Interview · South Dakota · Ricky Gray Grass · OSEU 1
Themes: Land & stewardship, Kinship & family, Spirituality & ceremony, Values & generosity, Listening & observation
Learn About questions
What does it mean to pray to the land?
What does it mean when Mr. Gray Grass says, “This land is still ours”?
Where is Black Elk’s Peak? Why is it a sacred site?
Where is Pe Sla? Why is it a sacred site?
What is the “Welcoming Back the Thunder Beings” Ceremony? When does it happen?
How are prayers and ceremonies passed on through families?
What is Crazy Horse Monument?
Learn From questions
Is there land in my life that I consider to be sacred? What makes it sacred?
Where do I go in my life to find serenity and peace?
Are there ceremonies that are important to me in my life? What are they and when they happen?
Are there spiritual practices that I have learned from my family? What are they and how do I use them?
Transcripts
This Land Is Still Ours - Ricky Gray Grass - OSEU #1
Watch this interview on YouTubeBut I like coming back here to the Black Hills. You know, this is where I find my serenity…you know…a peace, you know. I could come back and pray to my land. You know, like I stated earlier, this land is still ours. Regardless of what the government is putting amounts of billions of dollars in front of this nation. This land is still ours. And so, you know, every time I come up and to pray here or at Black Elk Peak or Pe Sla, you know… I feel good because I know my ancestors at a time were there on that same ground I was praying. So, you know, today was a good day, you know, being the first day of spring. And to do that ceremony… and to pray to the ancestors… and welcoming back to thunder beings, you know. Those were passed on to me from my dad and my mom and my uncles how to do that. So, I'm really grateful that I got a good my brothers here, my nephews, my nieces, my girlfriend and my son, you know, that made the journey here. So, I'm really grateful for that and for Crazy Horse Monument, for letting me do that, for giving me the time to go on top of the sculpture and do that prayer.
Resource text
OSEU 1: INTERVIEW WITH RICKY GRAY GRASS
WoLakota Project
a
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Source materials
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Additional source transcripts
This Land Is Still Ours
This Land Is Still Ours - Ricky Gray Grass - OSEU #1
But I like coming back here to the Black Hills. You know, this is where I find my
serenity…you know…a peace, you know. I could come back and pray to my land. You
know, like I stated earlier, this land is still ours. Regardless of what the government is
putting amounts of billions of dollars in front of this nation. This land is still ours. And so,
you know, every time I come up and to pray here or at Black Elk Peak or Pe Sla, you
know… I feel good because I know my ancestors at a time were there on that same
ground I was praying. So, you know, today was a good day, you know, being the first
day of spring. And to do that ceremony… and to pray to the ancestors… and welcoming
back to thunder beings, you know. Those were passed on to me from my dad and my
mom and my uncles how to do that. So, I'm really grateful that I got a good my brothers
here, my nephews, my nieces, my girlfriend and my son, you know, that made the
journey here. So, I'm really grateful for that and for Crazy Horse Monument, for letting
me do that, for giving me the time to go on top of the sculpture and do that prayer.