Dakota Daughters
Dakota Daughters: Three women. Three stories. Three cultures. Geraldine Goes In Center, Lillian Witt, and Joyce Jefferson bring you a stirring play about the events in Dakota Territory, beginning before the major non-Indian intrusion into Lakota territory, sometime before the 1860s, and culminating with the 1890 Wounded Knee Creek Massacre. Before that time, both the Lewis and Clark Expedition and fur traders had already invaded Dakota Territory, with the United States military expeditions following in March of 1861.
Sponsored by South Dakota Humanities Council for two decades, each player has researched and authored her part, demonstrating a historical interpretation of events over 125 years ago. Although they play imaginary characters, Dakota Daughters talk about historic documents, such as the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie and the Dawes' Act; they sing songs, recite poetry, and read newspapers that were composed or written in the time portrayed. Mentioned are Sitting Bull, Big Foot, General Custer, D. H. Gallagher and other actual participants of events portrayed.
We want to entertain, which means, in the literal sense, "to hold between." We want to engage and hold our audiences. Only with engagement can a "classroom" activity move from a passive experience to one in which true learning occurs.
Secondly, we strive to educate our audiences, which, in the classical sense, means "to draw out." We endeavor to evoke ideas and responses to the issues and situations we present and facilitate dialogue about them, not instruct or indoctrinate audiences with our opinions.
Lastly, we hope to enlighten our audiences, which means to "reveal truths," and help attendees acquire new wisdom and/or understanding of situations to help them see more clearly.
With these goals working dynamically together, our hope is to facilitate an ongoing dialogue about how to respect and appreciate all differences and heal divisiveness.
We welcome your comments at the end of the play through discussion and conversation.
PRICING FOR LIBRARIES - 2023
Dakota Daughters is part of the South Dakota Humanities Council : Speakers Bureau. SDHC works with schools, museums, libraries, and other cultural, educational, and community-based organizations across the state to deliver programs to South Dakotans.
CONTACT INFO
* Jerry Goes In Center * Joyce Jefferson * Lillian Witt *
* Three Women * Three Cultures * Three Stories *
P O Box 5007, Rapid City, SD 57709