The Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota, has developed the Office of Native Concerns to work as a liaison between the Native American community and the diocese. This office is significant because 27% of the Catholics of the diocese are Native American.

In an effort to reach out to the Native American people of the diocese, the Office of Native Concerns works closely with the staff of the Sioux Spiritual Center. The Sioux Spiritual Center is a house of prayer established by the diocese for the Lakota people. It serves as a place for:

Retreat and spiritual development through the use of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius;

The formation of Lakota catechists, lay ministers, deacons and priests;

The education and preparation of missionary personnel from the United States and Canada who are assigned to serve on Reservations;

The development of an inculturated liturgy and theology.

Canku Wakan

The Office of Native Concerns, in cooperation with other Native people and the Sioux Spiritual Center staff developed an indigenous gathering called Canku Wakan — a four day experience of inculturated evangelization. These are hosted at least twice a year.

During this experience Native people give the talks. They prepare a Sweat Lodge Ceremony, sweet grass or sage blessings and a pipe ceremony for morning prayer. The group expects to develop more inculturated experiences for the Canku Wakan. These Native people are beginning to develop inculturated prayer experiences which can be used by other Catholic Native people.

Lakota Inculturation

A group of Native people — Catholic, non-Catholic and traditional — form the Lakota Inculturated Task Force. This group meets twice a year to discuss the inculturation of the liturgy and theology. This was undertaken in response to a letter by Cardinal Arinze, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops asking the Conference to begin a serious dialogue on these matters and in response to the Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee for Native American Catholics. This is the first place in the United States that this work is being done in a systematic fashion.

Basic Direction Institute

For several summers the Office of Native Concerns has worked with the staff of the Sioux Spiritual Center in sponsoring the Basic Directions Institute for the education of those who are being sent to work among Native people for the first time. This institute is sanctioned by the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee for Native American Catholics and by the National Tekakwitha Conference. This is the only place in the United States and Canada that this type of formation is offered. The Basic Directions Institute runs six days.
For more information contact the Sioux Spiritual Center.

Lay Ministry Formation Program

The Office of Native Concerns has been very active in promoting the Lay Ministry Formation Program throughout the five reservations in the diocese. The purpose of the program is to provide indigenous leaders for the parishes in the diocese. Participants in the program are assisted with travel expenses.