Wagner Community School (WCS) welcomed a new cultural coordinator, Jimmy Sanchez, to its halls this 2023-2024 school year. As the cultural coordinator, Jimmy serves as an advisor to the staff and students to make sure that the Oceti Sakowin standards are being implemented throughout the curriculum. He answers any questions that the staff may have and brings an understanding of how materials need to be presented to students from a cultural viewpoint.

Oceti Sakowin means “Seven Council Fires” and refers to the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people collectively. The Oceti Sakowin believe in communal land to be enjoyed and used by all for survival and sustenance. Jimmy will try to bridge the gap between traditional and current beliefs and perspectives and help bring cultural awareness and diversity to the WCS curriculum to help give students of all backgrounds a better understanding and respect for each other. In doing so will hopefully give the Oceti Sakowin students a better cultural understanding of themselves and their Oceti Sakowin traditions.

Currently, a typical day for Jimmy starts out with working as a paraprofessional in the morning then after lunch transitioning to his work as the cultural coordinator. As his position was officially created this school year, he is busy working on researching resources for the staff and students and reaching out to make connections between the school and the community. Sanchez’s goals/focus for his first year in this position are to pore over the curriculum to make sure that the school is meeting the Oceti Sakowin standards, help school staff understand the cultural beliefs of the Oceti Sakowin students, and to help students revitalize their culture and find themselves.

As a part of his position, Jimmy will also oversee Culture Club with the assistance of Frances Young. He wants students to know that culture club is open to every student in high school. He invites everyone to come, learn and experience the cultural traditions and teachings. He eventually wants to branch out from just the school level to community involvement. Sanchez plans to do fundraisers, community awareness, spend time in nature and bring in community speakers. He wants to bring in presenters to share their knowledge and experiences with the students and do a series of local elder interviews to help preserve the culture and their experiences growing up in this area. He already has plans for Native American week which is October 10th thru the 13th. He plans to invite local Oceti Sakowin community leaders to speak, hand games, dances, singing, etc. where all students are welcome to learn and participate.

Sanchez grew up locally, attending WCS until sophomore year and then graduating from Marty Indian School (MIS) in 1997. He then moved to San Diego, CA where he owned and operated a martial arts academy before returning to South Dakota. He then taught martial arts locally and worked at the Marty Boys and Girls Club. Jimmy then worked as a paraprofessional at MIS for five years before taking a paraprofessional position at WCS. Jimmy is currently enrolled in college. He is taking classes at both the Sinte Gleska University in Mission and the Ihanktonwan Community College in Marty where he is majoring in Lakota studies and education.

Jimmy is married to Jane (St. John) and they have three children. Kyra (13) lives in San Diego, CA, Jahvana (8) is a third grader at WCS and Mato (6) is a first grader at WCS. They have two cats, Gabe and Jack Black, and two dogs, Kota and Winyan. In his free time, Jimmy mows his yard, enjoys time with his family, living life to the fullest and making the most out of every day. His hobbies include going to and dancing at pow-wows, playing disc golf, martial arts, beading/ crafting mostly dance regalia and leather work. Sanchez is Yankton Sioux and Standing Sioux. He dances in the men’s traditional category. He is inspired by his children and dances for them and his family. Jimmy is very involved in the community. He is a Unity Jam volunteer, spreads awareness about the harmful effects of meth on social media, will restart the anti-bullying youth program this fall, is on the Native American Education Committee for Wagner, and is on the Fort Randall Pow Wow Committee.

Congratulations on your new position at WCS, looking forward to seeing all that you will achieve and create in your new position.