Leading A New Era For Tribal Colleges

Dr. Lionel Bordeaux, ’64, is one of the longest-serving U.S. university presidents currently in office. He has served as president of Sinte Gleska University (SGU), a tribal college in Mission, S.D., for nearly 50 years.

Bordeaux has received many recognitions for his accomplishments as an Indian educator. He was recently honored with an honorary doctorate degree at the World’s Indigenous People’s Education Conference and has two other honorary doctorates. He has received the National Indian Educator of the Year and also its Lifetime Achievement Award, and has been awarded several Living Legend awards.

Twice appointed by U.S. Presidents to serve on the National Advisory Council on Indian Education, Bordeaux also co-chaired the historic White House Conference on Indian Education.

Following graduation from BHSU in 1964, Lionel began working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in New Mexico. He planned to make it a lifelong career, earned his master’s degree and was pursuing a doctoral degree when his plans changed drastically.

A group of Lakota leaders had plans to develop a tribal higher educational institution and wanted a local tribal person to serve as president of the university. They believed Bordeaux was the right person for the job with his academic credentials and knowledge of the Lakota language. At the age of 32, Bordeaux moved home and began serving as President of SGU, committed to strengthening the Rosebud Sioux Tribe through his work.

At the time, tribal colleges around the country were pursuing U.S. Congressional recognition and funding and oftentimes legislators would only work with elected tribal officials.

“I got myself on every Indian education organization in the country, including an elected position on my own tribal council. Being an elected tribal official was very helpful in slowly opening legislative doors,” says Bordeaux.