‘Tiwahe’ statue unveiled to honor boarding school survivors and victims

A new statue unveiled in Rapid City, South Dakota, stands as a memorial to survivors and victims of the federal Indian boarding school era, according to reporting by ICT. The seven-foot-tall sculpture, called “Tiwahe” (which means “family” in Lakota), depicts a Lakota family surrounding a young boy in a boarding school uniform. Created by the group Remembering the Children, non-Native artist Dale Lamphere and Oglala Lakota apprentice Derek Santos, the statue sits on the former grounds of the Rapid City Indian School, where researchers identified 50 children who died. The statue is part of a broader memorial effort that includes a plaza, walking trail and cultural installations planned for public access beginning Sept. 27. Amy Sazue, executive director of Remembering the Children, said the project helps bring visibility to a long-hidden part of U.S. history.