Richard Moves Camp ReceivesWINHEC Honorary Doctorate

Richard Moves Camp Receives
WINHEC Honorary Doctorate
 
Antelope Lake, S.D. ---- Lakota elder and fifth-generation spiritual healer Richard Moves Camp was named a recipient of an honorary doctorate degree from the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC) University.
 
The educator and advisor of Sinte Gleska University’s Lakota Studies Department was recognized at the 2023 WINHEC International Conference held July 17-21st at Fairbanks, Alaska.
 
“The WINU Honorary Doctorate awards duly recognize the meritorious work of Indigenous Educators, Scholars and Knowledge Holders who are acknowledged by their peers and Nations as inspirational leaders,” wrote Berice Annington in the WINU award letter.
 
Richard Moves Camp has provided leadership with traditional prayers, practices and cultural knowledge throughout the United States and abroad. He and his family have been active in the preservation and integration of Lakota religion and spiritualty throughout the 20th century.
 
He earned a masters degree in Mental Health counseling from Sinte Gleska University. He is a lifelong teacher, promoting indigenous principles and values to re-establish pathways for reconciliation and healing for the historical trauma impacting Native relatives.
 
As a mental health specialist, he has worked to share knowledge about the Euro-western and Lakota healing practices to address the cultural gaps in worldviews and perspectives. This has been shared with Native and non-Native people on traditional homelands and in non-reservation settings.
 
Moves Camp has demonstrated leadership roles as an advocate of Tribal sovereignty, religious freedom and the protection of sacred sites. His voice has been heard by the United Nations Assembly and the International Treaty Council.
 
He was involved with the passage of the Religious Freedom Act of 1979. His most recent role in helping people cope with the COVID pandemic was critically important during this most stressful period. Prayers of his ancestors were always used to guide the healing process and to navigate the future well-being of Indigenous Peoples.
 
Moves Camp is a proponent supporting the repatriation of the remains of tribal children from residential boarding schools.  With other concerned families, he traveled to Pennsylvania asking for the return of nine Sicanġu Lakota children from Carlisle Indian Industrial School.
 
They were returned in 2022 after more than 140 years when they were forcibly taken from their families. Richard worked closely with Sicangu tribal leaders to properly take care of the spirits of the lost children and to support the descendent families.
 
With these attributes and other accomplishments, he has maintained his dedication to his life’s work toward the spiritual and cultural restoration of our Lakota Oyate.
 
The SGU board of regents, administration, faculty, staff, and students offer our humble gratitude and appreciation to WINHEC for honoring the legacy of Richard Moves Camp.