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Oldest Oglala Lakota passes on

Oldest Oglala Lakota passes on

Wanblee SD--Grandma Sophia Romero just celebrated her 100th birthday in Wanblee at the Crazy Horse School this past October. Her birthday fell on the 31st. This past Friday afternoon, Jan 14, Grandma Sophia went peacefully to the spirit world from her home on the farm in Wanblee, SD.

There Grandma Sophia shared her birthday with so many relatives and friends, including former OST President Theresa Two Bulls and current chairman John Yellow Bird Steele, as well as local Council representatives Ruth Brown, and OST Vice chair Tom Poor Bear.

Grandma Sophia went to the spirit world to join her children there: Robert Quiver Sr, Grace Quiver, Alma Hamilton. Five months ago, (July 2010) we buried my dad Robert out on the farm.

Grandma Sophia is survived by her Children: Geneva Janis, Gerald Quiver Sr, and Lewis Quiver. Her grandchildren who were by her side: Tiffany Yellow Cloud, Tammi Yellow Cloud, Russchelle Quiver, Helene Gaddie, Baby Jerry Quiver, Sophia Quiver and Austin Larvie.

Im gonna miss Grandma. She told me she descended from "Hawk" a spiritual man from Porcupine who did hanbleceya (cry for vision) on Porcupine Butte long before the development of roads. Hawk's daughter was Florence Hawk, who married Manuel Romero of Mexico, they moved to Hisle where Manuel established the first Store/trading post in Wanblee. Grandma Sophia was raised there until she met my grandpa Joseph Quiver.

After joining grandpa Joe in marriage, they moved into Wanblee. There they raised Robert, Grace, Alma, Lewis, Geneva, and Gerald. Grandpa Joe passed on in the late 70s. Joseph was the son of the late Harry "Boss" Quiver, and the grandson of the patriarch Robert Quiver.

You must remember that Wanblee is located almost 100 miles from Pine Ridge village, which is the epicenter of the reservation economy. So grandma Sophia had to use her own inner strength and intelligence to raise her children the best way she could.

Every year, grandma Sophia maintained a vegetable garden outside of her home. I learned from her my first organic gardening technique which was when there is a gnugnuska infestation, the best thing to use is poultry like turkeys, chickens or geese. They'll clear the garden of pests.

I gave grandma my first puppy. It was during the 1972 Yellow Thunder march in Gordon. My uncle Dennis lifted a puppy from a local resident there and decided to give her to me. It was a black and white pup. Grandma Sophia nor I had no idea the pup was house trained and very obedient. Grandma Sophia admired the pup so much that I just handed the pup over to her. Grandma asked me what her name is, and I thought about it and decided to name her right there as "AIMEE" because of the AIM gathering we were at during the moment. Grandma laughed and the pup became AIMEE from then on.

Alot of good memories of grandma Sophia. I will always remember her. She is a very rare personality on this rez because she never judged anyone, nor complained about her life. She kept looking forward.

Arrangements are pending.


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Dakota Digest
Oldest Oglala Lakota celebrates 100th birthday
Air Date: 11/05/2010

By Jim Kent
Reaching retirement age on the Pine Ridge reservation can be quite an accomplishment, considering the low rates for life expectancy. Reaching the century mark is and even greater coup. Today we attend a celebration for the oldest enrolled Oglala Lakota tribal member - who just turned one-hundred.

read more...
http://sdpb.sd.gov/tv/shows.aspx?MediaID=58699&Parmtype=RADIO&ParmAccessLevel=sdpb-all

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