Photo by Dwayne Black: Yellow Medicine East School 2021 graduate Silas Whitebuffalo of the Pezihutazizi Oyate performs a dance for YME students Monday afternoon.

GRANITE FALLS — Yellow Medicine East School 2021 graduate Silas Whitebuffalo returned back home on Monday to showcase a pair of performances, sharing and representing the Upper Sioux Community as a proud member of the Pezihutazizi Oyate, Granite Fall’s neighboring tribal nation.

Whitebuffalo, also a three-time world fancy dance champion, spent the day with current YME students with a dance performance in the morning for elementary students, followed with another in the afternoon for the older classes. In both events, he spent time hosting a Question and Answer session to share more information and knowledge about the culture, while encouraging students to participate in the dances as well.

“I think it was spectacular,” YME Indian Education advisor Berta Bjerkeset said, who is a former teacher of Whitebuffalo’s. “On a personal note, it was really nice for me because I worked with Silas, as a student for a long time with the Indian-Ed program … It was really nice to see him on a personal level, it was really nice for him to come home.”

Upon graduating YME, Whitebuffalo is currently a college student in Arizona, but has also continued to grow his platform and share further with various communities and audiences his artistry and Native cultural pride.

“We had him (Whitebuffalo) over lunch to talk with the kids that I work with, I work with the native population, and so they had a nice little luncheon with him and asked him some more questions,” Bjerkeset said. “We had a really good discussion with him over lunch.”

Whitebuffalo’s homecoming performances were popularly embraced amongst the students, who showed curiosity and eagerness during both events and question sessions.

“There was quite a few questions from the students and participation in the round dance,” Bjerkeset said. “(He) asked if someone wanted to come up and dance, and there was participation … So, that was good and I believe it was well-received.”

Whitebuffalo was also supported by the Yellow Medicine Singers drum group, adding to the experience of the performances.

“He was very pleased to be home. He said dancing makes him very happy, and so especially when he comes home to do it, and being able to share is also important,” Bjerkeset said. “It was really good for him, and for us, that he came home to share some dancing with us.”