sure do miss it!

Thrilling!

Wanted a momento for the visit. Spoke to an Oglala ranger at Mt. Rushmore who said her aunt in Rapid City, could make us moccasins. We hunted her up. Jo Ann Bear put our feet on a piece of loose leaf and drew out our step.
We had already picked up the leather, beads and thread for the task. We asked her how much and she said $125.00 for all. We gave her our address. We wear them proudly to this day.
Had to go to Wounded Knee. We found a hotel near the site and found it was fully booked. We had a tent and they said we could camp out back.
The hotel was filled with visitors from around the west who were coming in for a Sun Dance Celebration and would be up dancing until sunrise.
We picked a level spot and started dinner on the grassy plain. Just out of range approached a lone dog. Dances with Wolves Dog, for us.
We finished up with the dog lying some thirty yards off.
We went to bed at dark and were awakened by music and the howls of dancers some fifty or sixty yards up the hill around midnight. It was an ethereal experience that eventually became soothing and we drifted off to sleep.
This brought back that memory.

Sounds like a great trip

exposed us to the current Native experience in South Dakota. She was very kind and pleased to put her heritage on display. First time white people had sought her out.
Had to visit Wounded Knee after reading the book. Unfortunately, it is not a big tourist draw and we were the only ones traipsing about. The actual camp site was away from the Cemetary. We found it and contemplated for some time the upheaval to this local village that permeated the entire continent.
That experience resonates to this day.

Thanks for sharing