Humility, Love and Forgiveness​

Dr. Charles Eastman (Ohiyesa), was a Santee Dakota physician, writer and reformer who said, “Silence is the absolute poise or balance of mind, body, and spirit. After working as a physician on South Dakota reservations, he became active in American Indian rights and worked to improve the lives of youths by establishing 32 American Indian chapters of the YMCA and helped found the Boy Scouts of America.

Ohiyesa translates to “Always the winner.” He served as the only physician to care for the injured after the Wounded Knee massacre in 1890 on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. A humble and passionate man, Ohiyesa was an acclaimed author and lecturer who emphasized the importance of seeking peace and living in harmony with nature. His legacy reflects his Dakota culture-one of humility, love and forgiveness.