Oglala Sioux leader and educator Gerald One Feather passes on

Friday, August 22, 2014  

Gerald One Feather, a former president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota and a leader in the tribal college movement, died on Thursday. He was 76.

One Feather was 31 when he was elected president in 1970, the youngest in the tribe’s history. Over 16 years, he served on the tribe's executive committee as secretary, treasurer and fifth member.

He founded the Oglala Lakota College, which became a model for higher learning in Indian County. He was an instructor of Lakota language, history, leadership and cultural education at many colleges, including OLC.

One Feather served on OLC's board of trustees for over 30 years. He was the first chairman of the board and was a representative on its graduate advisory committee and a founder of its Council of Elders. He also was the first president of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.

"He built a network across the country," Ray Stands, One Feather's brother-in-law, told Indianz.Com today, referring to One Feather's tribal college legacy.

One Feather will be remembered at wake services on Sunday and Monday on the Pine Ridge Reservation. He will be laid to rest on Tuesday. Additional information is due to be posted on Facebook by family and friends.

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