Michael Standing Soldier Jan. 5, 1959 – Sept. 1, 2020
I had the great privilege of working at the penitentiary for the last five years with Michael Standing Soldier. Yesterday I was at the cemetery at Hisle, SD, for his burial following his sudden death.
Michael was a unique and inspiring person. He came from the small town of Hisle (3 houses) to the SD State Penitentiary following a stint in the Army when he was a young man with a life sentence. He impressed the other inmates by his prowess in power lifting and became a state power lifting champion. His fellow inmates called him "Big Mike.”
He impressed the prison staff by his way of life, public speaking throughout the State through the COPE program and mentorship of other inmates. His life sentence was commuted and he was granted parole.
Following his parole, he married, began a family, and went to college where he obtained a degree in social work and psychology. He earned a Master’s degree in Social Work. He then started a career as a mental health counselor for the Lakota people.
Five years ago the Secretary of Corrections went out on a limb and hired Michael to work in the prison with Native inmates. His hiring made history. He worked with some of the most difficult Native inmates to instill in them a pride in their heritage and the desire to become better human beings He was quite successful in integrating them back into the general population. One of the ways he did this was to teach them the Lakota language and their culture. During his last year, he started teaching Lakota classes open to all inmates.
Michael was like a magnet for the inmates. There was always a young Native man in his office talking to him about their past and their dreams for the future. He told it like it was. He didn’t tolerate BS. They didn’t try to con him because they knew he was wise to the ways of the con from his time as an inmate. He was a powerful model of success following incarceration. He was the father figure many of them never had. His sense of humor and teasing put everyone in a good mood.
Because I also work with the Native inmates, in a different capacity than him, we talked on the phone or in person frequently at work about upcoming events and challenges we faced. He told the men I was the White Buffalo Calf woman reincarnated so they should respect me and listen to me. He called me “Pte Ska Win.” That translate from Lakota as buffalo white woman.
Early last spring, Michael made arrangements to cut willows north of Flandreau to rebuild the 3 prison sweat lodges. When we arrived, we discovered the willows were in knee high water. Michael and the other man he recruited to help waded in to cut the willows and passed them to me to trim. That was yet another proof to me of his devotion to the incarcerated Native Americans
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I am left with a heavy heart not only for the inmates but for myself and staff members at the prison. I don’t know of anyone with his unique talents that can ever replace him in the prison. May he rest in peace and may his family find comfort knowing how widely respected he was.
Mary Montoya
