The amendment added six additional House sponsors (Emery, Gosch, Moore, Muckey, Novstrup, and Shorma) and three Senate sponsors (Foster, Duhamel, and Perry) to the commemoration, broadening the legislative support for celebrating Barbara Dull Knife's life and service. The substantive content of the commemoration itself remained unchanged.
26.1043.17 101st Legislative Session HC8027 2026 South Dakota Legislature House Commemoration 8027 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 celebrating the life and service of Barbara Dull 1 Knife. 2 WHEREAS, Barbara Dull Knife, whose Lakota name, Mah’piya Keyaké Wiŋ, means Cloud 3 Shield Woman, is known for her service, generosity, and quiet strength, serving for seventeen 4 years as a child welfare advocate and victim witness advocate with the United States 5 Attorney’s Office in Rapid City; and 6 WHEREAS, in retirement, Barbara Dull Knife returned home and founded Wakanyeja 7 Gluwitayan Otipi, Gathering Our Children Home, the only emergency safe house for children 8 up to twelve years old on the Pine Ridge Reservation; and 9 WHEREAS, Barbara Dull Knife served two terms as an Oglala District Council member on 10 the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council, and served as the elected treasurer for the Oglala District 11 from 2020 to 2022; and 12 WHEREAS, Barbara Dull Knife was a founding board member of Taku Škaŋ Škaŋ 13 Wasakliyapi: Global Institute for Traditional Sciences; and 14 WHEREAS, Barbara Dull Knife is recognized as an elder knowledge keeper and cultural 15 teacher, advising on protocols for ceremonies, ancestral teachings, and the Lakota value of 16 wawoptetusni, or steadfast strength and courage in defense of children and community; 17 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the One Hundred First Legislature of the 18 State of South Dakota, that Barbara Dull Knife is an outstanding example of service, 19 compassion, spiritual leadership, and commitment to Lakota children and others whose lives 20 she has touched. 21