An agreement between Chief Henry Standing Bear and Korczak Ziolkowski launched a Dream that is unlike anything ever seen. In 1939, Chief Standing Bear asked Korczak to use his talents as a sculptor to send a message to the world: that the Indigenous people of North America are heroic and their culture, heritage and living tradition are worthy to be preserved and protected. These two men worked together to fulfill that Dream. The centerpiece of this message is a monumental mountain carving that Chief Standing Bear, along with other tribal leaders, determined would depict renowned Lakota warrior Crazy Horse. They chose this Lakota luminary as the subject of the Memorial because he represents the courageous and beautiful spirit of the North American Indian.
The mountain carving depicting Crazy Horse — the largest carving in the world once complete — makes a bold statement on being a human. But the Dream isn’t just confined to the Mountain; as profound as the carving is, the Dream of Crazy Horse Memorial® is somehow even larger.
Angel Lee is the Director of the Indian University of North America®. She is Cheyenne River Lakota and joined the University team during the 2023 7TH GEN.® Summer Program. She is honored to lead the University team and contribute to both the mission of the Indian University of North America® and the Dream of Crazy Horse Memorial® overall.
Angel explained how the Dream has grown for over 85 years: “When Chief Henry Standing Bear and Korczak Ziolkowski started, a part of the Dream was a humanitarian mission of protecting and preserving the culture, tradition and living heritage of North American Indians through the Indian Museum of North America®. Another goal of that Dream centered around education and was to build a medical facility or something in the healthcare realm. Our new Wichozani program really does help fulfill that part of the original mission of having a program in Indigenous health and wellness.”
The Wichozani program is a partnership between Black Hills State University and the Indian University of North America®. This 12 credit program will focus on Indigenous health and wellness education courses and will promote cultural sensitivity, enhance understanding of traditional healing practices, and address the unique health challenges faced by Indigenous communities. Graduates may find opportunities in healthcare, public health, community organizations and government agencies focused on improving Indigenous health outcomes.
For Angel, it’s witnessing the success of the students and graduates of the Indian University of North America® that truly motivates her. “Being able to hear the stories of not only past cohorts but also the current cohorts on how the program has really impacted them is inspirational. Some of our students are getting their PhDs, and they’ve contacted us to let us know that they attribute some of their success to their time with the University.”
Angel and her team at the Indian University of North American® are proud of the past and are excited for the future. The Dream of Crazy Horse Memorial® is a profound story of culture, art, education and humanitarianism. And this ongoing story is one that is changing the lives of a growing number of people in countless ways.
Pictured: Angel Lee
12151 Avenue of the Chiefs
Crazy Horse, SD
crazyhorsememorial.org