Connections to Land and People - Lowell Amiotte - OSEU #1

Watch the original interview video · Open this interview in the learning workspace

05 Wolakota Project Video Transcripts and URLs.docx · WP-0077. Imported source record; individual Elder status and tribal affiliation are not inferred.

Reviewed JAG competency and OSEU connections

F37 — Develop a healthy self-concept for home, school, and work

Explore F37 · Connections to Land and People - Lowell Amiotte - OSEU #1 · OSEU 2

Reviewed teaching connection (Supporting): Lowell Amiotte describes connections to places, education, and people and choosing where he belongs. This supports F37 by inviting students to consider belonging in self-concept.

Updated for Proposed August 9, 2024: New connection to the overall current understanding. No specific OSEU standard alignment is claimed. Original JAG–interview approval retained.

We're very connected to the land here. I've been really lucky. I got to spend ten years in Spearfish working at Black Hills State, and I went to school there. So I kind of feel that that's home. I'm connected to that. I am from Pine Ridge, and I'm connected to that through the people, the animals, and everything. And then to Rapid City. I went to school here and so I'm lucky, you know, I have all those connections to the land here in this area. And I think the inner connection with the people has been very important to make that connection to the land. All the people are the ones who make it worthwhile to be in a certain area. And I chose to identify with Indian people. A lot of people look at me and say, “Who are you, Indian?” I say, “Yeah, I mean, you know, I wouldn't know that, you know.” So it's been the Indian people who I've really enjoyed and wanted to be with.

Learn About: What details in this passage support the speaker’s account of belonging and place? What would you need to hear in the full interview before interpreting it?

Learn From: How could you consider belonging in self-concept? Use a fictional or classroom example if you prefer, and explain which part of the speaker’s account informed your approach.

05 Wolakota Project Video Transcripts and URLs.docx · WP-0077; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuGkJE--5hw; opening passage. Teaching interpretation is separate from official wording and the interviewee’s account.

J106 — Identify and understand personal interests, aptitudes, and abilities

Explore J106 · Connections to Land and People - Lowell Amiotte - OSEU #1 · OSEU 2

Reviewed teaching connection (Supporting): Lowell Amiotte describes connections to places, education, and people and choosing where he belongs. This supports J106 by inviting students to identify interests and commitments in one’s life.

Updated for Proposed August 9, 2024: New connection to the overall current understanding. No specific OSEU standard alignment is claimed. Original JAG–interview approval retained.

We're very connected to the land here. I've been really lucky. I got to spend ten years in Spearfish working at Black Hills State, and I went to school there. So I kind of feel that that's home. I'm connected to that. I am from Pine Ridge, and I'm connected to that through the people, the animals, and everything. And then to Rapid City. I went to school here and so I'm lucky, you know, I have all those connections to the land here in this area. And I think the inner connection with the people has been very important to make that connection to the land. All the people are the ones who make it worthwhile to be in a certain area. And I chose to identify with Indian people. A lot of people look at me and say, “Who are you, Indian?” I say, “Yeah, I mean, you know, I wouldn't know that, you know.” So it's been the Indian people who I've really enjoyed and wanted to be with.

Learn About: What details in this passage support the speaker’s account of belonging and place? What would you need to hear in the full interview before interpreting it?

Learn From: How could you identify interests and commitments in one’s life? Use a fictional or classroom example if you prefer, and explain which part of the speaker’s account informed your approach.

A3 — Identify desired lifestyle and relate to selected occupations

Explore A3 · Connections to Land and People - Lowell Amiotte - OSEU #1 · OSEU 2

Reviewed teaching connection (Supporting): Lowell Amiotte describes connections to places, education, and people and choosing where he belongs. This supports A3 by inviting students to connect a desired way of life with educational choices.

Updated for Proposed August 9, 2024: New connection to the overall current understanding. No specific OSEU standard alignment is claimed. Original JAG–interview approval retained.

We're very connected to the land here. I've been really lucky. I got to spend ten years in Spearfish working at Black Hills State, and I went to school there. So I kind of feel that that's home. I'm connected to that. I am from Pine Ridge, and I'm connected to that through the people, the animals, and everything. And then to Rapid City. I went to school here and so I'm lucky, you know, I have all those connections to the land here in this area. And I think the inner connection with the people has been very important to make that connection to the land. All the people are the ones who make it worthwhile to be in a certain area. And I chose to identify with Indian people. A lot of people look at me and say, “Who are you, Indian?” I say, “Yeah, I mean, you know, I wouldn't know that, you know.” So it's been the Indian people who I've really enjoyed and wanted to be with.

Learn About: What details in this passage support the speaker’s account of belonging and place? What would you need to hear in the full interview before interpreting it?

Learn From: How could you connect a desired way of life with educational choices? Use a fictional or classroom example if you prefer, and explain which part of the speaker’s account informed your approach.

Q128 — Develop a career or educational plan which reflects personal goals, interests, and skills

Explore Q128 · Connections to Land and People - Lowell Amiotte - OSEU #1 · OSEU 2

Reviewed teaching connection (Supporting): Lowell Amiotte describes connections to places, education, and people and choosing where he belongs. This supports Q128 by inviting students to consider place and belonging in a plan.

Updated for Proposed August 9, 2024: New connection to the overall current understanding. No specific OSEU standard alignment is claimed. Original JAG–interview approval retained.

We're very connected to the land here. I've been really lucky. I got to spend ten years in Spearfish working at Black Hills State, and I went to school there. So I kind of feel that that's home. I'm connected to that. I am from Pine Ridge, and I'm connected to that through the people, the animals, and everything. And then to Rapid City. I went to school here and so I'm lucky, you know, I have all those connections to the land here in this area. And I think the inner connection with the people has been very important to make that connection to the land. All the people are the ones who make it worthwhile to be in a certain area. And I chose to identify with Indian people. A lot of people look at me and say, “Who are you, Indian?” I say, “Yeah, I mean, you know, I wouldn't know that, you know.” So it's been the Indian people who I've really enjoyed and wanted to be with.

Learn About: What details in this passage support the speaker’s account of belonging and place? What would you need to hear in the full interview before interpreting it?

Learn From: How could you consider place and belonging in a plan? Use a fictional or classroom example if you prefer, and explain which part of the speaker’s account informed your approach.

J103 — Articulate personal values

Explore J103 · Connections to Land and People - Lowell Amiotte - OSEU #1 · OSEU 2

Reviewed teaching connection (Supporting): Lowell Amiotte describes connections to places, education, and people and choosing where he belongs. This supports J103 by inviting students to articulate what matters in choosing a direction.

Updated for Proposed August 9, 2024: New connection to the overall current understanding. No specific OSEU standard alignment is claimed. Original JAG–interview approval retained.

We're very connected to the land here. I've been really lucky. I got to spend ten years in Spearfish working at Black Hills State, and I went to school there. So I kind of feel that that's home. I'm connected to that. I am from Pine Ridge, and I'm connected to that through the people, the animals, and everything. And then to Rapid City. I went to school here and so I'm lucky, you know, I have all those connections to the land here in this area. And I think the inner connection with the people has been very important to make that connection to the land. All the people are the ones who make it worthwhile to be in a certain area. And I chose to identify with Indian people. A lot of people look at me and say, “Who are you, Indian?” I say, “Yeah, I mean, you know, I wouldn't know that, you know.” So it's been the Indian people who I've really enjoyed and wanted to be with.

Learn About: What details in this passage support the speaker’s account of belonging and place? What would you need to hear in the full interview before interpreting it?

Learn From: How could you articulate what matters in choosing a direction? Use a fictional or classroom example if you prefer, and explain which part of the speaker’s account informed your approach.

Interview transcript

We're very connected to the land here. I've been really lucky. I got to spend ten years in Spearfish working at Black Hills State, and I went to school there. So I kind of feel that that's home. I'm connected to that. I am from Pine Ridge, and I'm connected to that through the people, the animals, and everything. And then to Rapid City. I went to school here and so I'm lucky, you know, I have all those connections to the land here in this area. And I think the inner connection with the people has been very important to make that connection to the land. All the people are the ones who make it worthwhile to be in a certain area. And I chose to identify with Indian people. A lot of people look at me and say, “Who are you, Indian?” I say, “Yeah, I mean, you know, I wouldn't know that, you know.” So it's been the Indian people who I've really enjoyed and wanted to be with. Just a little story on connectedness. I don't know if you don't, Lionel Bordeaux, but he's president of Sinte Gleska University. He and I first met in 1960 at Black Hills State College, the very first day of college. I walked in the gym where they had all the freshmen, and he was sitting there and I went and I sat by him. He turned away from me a little bit and, you know, he saw me coming. He kind of turned away, but I went and got around, shook hands and sat down by him. And we got talking. I mentioned my name was Amiotte, and right away he was able to connect that with the area at Rosebud and Pine Ridge. So he looked at me and he said, “Are you Indian?” And I said, “Yeah.” He said, “I knew it.” And ever since then he's called me “brother.” And we can go. We graduated college and we went three years where we didn't see each other. I was registering at the University of South Dakota for my master's degree, and a big shadow came over me and I looked out and Lionel was standing there. We haven't seen each other for three years. We shook hands. He sat down and started filling his papers out. Eventually, our three-year stories came out to each other. But there's that connection with people where you don't have to be with them every minute. You know, you. You know them, they know you. And I thought this was a trait of Indian people. And then as I got older, I had many non-Indian friends who we interact the same way. And I noticed they interact in the same way with some of their non-Indian friends. So, it's a people thing. I think once you've established a relationship with someone like that, it's always there. And sometimes, you know, with family you can't choose your family, but it's still there because it's family. And family is very important.