SURF completes construction of Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ
The ethnobotanical garden will see the addition of native plants in the spring of 2024.
Photo by Stephen Kenny
The Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) has completed construction of Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ.* The ethnobotanical garden is located on a hilltop meadow at SURF overlooking the town of Lead and the surrounding Black Hills. The addition of native plants is planned for the spring of 2024, with programming at the site beginning in early summer.
In Lakota, Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ roughly translates to sacred hoop. The project was spurred forward and championed by SDSTA leadership; the SURF Cultural Advisory Committee; SDSTA board chairman Casey Peterson, an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe; Dana Dykhouse, the vice chair of the SDSTA board, along with members of SURF’s Cultural Advisory Committee in consultation with Lakota elders including DeCorJacey, Richard Moves Camp, retired SURF employee KC Russell, an enrolled member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe; and others.
“Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ honors the complicated history of the Black Hills. It encourages learning. It supports dialogue and inspires reflection. It recognizes that SURF’s work takes place on and within a sacred and contested land. SURF is a leader among organizations seeking to engage challenging aspects of their history. Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋaims to promote dialogue about these issues,” said Dr. Eric Zimmer a member of the SURF Cultural Advisory Committee.
Special access to the public is planned via bus from the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center; the tour schedule is to be determined. This summer, a number of events including a series of talks called “Deep Roots,” are scheduled for the garden, with a backup location in the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center in case of inclement weather.
“We would really like to see the garden as a space where we can share the nuances of our region’s history with our visiting scientists,” said Rochelle Zens, IDEA Program lead at SURF and an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe. “We know they are interested in the story of the Black Hills and the displacement of indigenous peoples from them. We want them to leave not only with an interest in underground science here at SURF, but a deeper understanding of our community and its history.”
The Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ Working Group was established to guide the work of SURF staff in the development of events and other processes related to this space. Current members include Casey Peterson (Oglala Sioux Tribe), Rylan Sprague (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe), Curtis Peterson (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe), along with staff members Rochelle Zens (Rosebud Sioux Tribe) and Emily Berry.
A planting event at Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ is planned for early June.
*Please note that the name of our garden utilizes characters specific to the Lakota language in written form. If you need assistance with correctly reproducing the name in your publication, please contact Mike Ray, media relations manager.