♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "DAKOTA LIFE."

I'M YOUR HOST, MICHELLE VAN MAANEN.

HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED HOW CIRCULAR LIFE CAN BE?

FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN RAISED ON THIS LAND, WE CALL SOUTH DAKOTA THE SOUTH DAKOTA.

THE SACREDNESS OF THE CIRLCE, THE CURVE OF THE HORIZON AND THE SKY CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED.

THIS EDITION OF "DAKOTA LIFE" DEALS WITH THINGS CIRCULAR; A CAROUSEL THAT TAKES US BACK TO ANOTHER TIME.

A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS THAT HELP US COMPLETE THE CIRCLE OF HISTORY BY DIGGING UP THE PAST.

AND A LAKOTA FAMILY THAT KEEPS THEIR CULTURE ALIVE AND WELL THROUGH THE ART OF DANCING IN SACRED CIRCLES.

FIRST, LET'S US TAKE A STEP BACK IN TIME, BACK TO THE END OF LAST CENTURY WHEN STEAM POWER WAS KING AND STEAM-POWERED CAROUSELS WERE COMMON.

PRAIRIE VILLAGE NEAR MADISON IS HOME TO ONE OF THE ONLY STEAM-POWERED CAROUSELS STILL IN EXISTENCE.

AND WHILE THE CAROUSEL IS OVER 100 YEARS OLD, IT IS STILL IN PERFECT OPERATING CONDITION, THANKS TO THE DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK AT PRAIRIE VILLAGE.

SO LET'S HOP ON BOARD FOR A RIDE.

>> THE SCENE COULD BE RIGHT OUT OF 1898 WHEN STEAM WAS KING AND A TRIP TO THE COUNTY FAIR WAS ONE OF THE GRAY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR.

BUT THIS STORY TAKES PLACE IN 1998, AT PRAIRIE VILLAGE NEAR MADISON WHERE THIS VINTAGE STEAM CAROUSEL HAS COME TO BE PRESERVED AND THEN SHARED WITH FUTURE GENERATIONS.

BUT THE CAROUSEL'S PERMANENT HOME IN SOUTH DAKOTA ALMOST DIDN'T HAPPEN.

HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR A STEAM SHOW AT PRAIRIE VILLAGE IN 1966, THE CAROUSEL MIGHT HAVE ENDED UP ON THE WEST COAST.

>> WHY, I CALLED ART V. THOMAS LONG IN FEBRUARY OF 1966.

I'D HEARD THE CAROUSEL MIGHT BE FOR SALE, AND ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD-- COULD SCHEDULE US IN DURNG OUR SHOW THAT YEAR, AND HE ARRANGED THAT, AND BROUGHT THE MACHINE UP AND SAID HE LIKED WHAT HE SAW, GAVE US A PRICE ON IT, AND WE HAD A BOARD MEETING RIGHT ON THE SPOT, AND THIS WAS THE LAST DAY OF OUR SHOW, AND GOT A VERBAL AGREEMENT ON THE PURCHASE OF IT.

THEN A WEEK LATER, I WENT TO MEET WITH-- HE HAD THE MACHINE SET UP IN HURON AT THE STATE FAIR, AND I WENT UP THERE AND MADE THE DOWN PAYMENT ON IT.

AND THEN HE LATER DONATED 4,000 OF THE PURCHASE PRICE BACK TO US, SO WE HAD A REAL GOOD DEAL.

HE WANTED IT TO STAY IN SOUTH DAKOTA, AND I KNOW THE DAY I PAID FOR IT, I FOUND OUT LATER THAT-- I HAD TO WAIT TO TALK TO HIM BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE WAS TALKING TO HIM, AND I FOUND OUT IT WAS A PERSON FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, I THINK SPOKANE,- OR SEATTLE, ONE OF THE TWO, AND HE MADE ART AN OFFER THAT WAS CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN WE PAID, AND ART TURNED IT DOWN.

SO WE WERE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE IT AVAILABLE TO US.

>> THE CAROUSEL IS NOW HOUSED IN A SEMI-PERMANENT STRUCTURE TO PROTECT IT FROM THE ELEMENTS, BUT IN THE EARLY YEARS, IT SPENT A GOOD DEAL OF ITS TIME ON THE ROAD.

>> THEY'D GO A COUPLE DAYS IN ONE TOWN, AND MAYBE JUST ONE DAY, TEAR IT DOWN, MOVE TO THE NEXT TOWN AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AGAIN, AND GO FOR A DAY OR TWO, OR ONE DAY, AND TEAR IT DOWN AGAIN, GO ON TO THE NEXT TOWN.

>> THEY WERE CALLED PRAIRIE CAROUSELS, AND I THINK PARTIALLY BECAUSE THEY DID TRAVEL THE UPPER MIDWEST AND-- I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WERE COMMON IN OTHER PLACES OR NOT.

>> MACHINES WERE RUNNING IN THE EARLY '90S, 1890S, THAT WERE VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL TO THIS, AND THEY WERE BUILT UP POSSIBLY PAST THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

SO IT'S A MINIMUM OF 100 TO 110 YEARS OLD.

>> WITH SUCH A RARE PIECE OF@ OPERATING MACHINERY, PRAIRIE VILLAGE FELT IT APPROPRIATE TO HAVE THE CAROUSEL APPRAISED, AND THE APPRAISER WAS AMAZED AT THE CONDITION.

>> THE SURPRISING PART, THE APPRAISER SAID, IS ALL THE BARS UNDERNEATH THE HORSES AND THE MECHANISM OF THE-- WHATEVER THEY CALL THOSE THINGS, IS ALL INTACT, AND USUALLY THEY DON'T FIND THIS ON A CAROUSEL.

THERE'S BEEN PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN LOST AND NOT WORKABLE ANYMORE.

AND THIS IS ALL INTACT.

>> AND IT'S THAT MECHANISM THAT GIVES THE CAROUSEL HORSES THEIR MOTION.

THESE HORSES DON'T GO UP AND DOWN; RATHER, THEY ROCK BACK AND FORTH.

>> THEY'RE CALLED A TRACK MACHINE BECAUSE THERE IS A TRACK UNDERNEATH.

IT'S NOT EXACTLY LIKE A RAILROAD TRACK BUT SERVES A SIMILAR PURPOSE, SO ALL THE MACHINERY RIDES ON THE WHEELS UNDERNEATH-- ONE WHEEL UNDERNEATH EACH TEAM, AND EACH CHARIOT, AND THEN THE CASTING AT THE-- ON THE POLE CARRIES THE BEAMS, AND AT TIMES-- WHEN THE MACHINE IS FULLY LOADED, THERE'S VERY LITTLE WEIGHT AT THE CENTER OF THE POLE.

IT'S ALL RIDING ONHE WHEELS THAT ARE ROLLING ON THE TRACK.

AND THEN THEY, IN TURN, ARE LINKED THROUGH AN ECCENTRIC TO THE HORSES, AND THAT CAUSES THEM TO ROCK.

AND FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T RIDDEN A MACHINE LIKE THIS, IT IS DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT SENSATION.

>> NOW, I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THE HORSES-- I WAS TOLD WHEN I LEARNED THE HISTORY OF THIS CAROUSEL, THAT THE HORSES ARE MADE OF BLACK FOREST PINE FROM GERMANY.

THEY ARE MADE BY GERMANS BUT IT IS NOT MADE-- I THINK HE SAID BASS AND ASPEN WOOD.

BUT THEY'RE ALL CARVED IN LITTLE TEENY PIECES AND PUT TOGETHER TO MAKE ONE BIG HORSE.

IT'S NOT CARVED IN ONE BIG PIECE.

YOU CAN SEE THE SEAMS, SEE, AND THIS IS CALLED COUNTRY FAIR, THESE PARTICULAR HORSES.

HIRSCHMAN SPEILING HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT KINDS OF ANIMALS ON THEIR CAROUSELS AND THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS CALLED COUNTRY FAIR.

THEIR CHARACTERISTICS ARE EARS STRAIGHT UP, THEIR HEAD A LITTLE BIT TILTED, AND A STREAMLINE BODY.

THESE WERE ALL NAMED AT ONE TIME, BUT AS THEY'VE BEEN PAINTED, THE NAMES HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF, BUT IT WOULD BE FUN TO PUT THEM BACK ON AGAIN.

>> JOE, SALLY, GALEN AND HIS WIFE, EUNICE, ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS AT PRAIRIE VILLAGE.

THEY WORKED VERY LONG HOURS FOR VERY LITTLE REWARD.

SO WHAT KEEPS THEM COMING BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR?

>> IT ISN'T THE PAY, IS IT?

>> NO.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I GUESS THE SATISFACTION OF PRESERVING SOMETHING AND-- FOR THE FUTURE, MAY BE ONE OF THE MAIN ONES FOR ME, AND THEN THE PLEASURE OF SEEING PEOPLE COME AROUND.

YOU GENTLEMEN, ENJOY WHAT YOU SEE, AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY OR GAIN INFORMATION AND SO FORTH.

THERE'S CERTAINLY-- IT'S CERTAINLY-- IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS PLACE, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO WOULD NEVER SEE ANYTHING LIKE THIS, SO IT'S GREAT TO HAVE IT HERE AND WATCH IT PROSPER AND SO FORTH.

WE JUST NEED MORE VISITORS, AND OCCASIONALLY MORE VOLUNTEERS, TOO, BUT... >> IT GROWS ON YOU.

LIKE, I EVEN MISS THE HORSES IN THE WINTER.

[ LAUGHTER ] REALLY.

>> WHAT?

>> WELL, JUST BECAUSE I RIDE ON IT SO MUCH DURING SCHOOL TOURS THAT IT'S A PART OF ME.

IT'S LIKE YOU HAVE A DOLL SITTING IN A CHAIR AT HOME, AND WHEN YOU'VE GIVEN THE DOLL AWAY, SOMETHING IS GONE, YOU KNOW.

>> AND SALLY GETS ON A HORSE, AND SHE DAYDREAMS, AND SHE MISSES OUR TIME.

SHE'S IN ANOTHER ERA, BUT SHE LOVES IT.

>> I JUST LET THE KIDS RIDE.

>> SHE LOVES IT.

AND THAT'S THE WAY OTHER PEOPLE ARE, TOO.

THEY LOVE IT.

THEY GET ON THERE AND FORGET THEIR WORRIES.

>> IN CASE YOU'RE GOING OF GOING, PRAIRIE VILLAGE OFFERS RIDES ON THE CAROUSEL FROM EARLY MAY THROUGH LABOR DAY.

MANY OF THE THINGS WE DO IN LIFE WE DO AS VOLUNTEERS, OUT OF LOVE OR CURIOSITY OR A SENSE OF DUTY TO OUR FAMILIES OR OUR COMMUNITY.

LIKE THOSE VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP OUT AT PRAIRIE VILLAGE, THERE ARE SOME VOLUNTEERS WORKING AT AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG SITE.

IT'S THE SITE OF THE ORIGINAL FORT PIERRE SHOW TO YOU AND WHAT THOSE VOLUNTEERS ARE DIGGING UP IS HISTORY, SOUTH DAKOTA HISTORY.

THE.

>> IT IS STIOCPLAINS OF SOUTH DAKOTA HOLD WITHIN ITS REALM MANY SECRETS OF THE PAST.

THESE MYSTERIES DO NOT OPENLY REVEAL THEMSELVES TO THE UNTRAINED EYE, BUT TO THE SKILLFUL EYES OF AN ARCHAEOLOGIST, THE OPEN PRAIRIE SLOWLY UNEARTHS ITS HISTORY ONE LAYER AT A TIME.

A MYRIAD OF TOOLS ASSIST AN ARCHAEOLOGIST IN HIS WORK, BUT AT THIS SITE, THERE ARE NONE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE VOLUNTEERS.

THEY COME OF THEIR OWN ACCORD, SPENDING A PORTION OF THEIR SUMMER PATIENTLY SCRAPING AWAY THE SOIL WHILE LEARNING THE VOCATION OF ARCHAEOLOGY.

MICHAEL FOSHA OF THE STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH CENTER WORKED WITH VOLUNTEERS IN HIS NATIVE KANSAS.

>> WHEN HE MOVED TO SOUTH DAKOTA, IT WAS AN ASPIRATION OF HIS TO INITIATE VOLUNTEERISM AMONG THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE.

ONE OF MY GOALS IN COMING TO SOUTH DAKOTA WAS TO HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS THAT WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES.

TO ME, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF ARCHAEOLOGY IS SHARING IT WITH THE PUBLIC.

WE TAKE ARCHAEOLOGY TO SCHOOLS, TO MUSEUMS, TO VARIOUS GROUPS, BUT THE MOST SATISFYING OF ALL IS ACTUALLY WORKING WITH VOLUNTEERS.

THESE ARE LEE MEMORIAL THAT WOULD NOT-- PEOPLE THAT WOULD NOT TO BE ACTIVE EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS YOU DO, THEY'RE WILLING TO SACRIFICE THEIR VACATIONS, THEIR TIME, AND AT MANY TIMES QOTD A LOT OF EXPENSE TO COME WORK ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES.

THOSE ARE THE KIND OF PEOPLE YOU WANT BECAUSE THEY'RE THERE-- BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN YOU.

EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS THE ARCHAEOLOGISTS DO.

AND THEY'RE THE MOST FUN TO SHARE THIS WITH.

AS FAR AS AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO WORKING WITH AMATEURS, THE SOUTH DAKOTA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY WAS ESTABLISHED ABOUT 27 YEARS AGO.

FORT PIERRE CHOTEAU WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST DIG THAT@RTU- INCORPORATED VOLUNTEERS ON A SITE.

>> THE REMAINS OF THE FORT LIE ALONG THE BANK OF THE MISSOURI RIVER, NORTH OF PRESENT DAY FORT PIERRE.

BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FORTS IN 1842 BY THE AMERICAN FUR TRADING, MOST TRADING STOPPED AT THE BOUNDARY MARGINS OF THE PLAINS.

MOST PEOPLE BELIEVED THIS REGION TO BE A DESERT, LAND OF LITTLE PRODUCTIVITY, BUT AS A RESULT OF ITS SUCCESS, THE FORT PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEESTWARD EXPANSION OF THE GREAT PLAINS.

IT IS A SITES THAT IS HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT TO SOUTH DAKOTA AS IT IS THE OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OCCUPIED EUROPE ON SETTLEMENT WITHIN THE STATE.

TODAY THE SOLE KAGSZ OF ITS EXISTENCE IS A STONE MONDAY UAT THE ENDS OF A PATH.

THAT MAY CHANGE AND IF IT DOES, IT WILL BE THE WORK DONE OF VOLUNTEERS.

>> THE SECOND DAY IS REALLYR DIFFERENT, YOU TRY TO FIND SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN DIRT, I GUESS.

I WOULD SUGGEST LOOKING THROUGH THE ART FACTS THEY HAVE IN THE LAB BEFORE YOU GO OUT TO DIG SO YOU HAVE AN IDEA WHAT IS OUT THERE.

I'M SURE I'VE PASSED UP PROBABLY A COUPLE OF THING WITHOUT KNOWING IT BECAUSE IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE DIRT, ACTUALLY, UNTIL YOU GET IT CLEANED OFF.

>> THEY EXPLAIN TO US ALSO THAT DECOMPOSED WOOD HAS A DIFFERENT COLOR, SO AS YOU SCRAPE, YOU DON'T DIG A HOLE, YOU SCRAPE A TrAND YOU JUST SCRAPE JUST A REAL THIN LAYER SO YOU CAN SEE AND YOU CAN HIT A BEAD OR YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT SHADES OF WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN DECOMPOSED WOOD OR-- YOU HIT THOSE BONES, SMALL FRAG MINUTES THAT YOU WOULDN'T THINK THAT YOU'D FIND.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO TO A DIG, ACTUALLY IT'S NOT DIGGING, YOU JUST SHAVE OFF THE TOP LAYER.

>> PATIENTS IS NECESSARY.

WORKING TOO QUICKLY, ONE MAY OVERLOOK A FRAGMENT OF POT TREE OR A BEAD.

THESE ARTIFACTS ARE CAREFULLY WASHED, SORTED, MARKED AND BAGGED BY VOLUNTEERS IN THE FIELD LAB.

THEY ARE SUPERVISED BY ARCHAEOLOGIST, ROSE FOSHA.

>> IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE VOLUNTEERS, THE PROCESSING OF THE ARTIFACTS WOULD NOT BE DONE FOR POSSIBLY A LONG TIME.

THAT'S ONE OF THE IMPORTANT PARTS WHEN AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG IS PLANNED, THAT FUNDING IS ALSO IN THE BUDGET FOR LAB PROCESSING OF THE ARTIFACTS.

THE DATA RECOVERY OUT IN THE FIELD COULD NOT BE ANALYZED WITHOUT THE PROCESSING.

USING VOLUNTEERS CERTAINLY HELPS WITH THE BUDGET.

>> RETIRED AND WANTING TO SPEND HER TIME DOING PRODUCTIVE WORK, CHERYL FOUND THAT HER ABILITIES WERE PUT TO GOOD USE IN THE LAB.

>> I THINK THAT IT'S WONDERFUL THAT VOLUNTEERS CAN COME IN AND HELP BECAUSE THE WORK IS LAID OUT SO THAT IT IS AVAILABLE TO YOU.

YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE LIKE ROSE WHO COME IN AND TELL US WHAT WE'VE FOUND WHEN WE DON'T RECOGNIZE IT.

>> WHEN YOU ASK THESE DEDICATED SERVANTS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION WHAT DREW THEM HERE, THEIR ANSWERS ARE AS VARIED AS THEY ARE INTERESTING.

>> HISTORY.

I FEEL I LIVE AMONG SO MUCH HISTORY.

THE VANDROY EXPLORATION, TWO HIGHWAYS NAMED AFTER LEWIS AND CLARK.

EVERY TIME I DRIVE DOWN THE HIGHWAYS, IT'S HISTORICAL MARKERS, AND I JUST THINK I OWE IT TO MYSELF TO FIND OUT.

>> FOR ME, JUST THE-- I GUESS SOME OF THE HISTORY IT PROVIDES, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS HERE BEFORE, YOU KNOW, JUST FASCINATES ME.

AND HERE IS JUST A HISTORIC FORT, BUT BEFORE THIS THERE WAS PROBABLY MORE HISTORIC, THE NATIVE AMERICANS WERE HERE AND THAT, AND IT'S FASCINATING TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN FIND AND HOW THEY LIVED BACK THEN.

>> I WORKED ON IT LAST YEAR AND I THOUGHT IT WAS RATHER FUN.

I PLAN TO DIG UP DINOSAUR BONES FOR A LIVING, SO THIS IS CLOSE ENOUGH.

THIS IS AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN GET HERE.

>> AND IT IS THE WORK OF A DEDICATED FEW WHO PLAN THEIR SUMMER VACATIONS AROUND ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIGS THAT ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES.

MARGIE GOODMAN IS ONE SUCH PERSON BUT SHE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE IN HER FAMILY THAT HEARS THE CALLING.

>> MY HUSBAND WILL BE JOINING ME NEXT WEEK.

HE COULDN'T GET AWAY THIS WEEK.

MY DAUGHTER HAS COME WITH ME, MY SON HAS ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST.

HE THINKS WORKING WITH THE TROWEL OR SHOVEL SOUNDS TOO MUCH LIKE WORK TO HIM, SO... >> ALL OF THIS IS ABOUT THE SEARCH FOR CLUES THAT WILL ALLOW US TO GATHER INFORMATION THAT WILL TEACH US ABOUT OUR PAST AS WE WORK TO PRESERVE IT FOR OUR FUTURE.

>> THIS DIG ISN'T PUT ON FOR VOLUNTEERS, THE DIG IS PUT ON BY THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO REALLY ANSWER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.

HOWEVER, BEING ABLE TO USE VOLUNTEERS IS WHAT MAKES IT SO WORTHWHILE.

THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY QUALMS ABOUT, "WELL, I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.

THEY PROBABLY DON'T WANT ME OUT THERE."

THAT'S NOT TRUE AT ALL.

THOSE ARE, AGAIN, SOME PEOPLE WE DO WANT OUT HERE.

WE DESPERATELY WANT TO SHARE ARCHAEOLOGY WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN, OR CULTURAL RESOURCES AND THE PRESERVATION THEREOF OF THESE MOST IMPORTANT SITES.

WHEN THEY ACTUALLY COME OUT HERE AND SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT DIGGING PART OF THE SITE, WE'RE PRESERVING PART OF THE SITE, IT BRINGS ON A NEW ASPECT, YOU KNOW.

>> I CAN'T WAIT TO GO DIG.

[ LAUGHTER ] THERE ARE MANY ARCHAEOLOGY DIG SITES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN ONE, CONTACT THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOR MORE INFORMATION.

EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT THE ONE TO MAKE A BIG FIND, YOU CAN HELP TO COMPLETE THE CIRCLE OF HISTORY.

THE CIRCLE IS CONSIDERED SACRED TO ALL NATIVE AMERICANS.

NOTHING IS MORE SYMBOLIC OF THIS SACREDNESS THAN THE POW-WOW DANCE.

IT IS A SYMBOL OF HERITAGE, PRIDE AND GREAT ATHLETICISM.

IT'S A CULTURAL ART FORM PRACTICED OFTEN IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

AS CAPTIVATING AS IT IS, THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE ELABORATE COSTUMES ARE WHAT IS REALLY INTERESTING.

IN THIS NEXT SEGMENT.

YOU WILL MEET A VERY UNIQUE NATIVE AMERICAN DANCE FAMILY.

THEIR LOVE FOR POW-WOW DANCING HAS ALLOWED THEM TO TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD AND MEET SOME PRETTY FAMOUS PEOPLE.

BUT THEIR GREATEST JOY COMES NOT FROM DANCING, IT COMES FROM COORDINATING ONE OF THE LARGEST POW-WOWS IN THE COUNTRY, SO OTHERS CAN DANCE.

>> THE NATIVE AMERICAN POW-WOW, IT'S A SYMBOL OF TRADITION, HERITAGE AND HONOR.

AMERICAN INDIANS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TRAVEL TO THE BLACK HILLS EACH SUMMER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE INTERNATIONAL POW-WOW.

IT'S A FASCINATING EVENT, BUT NOT AS FASCINATING AS THE FAMILY WHO PUTS IT ON.

>> WE GOT TO TRAVEL WHEN WE WERE-- WE DID THE THEATERS IN PARIS, THE CASINO DE PARIS, WE PERFORMED AT THE EDINBOROUGH ARTS FESTIVAL IN SCOTLAND, WHICH IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST ARTS FESTIVAL.

WE PERFORMED ON THE KING'S THEATER.

WE DID OFF-BROADWAY SHOWS, WE PERFORMED AT THE WILTERN, I THINK IT'S CALLED, IN LOS ANGELES.

SO THEY DID TAKE US TO THE BEST THEATERS IN THE WORLD.

THEY DID PERFORM ON STAGE TO GREAT AUDIENCES.

>> MEET THE ROACHES, NORMAN, ROMONA, AND THEIR DAUGHTER, SHANNON.

FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, THEY'VE WORKED HARD AT MAKING THE INTERNATIONAL POW-WOW ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST ATTENDED POW-WOWS IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT THE JOURNEY THEY'VE TRAVELED OVER THE YEARS ARE EVEN MORE SPECTACULAR.

>> I HAVE A T-SHIRT THAT IS FROM PARIS, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE FIRST PLACE I EVER WENT TO, AND PROBABLY MONACO.

>> DO YOU REMEMBER MEETING ANY FAMOUS NAMES?

>> YEAH.

THE ONE THAT STUCK OUT MOST IN MY MIND IS PRINCE ALBERT OF MONACO.

HE SEEMED LIKE A REALLY KIND PERSON, REAL GENEROUS AND WARM-HEARTED.

HE WAS LIKE-- HE WAS KIND OF TO HIMSELF A LITTLE BIT, AND HE JUST SEEMED REALLY KIND.

YOU COULD JUST FEEL IT.

>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN MOTIVATED BY DANCE.

IT'S-- IT HAS HELPED ME IN A LOT OF WAYS TO MAYBE-- MORE TO SEE THE WORLD, MORE TO TRAVEL AND MEET PEOPLE, MEET IMPORTANT PEOPLE.

ONE TIME WE HAD THANKSGIVING DINNER IN PARIS WITH HUEY LEWIS AND GEORGE MICHAELS AND WE ATE WITH DINNER WITH-- I DON'T KNOW, QUITE A FEW PEOPLE.

>> PRINCE ALBERT.

>> PRINCE ALBERT, YEAH, WE HAD-- WE WERE ACTUALLY GUESTS OF PRINCE ALBERT OF MONACO.

>> TO ME, IT GAVE ME A BROADER OUTLOOK ON A LOT OF-- ON LIFE, IN GENERAL.

I UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE WAS OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD BESIDES JUST MY LITTLE COMMUNITY THAT I LIVED IN, AND I KNEW THAT EVERYBODY HAD THEIR OWN UNIQUE TRADITIONS AND CULTURES, AND WHEN YOU LEARN ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S CULTURES AND TRADITIONS, THEN YOU REALLY LEARN MORE ABOUT YOURSELF.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO INSTILL IN OUR INTERNATIONAL POW-WOW IS TO BRING ALL THESE CULTURES SO OTHER PEOPLE CAN RELATE AND LEARN FROM THEM AND, THEREFORE, BE PROUD OF WHO THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY COME FROM.

>> BEING INVOLVED WITH THE AMERICAN INDIAN DANCE THEATER IS WHAT HELPED THE ROACHES SEE THE WORLD.

IT ALSO HELPED EUROPEANS LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE.

>> WHEN YOU DID GO OVERSEAS, THEY ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET FOR US.

THEY REALLY APPRECIATE NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE, OR-- AND THEY KNOW OUR PAST, THEY KNOW OUR HISTORY, AND THEY'RE VERY-- THEY'RE VERY KIND, KIND TO US WHEN WE VISIT.

WE ALWAYS HAVE GOOD RECEPTION.

>> MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE SEE OVERSEAS, THEY'RE MORE FASCINATED WITH NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE, AND A LOT OF THEM DIDN'T KNOW, LIKE-- THEY STILL THINK WE LIVE IN TEEPEES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, SO THEY WERE-- I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY NEAT, AND THEY WERE MORE FASCINATED IN LEARNING ABOUT OUR CULTURE, LIKE HOW WE REALLY ARE TODAY.

>> BECAUSE OF THEIR LOVE FOR DANCE, IT HAS GIVEN THEM MANY OPPORTUNITIES LOTS OF PEOPLE WILL NEVER HAVE.

IT'S NOT ONLY PART OF THEIR HERITAGE, IT'S PART OF WHO THEY ARE.

>> I KNOW OUR DAUGHTER LEARNS SO MUCH TRAVELING FROM POW-WOW TO POW-WOW, WE GO TO POW-WOWS EVERY WEEKEND IN THE SUMMERTIME, AND IT'S A REALLY GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR HER BECAUSE SHE GETS TO HEAR OTHER ADULTS AND OTHER ELDERLY SPEAK OVER THE MIKE, AND GIVE OPINIONS OR TALK ABOUT TRADITIONS, AND SHE LEARNS ALL OF THAT BEING NEAR THAT DANCE ARBOR.

NOT ONLY THAT, SHE LEARNS HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER YOUTH HER AGE, AS WELL AS CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

EVERYONE JUST-- IT'S A BIG SOCIAL GATHERING FOR PEOPLE TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND TRADITIONS WITH EACH OTHER, AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR HER TO LEARN THIS.

>> DANCING IS-- HAS-- IS LIKE-- I DON'T KNOW, IT'S BEEN A PART OF MY CULTURE, AND I GREW UP WITH DANCING.

I WAS RAISED DANCING.

IT KEEPS ME HEALTHY, AND I JUST LOVE DANCING, IT'S A PART OF ME, ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF ME AND ALWAYS WILL BE.

>> POW-WOW DANCING IS, YOU KNOW-- IT'S ACTUALLY A DOOR FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE INTO THE MORE SPIRITUAL REALM OF THE INDIAN WORLD, AND IT'S-- YOU KNOW, TEACHES-- JUST FROM POW-WOWS, THEY'RE KIND OF SACRED, SEMI-SACRED EVENTS, AND THEY'RE NOT-- YOU KNOW, WE TRY NOT TO BRING IN TOO MANY SACRED OBJECTS OR TRADITION OR CEREMONIES INTO THE POW-WOW BECAUSE THERE'S LIKE A LOT OF NON-INDIANS COME IN AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MORE OF FUN, SOMETIMES COMPETITION DANCING.

SO IT'S MORE OF A FUN AND FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE COMING TO THE POW-WOW.

>> AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE 21ST CENTURY, MANY AMERICAN INDIANS FIND THEMSELVES LOSING TOUCH WITH TRADITIONS OF THE PAST.

BUT THE ROACHES FEEL THE POW-WOW IS THE ONE THING STILL BRINGING NATIVE AMERICANS TOGETHER.

>> I THINK IT'S BEGINNING TO BE BIGGER.

EVERYONE IS JOINING IN A CIRCLE BECAUSE THEY SEE HOW POSITIVE IT IS, AND THEY SEE ALL THE FUN WE'RE HAVING.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE INVOLVED IN SPORTS AND DANCING, YOUR CULTURE.

IT KEEPS YOU BUSY MOST OF THE TIME, AND IT'S-- IT DOES GOOD FOR YOU, KEEP YOU HEALTHY AND KEEPS YOUR MIND STRONG, KEEPS YOUR MIND FOCUSED ON GOOD THINGS AND CONCENTRATING ON DANCING.

>> EACH YEAR THE ROACHES HELP ENTERTAIN AND ENLIGHTEN THE LIVES OF OTHERS AT THE INTERNATIONAL POW-WOW.

IT'S HARD TO NOT NOTICE THEIR LOVE FOR THE EVENT, THE ART OF DANCING AND THEIR PEOPLE.

>> SADLY, THE ROACHES HAVE MOVED ON AND ARE NOW LIVING IN NEW MEXICO.

BUT THEY SAY THEY WILL BE BACK EVERY SUMMER TO HOST THE INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE POW-WOW, WHICH WILL BE HELD IN THE BLACK HILLS THE LAST WEEKEND IN JUNE.

WELL, THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "DAKOTA LIFE."

ALL OF US AT SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ENJOY BRINGING YOU STORIES ABOUT LIFE IN OUR GREAT STATE.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTACT US IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE OR SOME THING THAT YOU THINK MIGHT MAKE AN INTERESTING SEGMENT.

AFTER ALL, IT'S YOUR DAKOTA LIFE.

YOU CAN CONTACT US BY EMAIL AT: DAKOTA [email protected], OR YOU CAN CALL US AT 1-877-TALK-IPTV(V).

THAT'S 1-877-825-5788(V).

AND IF YOU WOULD RATHER USE THE U.S.

POSTAL SERVICE, YOU CAN WRITE AT: SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION, BOX 5000, VERMILLION, SD, 57069-5000.

JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE INFINITE VARIETY OF "DAKOTA LIFE."

FOR SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION, I'M MICHELLE VAN MAANEN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

♪ ♪ CLOSED-CAPTIONING BY PARADIGM REPORTING & CAPTIONING; LISA RICHARDSON, RPR, CRR.