ABDERDEEN (AP) – A longing for tradition brought Jeremy Red Eagle back to his ancestors' homeland.
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ABDERDEEN (AP) – A longing for tradition brought Jeremy Red Eagle back to his ancestors' homeland.
He was born and raised in Montana, but made the move to Waubay about five years ago.
"I'm enrolled in the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. I wanted to learn my language, so my family we packed up, moved out here. We have a pretty successful program at the college," he said of the college that goes by his tribe's name.
Learning the Dakota language is coming along. Red Eagle has also been identified as a gifted Native American artist.
Most recently, he was selected by the Minnesota Historical Society to be part of its 2019 Native American Artist-in-Residence program. Through the program, Red Eagle will mentor two other young Native American men in their shared culture. During the duration of the program, Red Eagle will also be given the opportunity to use the organization's resources to further his crafts and historical knowledge of area tribes.
Red Eagle has immersed himself in his birthright culture. To him it's a way of life, and the old methods of doing things are where he's challenged himself.
"I'm researching how to use natural plants to dye quills," he gave as an example of a current project he'd been researching.
His wife does the quill work. His own works are of tools, weaponry and also lacrosse sticks – a game with its origins firmly based in Native American culture. Red Eagle refers to it as the Creator's game.
"We've always utilized what we have. Go out, gather what you need, in the woods, out on the prairie," he told Aberdeen American News. "A lot is utilitarian – so like archery, bow and arrows, dance regalia, based off historical stuff. All cultures' things evolve and change. Our song and dance are a big part of our culture."
The accoutrements, accessories, tools and how they're created, paints a richer picture of each tribe's origins.
"Everything in our culture, language, song and dance, they are all interconnected. You can't separate them," he said. "Working with these young men is instilling what it means to be a man in Dakota culture. So when I teach them how to make a bow, I'm going to teach them the language, original ways and traditions."
