Larry Brewer, Traditional Dancer Part II

Larry Brewer Traditional Dancer Part II

I continue to visit with my first cousin Larry Brewer.  He had the conviction that he needed to change his life style.  He then turned to the Church, traditional dancing, and bead work.  We talk about some of the Lakota traditional ways.  One is being respectful of others space.  His experience in going to a Catholic Boarding school was positive.   

Larry Brewer, Traditional Dancer

Larry Brewer, Traditional Dancer

Larry Brewer’s first years were living on the Pine Ridge Reservation.  He shares some of his memories about Grandpa Mills and Great Grandpa Adams.  Then in the early 50’s the family moved to Rapid City.  He was the middle child out of 12.  My Aunt Lula, his mother, was a strong Lakota woman.  She was widowed and continued to raise 12 children by herself.   We will continue with Larry’s journey next week in Part II. 

Swallow Tales “Sent Away”

Re-intro to Swallow Tales;  “Sent Away “

Can you imagine how it would be if you were sent away?  Away from your home, family and friends.  Seeing a billowing steam engine for the first time. Loudly rolling into the Rushville Nebraska train depot.

Traveling 1617 miles and only 14 years old. This is what happened to my grandpa Oliver Swallow. He was not to return for 5 or 6 years. How did he end up at the Lincoln Institute in Pennsylvania? Just a glimpse of family history from 1870 to 1884. This personal story deserves to be told.

Swallow Tales by Sandy Swallow

                                     Swallow Tales

Sandy shares family history.  Eli Swallow her great Grandfather was a Louisiana born Frenchman. How did he get to the Dakota Territory in the 1860’s?  What was to become of a captured Confederate soldier?   Also learning about Oelrichs, SD which was a thriving town in the early 1900’s.Swallow Tales begins with a cup of cowboy coffee in a kitchen on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Going back in time she realizes how her family history affected her art and Lakota values. 

Music is sung and composed by Quincy GoodStar.