HIGH SCHOOL HOME

WELCOME

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

DEPARTMENTS

HANDBOOK (PDF)

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

CALENDAR

SPIRITUALITY

ATHLETICS

DDN CAMPUS

SOCIAL STUDIES & LAKOTA DEPARTMENT

Staff

Roger White Eyes

Roger graduated from Red Cloud High School in 1979. He then went on to the University Of Colorado where he met his wife Vita. Together they had four children, Thomas (26), Robert (24), Angel (17) and Autumn (16). They also have seven grandchildren.

Roger graduated from the University of South Dakota-Springfield in 1984 with an AAS in Construction Technology. He then worked as a Shop Forman for many years.

Roger graduated in 1997 at Black Hills State University with his Bachelors of Science Degree in Education and has been working at Red Cloud ever since.

Currently, Roger is the Social/Lakota Studies Department Chair. He teaches Lakota History and Culture, Lakota Spirituality, Psychology and Sociology. Roger is also the Senior Class Advisor and Sponsor for the Mahpiya Luta Dance Club.

Back to top

Peter Hill
Originally from Philadelphia, Peter's first visit to the Pine Ridge Reservation was in 1993 as a ninth grader. After several subsequent visits, and four years of college (graduating with a degree in American Studies and a social studies teaching certification), he moved to the reservation for good in 2001. He first worked at nearby Little Wound School and with the Sioux YMCA before settling at Red Cloud, where he is in his eighth year. Peter has taught courses ranging from government to sociology to current events, and he is currently teaching U.S. history to all 10th graders and AP U.S. history to a select group of seniors. During the upcoming school year, he will be adding a Lakota language class that he will team-teach with colleague Alvin Slow Bear. Peter is a fluent Lakota speaker, having been learning the language intensively for his entire time in Pine Ridge thus far. In the long term, Peter plans to remain on the reservation and teach for the rest of his life. He recently married his companion Mandy, who works as a nurse-midwife at Pine Ridge Hospital, and they reside in Pine Ridge village

Back to top

Robin Johnson
Robin grew up in Geneva , Nebraska and attended high school at Geneva Public Schools. After graduating, she attended Nebraska Wesleyan University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in History/Secondary Education. She was also a member of the Nebraska Wesleyan Women’s Basketball Team.

Robin went on to receive her first teaching job in Tilden, Nebraska for two years as the High School Special Education teacher and assistant volleyball and track coach. Her family moved to Gordon in 2003, where they now reside.

Robin is currently teaching at Red Cloud Indian School in the Social Studies Department and is also the Head Volleyball and Track coach.

Robin believes in being involved with the learning and achievements of students by providing them with a positive outlook on education and life. She accomplishes this by making the atmosphere a fun, yet educational setting.

Robin wants students to enjoy learning and to be able to walk out of her classroom at the end of the day knowing that they have achieved more than when they walked in. She also believes that it is important to be a positive role model for her students and to be a great influence in their lives, not only through their education, but with their decisions in life.

Back to top

Matthew Campbell
Matt became a history teacher at Red Cloud in 2001 after he graduated from York College, Nebraska. He lives In Oelrichs, South Dakota. He is fascinated by American and world history. To relax, Matt seeks the outdoors where he enjoys fishing and generates bragging stories about the fish he caught. He has ten brothers and sisters.

Back to top

Philomine Lakota

Philomine Blacksmith-Lakota is an Oglala, Hohwoju, Itazipa Cola of the Oceti Sakowin. She is from Oglala Jr. Community of Oglala District of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Philomine and her husband Zachery Lakota have two daughters and three sons, seven grandsons, seven granddaughters and five great-grandchildren.

Philomine was a full-time Lakota Studies Instructor for the Oglala Lakota College where she also received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Lakota Studies.

Philomine was instrumental in restoring the Hanpa Pecun (Handgames) and initiated the games into the AIHEC (American Indian Higher Education Consortium) along with her Hunka Brother, Wilmer Mesteth. They both have also brought the Handgames to the schools on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Philomine began teaching Lakota Language I to sophomores and Lakota II elective to Juniors and Seniors at Red Cloud High School in the 2006-2007 school year.

Philomine and Zachery Lakota were the first to restore horse rides with youth in the 1980's and have also hosted the "Isnati Awicalowanpi" (Singing Over Those Who Live Alone) at their residence since 1992. Philomine's tiospaye work includes restoring Rites of Passage for Lakota youth.

Philomine loves teaching, singing and story telling in Lakota.

Back to top

Ryan Ross

Ryan graduated from Red Cloud High School in 2002, and is currently working towards his Bachelors Degree in Education. Before coming to Red Cloud, Ryan worked for four years at Wolf Creek Elementary.

Ryan has been the Middle School Boys' Basketball Coach for the past four years.

Currently, Ryan works in the High School Math and Social Studies departments as an Aide and a substitute teacher.

Back to top