SURF celebrates Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month, and the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) is celebrating the immeasurable contributions of Indigenous communities to our state and our nation.

“SURF has a unique history in the Black Hills, and we have the opportunity to recognize and reflect on that history and what it means to be a good neighbor to the region’s Indigenous communities,” said Rochelle Zens, project lead for the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Program and member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. “Our environmental practices show a deep respect for the land, but our work ahead includes further outreach and relationship building with South Dakota’s nine Tribes.”

SURF’s mission is to advance world-leading science and inspire learning across generations. This work sits at the intersection of cultural backgrounds and benefits from the contributions of individuals with varied perspectives and experiences.

Respecting our environment

Traditional Lakota values show respect for the land and all living creatures—never taking more than what is needed and making use of everything harvested or hunted. 

At SURF, we work to protect the region’s natural environment and respect cultural practices. SURF adheres to strict recycling procedures; ensures that rock extracted from the Black Hills remains in the Black Hills; and has one of the best wastewater treatment facilities in the region, a system that helped rejuvenate Gold Run Creek in the 1980s. 

Building the Sacred Circle Garden

On Sept. 22, 2022, the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority approved plans to move forward with construction of the ethnobotanical garden on a hilltop meadow at SURF. Called Cangleska Wakan, Lakota for Sacred Circle, the garden will provide an outdoor space that pays homage to Lakota culture and will offer opportunities for scientific learning above and below our feet.

The Sacred Circle Garden will connect visitors with SURF’s underground science through Native ways of knowing. The site’s future programming will include explorations of astrophysics, star knowledge, Earth science, ethnobotany, biodiversity, and a range of cultural events for learners of all ages. As SURF welcomes scientific collaborators from around the world, the garden will serve as a gateway to this unique region.

Engaging with Indigenous communities 

One way to learn more about Native American people, their culture, and their histories is to pick up a book by an Indigenous author. Throughout the month, the SURF IDEA office will share books by Native American authors on our social media channels. These adult fiction, adult non-fiction, and children’s book titles are written by Native American authors and touch on themes of history, culture, family, resilience, and humor. (See full list below.)

There are countless more ways to engage with Indigenous people in your region—attending an Indigenous-led educational event, patronizing an Indigenous-owned business, purchasing artwork from an Indigenous artist, or even following a Native American informational account on social media. However we choose to engage, this month, we continue to listen to and learn from the diverse voices that make our state and our nation more complete. 

Adult Fiction Titles

• The Grass Dancer, by Susan Power
• The Round House, by Louise Erdrich
• There There, by Tommy Orange
• Winter Counts, by David Heska Wanbli Weidan
• Jonny Appleseed, by Joshua Whitehead
• The Red Bird All-Indian Traveling Band, by Frances Washburn
• The Road Back to Sweetgrass, by Linda LeGarde Grover

Non-Fiction Titles

• An American Sunrise: Poems, by Joy Harjo
• Red Nation Rising: From Bordertown Violence to Native Liberation, by Nick Estes
• Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• Bury My Heart at Chuck E. Cheese’s, by Tiffany Midge
• Native Enough, by Nina O’Leary
• Lakota Woman, by Mary Crow Dog
• Behind the Trail of Broken Treaties, by Vine Deloria, Jr.

Children’s Titles

• We Are Water Protectors, by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade
• A Day with Yayah, by Nicola Campbell
• Fry Bread, by Kevin Noble Maillard
• The Star People, by S.D. Nelson
• The Day the Earth Rose Up, by Alfreda Beartrack-Algeo
• Notable Native People, by Adrienne Keene
• I Sang You Down from the Stars, by Tasha Spillett-Summer
• Under the Same Sky, by Britta – Tecekntrup
• Trickster, by Matt Dembicki
• Tatanka and the Lakota People, by Donald Montileaux