South Dakota candidate focuses on Lakota empowerment
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Celestine Stadnick, an Oglala Lakota woman from Kyle, South Dakota, is running for a seat in the South Dakota State Senate representing District 27.
After a fire destroyed an apartment complex housing 17 families on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Stadnick organized aid for those who lost their homes and reflected on the strength of her community. She decided to run for office when she felt no other candidate adequately represented the Lakota people.
Stadnick’s upbringing included time spent in Sweden and a childhood immersed in Lakota culture through the Lakota Waldorf School, which her parents and elders founded to blend traditional teachings with modern education. She later became a principal at Little Wound School, where she focused on incorporating Lakota language and cultural practices to improve student outcomes. She believes preserving Lakota culture is vital and would prioritize it as a state senator.
Stadnick aims to address systemic issues contributing to hopelessness among Lakota people and advocates for Indigenous involvement in decisions regarding public lands. She proposes granting tribes co-ownership of public lands and first right of refusal when large tracts of land are sold. She also seeks to improve public safety on the Pine Ridge Reservation and envisions a political platform centered on solutions and visionary leadership, drawing on Lakota spiritual values like respect and compassion.
