CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation realizes its mission and goals through three major projects: the Mountain Carving, THE INDIAN MUSEUM OF NORTH AMERICA\u00AE, and THE INDIAN UNIVERSITY OF NORTH AMERICA\u00AE.\n\nThe Mountain Carving depicts Lakota leader Crazy Horse riding his steed out of the Black Hills of South Dakota (He Sapa), gesturing forward, and proclaiming, \u201CMy lands are where my dead lie buried.\u201D We remain committed to the promise sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski made to Chief Henry Standing Bear and other Native elders in response to their invitation to Korczak to sculpt and maintain a Memorial celebrating Native American culture. Today, the mountain carving of Crazy Horse Memorial stands as a beacon to the world, raising interest and welcoming all to visit, learn, and be inspired by the culture, traditions, and living heritage of the indigenous people. \n\nThe Memorial is an educational and humanitarian endeavor with the goal of fostering understanding and healing between Natives and non-Natives through rich and vibrant educational and cultural programming and the art and artifacts presented in THE INDIAN MUSEUM OF NORTH AMERICA\u00AE. We share the history and contemporary life of the indigenous people of Native Nations throughout the North American continent by mindfully preserving and exhibiting Native American art and artifacts. Additionally, vibrant educational and cultural programs of the Museum teach worldwide visitors about Native Americans. Visitors also learn through the exhibits featured in the Mountain Carving Gallery and the Ziolkowski Family Life Museum. \n\nTHE INDIAN UNIVERSITY OF NORTH AMERICA\u00AE has an overarching goal of improving the college persistence and graduation rates of Native Americans. Presently, the postsecondary degree attainment rates for American Indian/Alaskan Natives is 23%, the lowest of all racial/minority groups and significantly lower than the 47% national average for all students. \n\nThe summer program provides first-year college students with 12 transferable credit hours in a culturally-relevant and supportive environment, jump-starting their college careers. The program outcomes for the 15 credit hour fall semester Wizipan Sustainability and Leadership Certificate Program are to assist in closing the Native American higher education achievement gap; to create a generation of ethically responsible people who will care for the four pillars of self, community, environment, and culture; and to transform Native American communities through the study and application of leadership and sustainability principles. Our commitment is to the past, present, and future of Native Nations. Through The Indian University of North America, we provide Native youth education, experience, and resources to assist them in successfully launching and completing their college goals to attain their full potential and ultimately, give back to their Native communities.

Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation has strategic benchmarks in each of the three major parts of the project.\n\nThe Mountain Carving Crew is focused on carving Crazy Horse\u0027s Hairline, left Hand, Arm, right Shoulder, and part of the Horse\u0027s Mane and Head in the next 5-10 years. The biggest factors impacting progress include weather, safety, and funding.\n\nTHE INDIAN MUSEUM OF NORTH AMERICA\u00AE and NATIVE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL CENTER\u00AE have goals of inventorying collections, along with finalizing the accreditation process through the American Alliance of Museums. In addition, we are in the process of organizing the museum into a comprehensive narrative with seven cultural concepts/galleries featuring: Stone Dreamers and Thunder Dreamer; Geography; Home and Community; Ecology and Food; Adornment; Leadership; and Modern and Contemporary Art. Each gallery will discuss its designated topic through the lens of eight eco-regions: the Arctic, Pacific Northwest, the Southwest, Great Plains, Northeast (Woodlands), the Southeast, Central America, and the Hawaiian Islands. The Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery has already been created. This space was recently remodeled, and art was selected to represent the eight eco-regions. \n\nTHE INDIAN UNIVERSITY OF NORTH AMERICA\u00AE furthers its goal of increasing college entry, persistence, and graduation rates with each class. For each university program, we incorporate Student Success Coaches who guide our former students through their entire college journey. Most coaches are Native American. Through the student success coaching process, our coaches both encourage students and keep track of how students are progressing. Students are encouraged to reach out to their coach if they are feeling discouraged or facing difficulties. Even the most independent students have said it is valuable to know that someone is there if they ever need the support. The summer programs at The University of North America has proven to provide a very significant boost to Native American college success and completion, and we expect very similar results from the fall Wizipan Sustainability program and additional future programming. Of the summer cohorts eligible for college graduation, 59% of the individuals have earned a college degree or certificate.

The capabilities of Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation grow annually. The number of Mountain Carving Crew members has increased over the past few years and uses traditional and state-of-the art techniques and technologies to plan and execute all work.\n\nTHE INDIAN MUSEUM OF NORTH AMERICA\u00AE has a cadre of professional staff and is currently working to create a thorough inventory of the Museum\u0027s 11,000\u002B artworks and artifacts, 90% which have been donated. Once complete, this inventory will be a comprehensive and searchable database and aid in creating a more impactful and narrative-driven set of exhibits organized in seven gallery concepts.\n\nCrazy Horse\u0027s ability to meet its goals is evidenced by eleven successful years of the summer program and one year of the fall program of THE INDIAN UNIVERSITY OF NORTH AMERICA\u00AE, which has now enrolled over 300 Native students from 40 Native communities and 20 states. The University\u0027s signature student success coaching is a significant part of the services offered through THE INDIAN UNIVERSITY OF NORTH AMERICA. The latest annual research on college persistence and college completion of participants revealed that 80% of the students continue to be enrolled in college or have graduated, based on an impressive 89% response rate.

Since completing Crazy Horse\u2019s Face in 1998, the Mountain Carving Crew has focused on Crazy Horse\u2019s outstretched left Arm, Hand, right Shoulder and Hairline, and portions of the Horse\u2019s Mane and Head, all of which are projected to be finished in 5-10 years. New carving technologies and increased funding have fostered great progress. The plan to finish this phase of the carving is on track.\n\nTHE INDIAN MUSEUM OF NORTH AMERICA\u00AE and NATIVE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL CENTER\u00AE are meeting its goal of telling the true stories of Native Americans through the display of Native art and artifacts with consultation with the respective Native Nations. Two ( The Modern and Contemporary Art and Leadership Galleries) of the following seven, new Galleries will be completed as the Memorial enters the 2021 season. Each Gallery features relevant art and artifacts of that theme from eight different eco-regions throughout North America. The eight eco-regions include 1. The Artic 2. Northwest 3. Northeast Woodlands 4. The Plains 5. The Southeast 6. The Southwest\n 7. Central America, and 8 Hawaiian Islands.\nTHE NEW GALLERIES\n1. Stone Dreamers and The Thunder Dreamer\n2. Geography\n3. Home and Community\n4. Ecology and Food\n5. Regalia and Adornment\n6. Leadership\n7. Modern and Contemporary Art \n\nCrazy Horse Memorial continues to make progress towards completing the seven new Galleries. The work of THE INDIAN MUSEUM OF NORTH AMERICA also includes building a bridge to harmony and healing among Natives and non-Natives through its robust cultural programs. The 2021 season of Native performers, cultural bearers, lecturers, and artists have been chosen. These Native Americans will educate the public about how Native wisdom and principles can strengthen our world for all people. \n\nSince 2010, THE INDIAN UNIVERSITY OF NORTH AMERICA\u00AE has provided Native American students entering their first year of college a semester of transferable credits mentorship through college and beyond. Plans are underway for year-round programming, further increasing the number of Native students who hold college degrees. Over 300 students from over 40 different Native Nations have completed programs of the Indian University and have received the valuable student success coaching. Latest research, with an 89% response rate, revealed that 80% of the students remain in college or have graduated. The college graduates are employed in a multitude of professions such as Medical Technician, Teacher, Nurse, Museum Curator Assistant, Digital Strategist, Manager, Buyer of Medical Supplies, Dental Hygienist, Native American Recruitment Coordinator, Case Manager, Social Worker, and many other professions. Many former students are also seeking Master\u0027s degrees and PhD\u0027s.