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Three Women, Three Stories about Wounded Knee
About the Performers
Geraldine Goes In Center, Oglala Lakota, and her parents, Eva and Nathaniel Witt, are from the Lip’s (Pute) Camp Tiospaye (Wamblee SD). She prides herself on being Ina (mother) to four strong Cunkshi’s (daughters) and Unci (grandmother) of many beautiful Takojas.
She served in the US Army from 1974-1982 (Vietnam Era veteran). Jerry earned a BS in Human Service and a minor in counseling from Oglala Lakota College. She is a published writer and has self-published three booklets: Jokes Heard around the Rez, Lakota Recipes, and Lakota Baby Naming Book. In business for the past five years, she makes and provides Buffalo Wasna and gives presentations on Lakota diet and foods.
Lillian Witt grew up on a South Dakota ranch and attended a small country grade school. She earned a BA in Journalism/History at Chadron State College, Chadron, NE. She is a published author in Outside the Lines, a book of student essays published by CSC to be used by history college professors, and Tenth Street Miscellany, a collection of stories and essays of graduating students. She is a free-lance writer for several local publications. Lil is writing a children’s book that is almost ready for publication. Lillian’s proudest accomplishments are her six children and eleven grandchildren.
Joyce Jefferson earned a BS in English at Black Hills State University. Through her business, Joyce Jefferson Creates Stories in Song, she provides performances that weave narration, poetry and song. She is an independent scholar with the South Dakota Humanities Council.
Joyce toured the state educa-taining audiences about African American sheroes. Jefferson mounted an exhibition of historic photographs called “Corporals, Cooks, and Cowboys: African American Pioneers in the Black Hills” at the Journey Museum in 2000. She also self-published Black & Other Friends, a book of poetry inspired by her research. Joyce recently toured with The Women’s Lawyers Club, a product of Periaktos Produc-tions.
For fees or more information, contact Dakota Daughters at threevoices@rushmore.com or 605-393-2680
“Dakota Daughters”
Wounded Knee…
Three Lives,
Three Women,
Three Stories
“There is no death… only a change of worlds.” Chief Seattle
Credits
Jerry Goes In Center plays Kimemela, Sitting Bull’s daughter.
Lillian Witt plays Sadie Babcock, a rancher’s wife.
Joyce Jefferson plays Mattie Elmira Richardson, engaged to a Buffalo soldier.
Each performer researched and wrote her part of this historical interpretation of the events leading up to the massacre at Wounded Knee Creek in 1890.
The Performance
Act I: The Timeless Land
Kimemela, her family, tribe and nation are living their life following the buffalo and gathering plants and herbs off the land. She is showing her daughter, Good Hands Woman, how to dig timpsila. These indigenous people have had no contact with “civilization.”
Sadie, her husband, Steven, and their children, Carrie, Curtis and baby Sophie have arrived from Texas and are excited about “free land” in Dakota Territory that is theirs “just for the taking” thanks to Manifest Destiny.
Mattie Elmira Richardson and her family are just freed from slavery at the end of the Civil War. They strive for education, land and secure jobs. She is engaged to Siscro McCarty, a Buffalo soldier assigned to the Ninth Cavalry, who is sent west to serve in Dakota Territory.
Act II: Shifting Attitudes: 1868 to 1882
After the Battle of Greasy Grass, (Little Big Horn), Kimemela, her husband and daughter decide to move up to Grandmother’s land (Canada) with her father Sitting Bull. She tells her daughter why she and her husband came to that decision.
Sadie and Steven discuss missing cattle, the Battle of the Little Big Horn and the Black Hills gold rush.
Mattie Elmira and her family have moved from the south to Nicodemus, Kansas. She and Siscro correspond with each other while Siscro acclimates to Army life. Mattie just received one of many letters from Siscro.
Act III: Family and Community: 1882 to 1887
Tribe, colony, and town; creating community or dividing loyalties; bringing relatives and making relatives; homestead acts and Dawes Act
Kimemela has lived in Canada for five years and is now a grandmother. The buffalo are almost extinct, so Sitting Bull and the other men decide to surrender to the American authorities in order to go back to the homeland, promised by the Ft. Laramie Treaty of 1868. Kimemela decides to follow her father and hopes her daughter will do the same.
It is a beautiful November day. Sadie and Steven invited their children, grandchildren, fellow ranchers, the James Cooks, to partake of Thanksgiving dinner. New friend Lucy Lone Eagle is there to help. There are some Buffalo soldiers, including Siscro, patrolling the area outside. Acknowledging her gratefulness, Sadie believes that because of the Dawes Act her family is entitled to vast amounts of land that will be given ranchers and homesteaders. Sadie believes the Indians should be grateful, too.
Act IV: Drought: 1888 to 1890
Kimemela has been living on the Standing Rock Reservation, still surviving by the traditional ways of living as well as incorporating new skills and new foods. Her daughter and family come to visit.
Sadie has received a letter from her mother and has learned that her father is very ill. She writes to her mother and tells her of the happenings in Dakota.
Mattie Elmira is worried about Siscro. She reads a letter from him with contains news of the Paiute, Wovoka. Siscro explains the Ghost Dance religion and describes life on the reservation. The Richardsons set an extra plate for an unexpected guest. .
Act V: Big News: November and December, 1890
Kimemela is now staying with her daughter since the death of her husband. Her worst fears are realized when an eyapaha, camp crier, comes to announce that Sitting Bull was shot and killed by the tribal police. Fearing they may also lose their lives, she flees with her daughter and family.
Sadie just gained access to different newspapers, and though some of the news is months old, she and Steven discuss the articles before going to bed.
Mattie now a maid works for and lives with the Babcock family. Mattie's letter from Siscro tells about the Ninth Cavalry being sent to Pine Ridge from Fort Robinson. She sings part of a song composed by one of the soldiers.
Act VI: The Massacre: December 29, 1890
After traveling over 200 miles in the bitter cold, Kimemela, her family, Big Foot and his tiospaye arrive at Wounded Knee Creek. They are starving, cold, scared and hopeless. She tells of her arduous journey.
Sadie reads from the newspaper relating the events of the recent massacre.
Mattie reads the last letter from Siscro who is in the Stronghold, looking for Big Foot. The Ninth Cavalry detains the Lakota, then march with them to Drexell Mission the next day when Lakota warriors return to rescue their children from the mission school.
Act VII: The Aftermath
Sage is burned; the pipe is blessed; the drum is beaten; and the pipe song is sung. Prayers go out to our ancestors for healing.
The play ends with a blessing and image of reconciliation.
Mitaukuye Oyas’in - We are all related
After the performance we encourage questions and discussion about issues raised in the play. Our goal is to help spread the word on healing racism and building a shared, inclusive future.
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