RAPID CITY, S.D. — A new sculpture, “Tiwahe,” was unveiled Saturday at the Remembering the Children Memorial in Rapid City. The statue serves as a reminder of the memorial’s continued growth and as a tribute to the indigenous children impacted by the city’s former Indian Boarding School.
The word “Tiwahe,” meaning family, carries deep significance when reflecting on those who died under the U.S. Indian Boarding School policy. The Rapid City Indian School operated from 1898 through 1933 with the explicit goal of assimilating Native children, a policy summarized by the phrase, “Kill the Indian, and save the man.” This involved separating children from their families, forbidding use of native languages and cultural practices, and enforcing a regimented lifestyle. Students often endured harsh conditions, a curriculum split between academics and manual labor, and severe health crises. Diseases like tuberculosis were common, and the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic claimed the lives of six students at the school with over 50 children known to have died at the school, some of which could not be identified. Wakȟáŋyeža Wičhákiksuyapi, A.K.A. the Remembering the Children Memorial, offers a space for healing and acknowledgment with Tiwahe one of many projects over the coming years.
“When our funder cancelled and we thought that it was done, it was a really hard time,” said Amy Sazue, Executive Director of the Remembering the Children Memorial, “We couldn’t really even talk about it. It was so devastating to this project. But we chose to move forward in a way that prioritized listening, learning, and respect and contributions from our community, and that decision is reflected in both the final sculpture and the broader process behind it.”
Tiwahe was a collaborative effort involving spiritual leaders, Lakota elders, area children, and primary artist Dale Lamphere. Lamphere is known for other prominent South Dakota works such as the “Arc of Dreams” in downtown Sioux Falls and “Dignity of Earth & Sky” near Chamberlain.
“I’ve always been inspired by the people and natural elements in this land,” Lamphere stated, “I mean, I pay attention to the prairie grasses and certainly I pay attention to the people that are here, because I think that’s a wonderful resource that we have here in South Dakota.”
The sculpture itself is hollow. At its base are four openings for sage to be burned, with the smoke rising through more than 50 star-shaped holes at the top, representing each of the more than fifty children currently known to have died while at Rapid City’s Boarding School. The statue is also placed on top of a spotlight. Lamphere has noted that the interplay of light shining through the stars, mixed with the smoke from sage, offers a particularly moving sight at night. Many children directly contributed to the piece by adding their handprints or symbols impactful to them.
The project was faced with public discussion, as many expressed concern that Lamphere, a non-native artist, was leading its creation. Lamphere has stated that he agrees there needs to be more support for indigenous artists in the Black Hills area. He, along with the Remembering the Children Memorial worked together to establish a mentorship program, using Lamphere’s studio to teach up and coming indigenous artists. Derek Santos, an Oglala Lakota sculptor from Pine Ridge, was the first apprentice under this program. His own work, created through this mentorship, will soon be installed at the Remembering the Children Memorial.
“Being Oglala, it’s extremely important to me, and I also have a family member who also lost their life in it,” Santos said, “So I just want to do my part to continue to share that story.”
Over 100 elders, children, and other community members were involved in the development of Tiwahe. A key elder contributor was Beverly Stabber Warne, who passed away in April 2024 but whose guidance was instrumental. The names of all who contributed will be installed on a plaque at the site at a later date.
Beyond the “Tiwahe” sculpture, the Remembering the Children Memorial site design incorporates numerous elements rooted in Lakota culture, including individual memorial stones for each child that died from the Rapid City Boarding School, interpretive burial scaffolds, a prayer path, and storyboards detailing the school’s history and the experiences of its students. For more information, head to
Per grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from South Dakota Mines. He found his passion for weather reporting by the impact it has on the community, both in how people work and how it brings people together through severe weather preparation. He also has a passion for preventing health issues with Air Quality Index awareness. Per can be found enjoying outdoor activities in the Black Hills when the weather allows.
