Donovin Sprague

Biography

  • Born & raised on Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, Dupree, South Dakota
  • Enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
  • Donovin Sprague is a Minnicoujou Lakota, and is a descendant of Chiefs Hump & Crazy Horse family. Donovin's Great great great grandfather Chief Hump I (High Back Bone) was the uncle & mentor for Chief Crazy Horse. His Great great grandfather Hump II (High Back Bone) was equally as renowned, and fought on the Custers Last Stand Hill & Calhoun Hill at the Battle of the Little Bighorn with Crazy Horse. On another side of Donovin's family his Great great great grandparents were: Fred Dupree (Dupui/Dupris) & Mary Good Elk Woman. Fred Dupree saved the last buffalo from extinction. Donovin's hometown is named for the Dupree family who donated the land where the present town is. Donovin was given the Lakota name of his Hump grandparents. The Lakota name is Cankahu Wakantuya (High Back Bone) or "Hump".
  • Attended University of California, Black Hills State University, & University of South Dakota
  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree from Black Hills State University
  • Master of Science (M.S.) Degree from University of South Dakota + 15 semester hours.
  • Present job title: Author of 6 books, historian, & Part-time University Instructor at Black Hills State University (American Indian Studies) & Oglala Lakota College (Lakota Studies).
  • Present job title: Owner of Rock N Records.

Past significant positions

  • American Indian Coordinator for the Iowa Regents Universities: University of Iowa, Iowa State University, & University of Northern Iowa.
  • General Manager of KILI-FM Radio 100,000 watts on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
  • Elected Chairman of Rapid City Indian/White Relations for 10 years in Rapid City, South Dakota.
  • Past employers include: Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Durant, Oklahoma; Citizen Potawatomi Band, Shawnee, Oklahoma; Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin, Texas.

Past lectures

  • International Bison Assn. - Rapid City, SD
  • Oklahoma State University - Stillwater, OK
  • University of Wyoming - Laramie, WY
  • University of North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
  • Takini School - Howes, SD
  • Upper Elementary School - Eagle Butte, SD
  • University of Utah - Salt Lake City, UT Lakota History in SD
  • Pequot Indian Elders Council - CT. History in SD
  • Dahl Fine Arts Center (Writers Panel) - Rapid City, SD - 2006
  • Mt. Rushmore National Monument - Keystone, SD - 2006
  • Univ. of South Dakota & Univ. of North Dakota School of Medicine - 2005
  • S.D. Bilingual/Bicultural Assn.- Rapid City, SD - 2005
  • U.S. Army - Fort Knox, KY
  • International Indigenous Tourism Conference - Saskatoon, SK Canada
  • Kansas State University - Manhattan, KS
  • San Juan County Partnership - Farmington, NM
  • U.S. Logistics Information Systems - Battle Creek, MI
  • Cheyenne-Eagle Butte Schools - Eagle Butte, SD
  • High Plains Heritage Center - Spearfish, SD
  • Aberdeen Schools - Aberdeen, SD
  • Northern State University - Aberdeen, SD
  • Dakota Prairie Museum - Aberdeen, SD
  • Fort Phil Kearny - Story, WY
  • Timber Lake & Area Historical Society - Timber Lake, SD
  • Unity Fest - Mobridge, SD
  • South Dakota State University - Brookings, SD
  • Oglala Lakota College - Kyle, SD
  • S.D. School of Mines & Technology - Rapid City, SD
  • Little Bighorn National Monument - Crow Agency, MT
  • Black Hills State University - Spearfish, SD
  • University of Oklahoma - Norman, OK
  • University of Minnesota - Minneapolis, MN
  • Drake University - Des Moines, IA
  • Coe College - Cedar Rapids, IA
  • Custer County Historical Assn. - Custer, SD
  • Crazy Horse Memorial - Crazy Horse, SD
  • Northern Ute Indian Tribe - Fort Duchesne, UT
  • Journey Museum & Sioux Indian Museum - Rapid City, SD
  • University of Wyoming - Gillette, WY campus
  • University of Iowa - Iowa City, IA
  • Iowa State University - Ames, IA
  • University of Northern Iowa - Cedar Falls, IA
  • Chadron State College - Chadron, NE

Other

  • U.S. Forest Service Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board Member
  • University graduate studies instructor in education and history for Teaching American History Program/Technological Innovations In Education (TIE)/Chiesman Center for Democracy/Black Hills State University
  • Montana State University (educational video & interviews)
  • New book release “The Chickasaw” in 2009. w/Chickasaw Nation Museums & Sites, Tishomingo, OK.
  • Historical tours throughout the Plains Region can be arranged for individuals, groups, including seminars, university credit, horseback tours (Black Hills, Big Horn Mountains, Wounded Knee, Fort Laramie, Battle of the Little Bighorn, Bear Butte, Devils Tower (Mahto Tipila), Badlands, & any of the area reservations in SD, ND, WY, MT, NE, MN, CO,KS, IA, & the State of Oklahoma.
  • The City of Rapid City, South Dakota, population est. 70,000 proclaimed "Donovin Sprague Day" on March 23, 1995 for Donovin's work in American Indian & non-Indian relations.
  • South Dakota Governor's Award for Excellence in Tourism.