The enrolled version added six House Representatives and three Senators as cosponsors to this commemorative resolution honoring Elizabeth Cook-Lynn. This change expands support for the tribute but does not alter the resolution's substantive purpose.
26.1044.9 101st Legislative Session HC8024 2026 South Dakota Legislature House Commemoration 8024 Introduced by: Representative Pourier Underscores indicate new language. Overstrikes indicate deleted language. Representatives Pourier, Emery, Gosch, Moore, Muckey, Novstrup, and Shorma and Senators Foster, Duhamel, and Perry A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION honoring the life and legacy of Elizabeth Cook-1 Lynn. 2 Cook-Lynn. WHEREAS, Elizabeth Cook-Lynn, a citizen of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe and widely 3 regarded as the godmother of Native American studies, pioneered the field through her 4 writing, scholarship, and advocacy; and 5 WHEREAS, holding faculty positions at Eastern Washington University and Arizona State 6 University, where she helped found the Native American studies program, Elizabeth Cook-7 Lynn Cook-Lynn contributed to Indigenous-centered curricula and created academic spaces where Native 8 stories, languages, and philosophies were dignified and acknowledged as important areas of 9 study; and 10 WHEREAS, Cook-Lynn's published works, foundational in Native American studies and 11 Indigenous literature, have contributed to a wider understanding of Native nations as 12 sovereign political and cultural entities with inherent rights; and 13 WHEREAS, throughout her life, she used her voice to speak to and for the land, and 14 encouraged young people and readers and listeners to do the same, reminding people of the 15 connection Native nations have with their territories and the resulting moral obligations; 16 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the One Hundred First Legislature of the 17 State of South Dakota, that the state and its people are grateful for the life, contributions, 18 achievements, and enduring legacy of Elizabeth Cook-Lynn. 19