Photo curtesy of Crazy Horse Memorial’s website.
Whitney Rencountre, incoming CEO of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, is excited to continue his family’s legacy of supporting this important cultural landmark.
“My family and I have been part of the Crazy Horse Memorial family since about 2017,” said Rencountre. “And educating and sharing a little bit about our Indigenous cultures and traditional values. And so we’ve grown to appreciate not only, you know, the mountain and the university as well as the museum, but the community that’s out here— the the dedicated group of workers that are here that are really dedicated to the dream and the vision of the memorial.”
Rencountre is dedicated to sharing the history of his culture, both within South Dakota and beyond the state’s borders.
“I grew up on a reservation here in South Dakota, and then I left to go to Black Hills State University for my education. When I went to Black Hills State University, I met so many people on campus that really appreciated Native culture. I formed a lot of relationships there, and then from there I ran a youth program called the Ateyapi Program in Rapid City for many years. I served on Visit Rapid City, as a chair for Visit Rapid City, the chairman for South Dakota Humanities Council and many other important organizations in Rapid City and beyond. I feel like those experiences are unique because you have the combination of our culture combined with education and relationships,” said Rencountre.
As the new CEO of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, Rencountre hopes to expand the memorial’s educational elements.
“I believe that one of the areas that we want to continue to put energies and efforts into is the university. You know, the late Ruth Ziolkowski, it was a passion of hers to see the university. Since 2010, Native students from all different tribes across the nation have come here for the summer and earned 12 college credits, learned what it is to go to college right after high school and then they go off to their next phase, whatever university they’re attending. “
The Indian University of North America of Crazy Horse Memorial is currently partnering with South Dakota State University for a fall program.
“They’re learning right here in the Black Hills about Native American culture, how we can utilize Native American culture in the classroom,” said Rencountre.
The memorial will also be hosting a career fair where students can network with universities and organizations across the nation.
“We’re going to bring universities, organizations from across the nation, to come here at the memorial,” said Rencountre. “We’re going to bring area students to come participate in that. So, as we continue the mountain and continue to establish and build towards that, but I believe the the sky is the limit for what can be accomplished here.”
Meanwhile, the slow, meticulous process of carving Crazy Horse’s likeness into a mountainside continues.
“You have to take your time when you’re working on the largest carving in the world, so we’re really excited that the care is being taken. The story will always be here, whether the mountain is completed or not. The story, the vision, the dream has already been developed, and that will continue forward. And if anything, that continues to allow us to have a platform to educate and to collaborate with people all over the world.”
To learn more about the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, visit their website here.
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