South Dakota Storytellers
South Dakota Storytellers brings you powerful, personal conversations with South Dakota Hall of Fame Inductees—individuals whose lives and achievements have helped shape our state and reach far beyond its borders.
Each episode explores the defining moments, values, and lessons behind a life of excellence, offering insight and inspiration for anyone curious about the impact one person can make in their lifetime.
Rooted in the South Dakota Hall of Fame’s mission to Champion a Culture of Excellence, this podcast honors remarkable legacies while preserving and sharing the stories that continue to inspire future generations.
Listen, learn, and be inspired. Subscribe to South Dakota Storytellers and discover the stories that define excellence in South Dakota and beyond.
South Dakota Storytellers
Preserving Language for Generations to Come with James Emery
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James Emery was a humble man who overcame challenges in his life to forge a better future for his community. He was born on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in 1904, at a time when speaking the Lakota language was discouraged. One of Emery’s greatest contributions in life was saving his native language. Our host, Miles Beacom joined David Emery, James Emery’s grandson, to discuss his grandfather’s legacy.
In this episode you will hear:
- James Emery’s early life
- His passion for preserving the Lakota language,
- And more about the Emery Lakota Language Collection
James combined his natural gifts, and great creativity, to begin a project that spanned several decades. This project resulted in over three hundred hours of recordings of the culture, history, language, and songs of Native Americans, including an interview with the daughter of Walks Alone, a survivor of both The Battle of the Little Bighorn and Wounded Knee.
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