The enrolled version added nine House representatives and four senators as co-sponsors to this commemorative resolution honoring grandmothers in South Dakota, broadening its sponsorship base across both chambers. The substantive language of the commemoration remained unchanged, maintaining its focus on recognizing grandmothers' roles as caregivers, wisdom keepers, and community pillars.
26.1045.9 101st Legislative Session HC8023 2026 South Dakota Legislature House Commemoration 8023 Introduced by: Representative Pourier Underscores indicate new language. Overstrikes indicate deleted language. Representatives Pourier, Aylward, Emery, Gosch, Lems, Moore, Reisch, Roby, and Shorma and Senators Foster, Duhamel, Perry, and Zikmund A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION honoring the legacy and strength of 1 grandmothers in this state. 2 WHEREAS, grandmothers form the quiet backbone of communities, providing an example 3 of love, wisdom, and resilience for generations; and 4 WHEREAS, grandmothers are the bedrock of families, often stepping in as caregivers, 5 providers, and nurturers when circumstances demand, raising grandchildren with the same 6 devotion they gave their own children; and 7 WHEREAS, in Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota traditions, grandmothers, known as unci, 8 embody sacred authority as wisdom keepers, ceremonial leaders, and decision-makers whose 9 guidance ensures cultural continuity, language preservation, and the passing of ancestral 10 teachings to the sacred children; and 11 WHEREAS, grandmothers of all backgrounds in this state sacrifice daily to feed, clothe, 12 educate, and protect their families, volunteering in schools, churches, and tribal programs 13 while modeling hard work, thrift, forgiveness, and the grit required to thrive on the farm, 14 ranch, reservation, or city block; and 15 WHEREAS, grandmothers teach by example the values of hospitality, humility, prayer, 16 and perseverance, standing firm against hardship, addiction, loss, or division, while lifting 17 others with encouragement and steadfast faith; and 18 WHEREAS, the legacy of grandmothers endures in the laughter of grandchildren, the 19 strength of great-grandchildren, and the moral compass of communities they shaped through 20 decades of faithful service, often without thanks or acclaim; 21 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the One Hundred First Legislature of the 22 State of South Dakota, that grandmothers everywhere deserve honor as the backbone of 23 26.1045.9 2 HC8023 Underscores indicate new language. Overstrikes indicate deleted language. families, the bedrock of kinship groups, and the enduring example of strength, sacrifice, and 1 sacred love that defines the spirit of South Dakota. 2