A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION honoring the legacy and strength of grandmothers in this state.

WHEREAS, grandmothers form the quiet backbone of communities, providing an example of love, wisdom, and resilience for generations; and

WHEREAS, grandmothers are the bedrock of families, often stepping in as caregivers, providers, and nurturers when circumstances demand, raising grandchildren with the same devotion they gave their own children; and

WHEREAS, in Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota traditions, grandmothers, known as unci, embody sacred authority as wisdom keepers, ceremonial leaders, and decision-makers whose guidance ensures cultural continuity, language preservation, and the passing of ancestral teachings to the sacred children; and

WHEREAS, grandmothers of all backgrounds in this state sacrifice daily to feed, clothe, educate, and protect their families, volunteering in schools, churches, and tribal programs while modeling hard work, thrift, forgiveness, and the grit required to thrive on the farm, ranch, reservation, or city block; and

WHEREAS, grandmothers teach by example the values of hospitality, humility, prayer, and perseverance, standing firm against hardship, addiction, loss, or division, while lifting others with encouragement and steadfast faith; and

WHEREAS, the legacy of grandmothers endures in the laughter of grandchildren, the strength of great-grandchildren, and the moral compass of communities they shaped through decades of faithful service, often without thanks or acclaim;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the One Hundred First Legislature of the State of South Dakota, that grandmothers everywhere deserve honor as the backbone of families, the bedrock of kinship groups, and the enduring example of strength, sacrifice, and sacred love that defines the spirit of South Dakota.