Oak Lake Writers' Society Records

Identity elements

Reference code

SDSU-Archives MA 103

Name and location of repository

South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections

Level of description

Records

Title

Oak Lake Writers' Society Records

Date(s)

1989-2016 (Creation)

Extent

2.94 linear feet (7 document cases)

Name of creator

Oak Lake Writers' Society

Administrative history

The Oak Lake Writers’ Society was founded in the early 1990s in Brookings, South Dakota, through the efforts of Dakota scholar and writer Elizabeth Cook-Lynn and colleagues at South Dakota State University. The organization emerged from a series of writers’ gatherings and retreats held at the university’s Oak Lake Field Station, located north of Brookings. These gatherings brought together Indigenous writers from across the Northern Plains to share work, discuss literary traditions, and address issues related to Native representation in literature and scholarship.

The society was established to support and promote the work of Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota writers and to encourage the development of Indigenous literary voices in the region. Through workshops, readings, and collaborative discussion, the group created a forum where writers could explore topics such as tribal history, cultural identity, sovereignty, and the preservation of oral traditions through written forms. The Oak Lake retreats provided an important space for mentorship and professional development, connecting established writers with emerging authors from tribal communities throughout South Dakota and neighboring states.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the Oak Lake Writers’ Society organized annual writers’ retreats and related programs that emphasized Indigenous perspectives in literature and scholarship. Participants included poets, fiction writers, historians, and scholars whose work addressed the cultural, political, and historical experiences of Native nations in the Northern Plains. The organization contributed to the broader development of Native literary studies and helped strengthen networks among Indigenous writers and intellectuals.

Over time, the society’s mission expanded to reflect the collective identity of the Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota peoples, known collectively as the Oceti Šakówiŋ, or Seven Council Fires. The organization eventually adopted the name Oceti Sakowin Writers Society, continuing its work of supporting Indigenous writers and promoting literature grounded in the histories, cultures, and contemporary experiences of the Oceti Šakówiŋ nations. Today, the organization continues to sponsor writers’ retreats and literary initiatives that encourage the preservation and advancement of Indigenous storytelling and scholarship.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

The Oak Lake Writers' Retreat Records document the activities and impact of the Oak Lake Writers Society, particularly their summer retreats aimed at supporting Native American writers, educators, and storytellers. Spanning seven boxes, the collection includes correspondence (notably between Charles Woodard of South Dakota State University and retreat applicants), writings produced during and about the retreats, application materials, grant and funding documents, educational resources, and administrative records.

The files encompass a wide range of themes such as environment, economic development, Indigenous education, mentorship, cultural heritage, and community empowerment. Notable contents include retreat histories, newsletters, reflection papers, photographs, and records on special events such as the Indian Education Summit and the Anniversary Conference. Recurring documentation of specific individuals (e.g., Lowell Amiotte, Joyzelle Godfrey) and locations (e.g., Enemy Swim Course, Devils Tower) also provide personal and geographic context.

This collection chronicles the development of a key cultural and literary initiative that nurtures Indigenous voices in the Northern Plains. It reflects the collaborative efforts between tribal communities and academic institutions to promote Native literature and cultural preservation. The records offer valuable insight into contemporary Indigenous literary movements, community-building through creative expression, and the intersections of education, environment, and Indigenous identity.

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

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[In Copyright(http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/) 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)

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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

Physical access

Technical access

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.
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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.

Languages of the material

English

Scripts of the material

Language and script notes

Finding aids

Acquisition and appraisal elements

Custodial history

Immediate source of acquisition

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

Accruals

Related materials elements

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related archival materials

Publications

Renville, Florestine Kiyukanpi, and Oak Lake Writers' Society. We're Still Here : Oak Lake Writers 20th Anniversary Publication. 2013. Print.
Archives/Upper level: PS508.I5 W47 2013
Howe, Craig Phillip., Kimberly. TallBear, and Oak Lake Writers' Society. This Stretch of the River. South Dakota: Oak Lake Writers' Society, 2006. Print.
South Dakota Collection/Upper level: F592.4.T44 2003
Woyake Kinikiya : A Tribal Model Literary Journal. (1994). Print.
South Dakota Collection/Upper level: PS508.I5 W69
Howe, Craig Phillip., Lydia Whirlwind Soldier, Lanniko L. Lee, and Oak Lake Writers' Society. He Sapa Woihanble : Black Hills Dream. St. Paul, Minn.: Living Justice, 2011. Print.
South Dakota Collection/Upper Level: E99.D1 H4 2011

Related descriptions

Notes element

General 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.