Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1985-2006 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.84 linear feet (2 document cases)
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Brookings Reconciliation Council was a community-based organization established in Brookings, South Dakota, in the early 1990s in response to statewide and local efforts to address historical injustices and improve relations between Native American and non-Native communities. Its formation followed South Dakota’s 1990 “Year of Reconciliation,” which encouraged dialogue, education, and community action around Native history, sovereignty, and civil rights.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the Council served as a forum for discussion and advocacy on issues affecting Native communities, including education, land and sovereignty, cultural representation, violence, and economic concerns. The organization sponsored and participated in conferences, public events, and reconciliation initiatives, and worked with educators, civic leaders, and community groups to promote awareness and understanding. The Council remained active into the early twenty-first century, leaving a record of sustained local engagement with reconciliation and human rights issues in eastern South Dakota.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The Brookings Reconciliation Council Records document the activities, concerns, and advocacy efforts of the Brookings Reconciliation Council in Brookings, South Dakota, from approximately 1985 to 2006, with the bulk of the material dating from 1993 to 2003. The collection reflects the Council’s work to promote understanding, reconciliation, and improved relations between Native and non-Native communities in the region.
Materials include correspondence, meeting minutes, press releases, reports, collected publications, and conference materials addressing civil rights, education, economics, government relations, land issues, language, sovereignty, traditions, and violence affecting Native communities. The records also document public discussions and initiatives related to sports team mascots, reconciliation conferences, and community events. Additional materials highlight collaborations with organizations such as the Native American Club and Northern Plains Tribal Arts, as well as references to notable individuals and institutions. Photographs and undated resources further illustrate the Council’s outreach and educational efforts.
Together, the records provide insight into local and regional reconciliation initiatives, community dialogue, and advocacy related to Native American issues in eastern South Dakota during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Information request form: Ask Us!
In Copyright This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use. .sdstate.edu/sdsu-archives-and-special-collections/researcher-registration-form)
The collection is open for research, but please note that the materials in the Archives do not circulate and can only be used In the SDSU Archives and Special Collections Reading Room.
Please contact us in advance so we can prepare for your visit.
If you cannot visit the Archives in person, please reach out to us. We will do our best to help you find the information you need.
In most cases, the materials in this collection have not been digitized and are not available online.
South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections supports access to the materials in its collections. However, access to some items may be restricted due to their fragile condition, donor agreements, or other considerations.
If you would like to know more about the contents of the collection, please contact the SDSU Archives at: Telephone: 605-688-5094 Email: arcrefs@sdstate.edu
Conditions governing reproduction
Reproduction of materials from the collection is subject to the following conditions:
- Permission: Written permission must be obtained from the SDSU Archives for any reproduction, publication, or quotation of materials.
- Copyright: Users are responsible for complying with copyright laws and securing any necessary permissions from copyright holders.
- Fragile Materials: Some items may not be reproduced due to their fragile condition.
- Charges: Reproduction charges may apply, and users will be informed of any costs in advance.
-
Acknowledgment: Any reproduced material must include proper acknowledgment of the South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections as the source.
For more information or to request permission, please contact the SDSU Archives.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Uploaded finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Copyright and Use Statement
In Copyright This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use.