Project Introduction
Seven Generations A+E and Blue Star Integrative Studio are working to meaningfully engage the members of the Native community in Rapid City and wider west-river South Dakota regarding a memorial to occupy the former site of the Sioux San Hospital, previously located at 3200 Canyon Lake Drive.
The building that became known as “Sioux San” was built in 1938 as the Sioux Sanatorium, a tuberculosis hospital for Native patients. After the development of effective treatments for tuberculosis became widespread, the sanatorium was converted into a general hospital, and later an outpatient clinic. The building continued to serve in this capacity and provided a consistent landmark on the hilltop overlooking Sioux San and Canyon Lake Drives until it was demolished in 2023.
Over the course of its life, the Sioux San touched generations of Tribal Citizens living in the region. Today, the former hospital’s site stands empty, ready to become what is next.
Project Goals
The project goals are threefold:
1. Articulate what the Sioux San meant to the community.
2. Engage the community in conversation about what about the Sioux San should be memorialized.
3. Collaborate with workshop participants to develop and document the community’s ideas for a memorial.
Learn More
Our team will be tabling at the Black Hills Pow Wow from October 11 to 13, 2024. Come find us at table 116!
Call to Action: Engagement Workshops
As plans for the Workshops are finalized, details will be posted below.
• Workshop I
• Workshop II
• Virtual Workshop
• Workshop III
• Workshop IV
If you are interested in participating in future engagement workshops or would like additional information on the Sioux San Memorial Project, click here to submit an inquiry on our "Contact Us" form specifying your interest and providing your contact information and we will be in touch!
We invite you to read more about some of our previous work completed at the Sioux Sanatorium and the site of the new Oyate Health Center in our article "The Journey of the Rapid City Mitigation Project" from earlier this summer.
