Many schools across KELOLAND had inaugural events showing throughout the day, but it was more than a civics lesson for a tribal school near Sisseton.
Students from Tiospa Zina Tribal School marched in the inaugural parade. They didn't make their way down Pennsylvania Avenue until the school day ended, but it was still the talk of the school.
"I think they're representing our tribe pretty good. Not only our tribe but themselves and the school," sophomore Demi Dumarce said.
Dumarce was just one student at Tiospa Zina anxious to watch students from the school walk in the parade. Freshman Jennifer Rondell and junior Michael LaFontaine joined her.
"It's kind of crazy because they're my friends. They got chosen from a lot of people," LaFontaine said.
"I was pretty happy just to see someone from our reservation, like, showing our culture off," Rondell said.
Students hope it gives the country a taste of authentic native culture. Native veterans and teenagers participated.
As students watched the event back at home, some staff at the school said they hope it plants a desire in them to become future leaders. Teenagers from the school who participated are part of a student leadership group.
"I think it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I think it'd be really cool to be there and take part in things," Dumarce said.
Dumarce says she can see it motivating others to step up in the school. Watching Monday, she's sure it'll at least give students a taste of what could happen if they do.
An inauguration committee invited North Dakota tribes to march in the parade. Tiospa Zina is in South Dakota but the reservation sits on the border and enters both states. That’s why some on the South Dakota side participated as well.
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