand to turn page