Native American Day celebration is Monday

The cultural unifying tools of music and art will be at work during the Native Americans’ Day celebration at Crazy Horse Memorial Monday, Oct. 8.

A free 2 p.m. concert will feature the orchestral voices of the South Dakota Symphony blending with the traditional Oglala Lakota drumming and singing of the Creekside Singers from Pine Ridge. The symphony’s 2010 “Lakota Music Project” program at Crazy Horse drew a standing-room-only crowd.

“Music, in various forms, touches us all. Having the ‘Lakota Music Project’ at Crazy Horse is another way we can celebrate our diversity and our similarities to encourage better understanding and harmony among all people,” said memorial President-CEO Ruth Ziolkowski, the wife of Crazy Horse co-founder, sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski.

Native American drum, dance and singing performances also will be featured at Crazy Horse’s 10 a.m. holiday program. If weather permits, an 11 a.m. mountain carving blast will precede a free buffalo stew luncheon at the Memorial’s Laughing Water Restaurant.

Other Native Americans’ Day highlights at Crazy Horse will include hands-on educational opportunities for students, honoring of the Native American Educator of the Year award winner and the 7:30 p.m. “Legends in Light” laser-light show on the mountain carving.