Page 27 - 2022 August Report

Resilience
Memo on President Shortbull’s retirement (2)
“Indian Community Colleges exist because they maintain they have the inherent authority and jurisdiction to provide higher education for Indian people within the reservation. This tribal position is in line with the principle of Indian law that holds that Indian tribes have the internal sovereignty to govern their own lives. The Oglala Sioux Tribe adhered to this principle of Indian law by chartering the Oglala Sioux Community College with the exclusive authority to regulate higher education on the reservation.”
This was the first time in the history of this country that a Tribal leader publicly argued that higher education was a sovereign right of Indian Nations, and to this day it stands as one of the few areas of governance where Indian Nations have complete control over their own affairs. The bill entitled the Tribal College Act of 1978 passed and federal funding was made available to all the tribal colleges and universities.
Tom took the podium and his last words as the President of the Oglala Lakota College were profound in many ways. Tom spoke of turbulent times when his leadership was criticized and challenged. In the most important message of the day, he said that every decision he made he did it with one thing in mind .... He did what was best for the People.
He acknowledged the Johnson Scholarship Fund for its support. He read Malcolm’s letter and thanked Bobby Krause for his continued support of the college. He offered “Wopila” (great thanks) to all of the people who supported the Oglala Lakota College during his tenure as president.
Tom Shortbull’s legacy will always be that against great odds of troubled times, and through the good times he led the most stable organization on the Pine Ridge reservation.
Rick Williams speaking at President Thomas Shortbull Appreciation Day
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