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South Dakota Senate Bill SC809

South Dakota 2025 Regular Session

South Dakota Senate Bill SC809 Compare Versions

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1+25.910.10 100th Legislative Session SC809
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4+2025 South Dakota Legislature
55 Senate Commemoration 809
6-Introduced by: Senators Foster, Duhamel, Perry, and Schoenfish and Representatives Emery, Ismay, Muckey,
7-Pourier, and Uhre-Balk
8-
9-
10-A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION, Honoring Bryan Brewer, Sr., for his visionary
11-leadership, transformative impact, and unwavering dedication to advancing
12-athletics, academics, and community empowerment.
13- WHEREAS, Bryan Brewer, Sr., was born in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, on February 4, 1947,
14-the son of Vincent and Alvina Brewer, and is an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe;
15-and
16- WHEREAS, Bryan’s Lakota name, Ohiyaku, means, "returns victoriously", which has come
17-to symbolize his life of service, triumph, and leadership; and
18- WHEREAS, Bryan served his country honorably as a United States Navy Seabee during
19-the Vietnam War, completing two tours and earning recognition as a combat veteran; and
20- WHEREAS, Bryan is the proud father of four children and grandfather to four grandchildren
21-and two great-grandchildren, who have all been influenced by his vision and guidance; and
22- WHEREAS, Bryan graduated from Black Hills State University in 1976 with a bachelor’s
23-degree in secondary education and dedicated thirty-three years to the education field as a
24-teacher, coach, principal, athletic director, and dean of students, serving at Pine Ridge and
25-Red Cloud High School, and at the Rocky Boy Tribal High School in Rocky Boy, Montana; and
26- WHEREAS, Bryan’s most significant contribution to the state of South Dakota was his
27-founding of the Lakota Nation Invitational, an event that has grown from a small basketball
28-tournament to a celebration of athletics, academics, fine arts, and culture for the last forty-
29-seven years; and
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339
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3511
36- WHEREAS, the Lakota Nation Invitational has become one of the most prestigious events
37-in South Dakota, fostering racial reconciliation, uniting the Oceti Sakowin tribes, and honoring
38-military service men and women, while highlighting the talents of the state’s youth; and
39- WHEREAS, Bryan’s leadership in the Lakota Nation Invitational has led to recognition as
40-South Dakota’s premier event by Sports Illustrated magazine, and contributed to the
41-empowerment of youth for over four decades, creating a history of champions; and
42- WHEREAS, Bryan served as a member of the South Dakota High School Activities
43-Association Board of Directors from 2004 to 2009, becoming the first Native American to hold
44-the position, and advocating for Native American students and increasing awareness of their
45-unique challenges; and
46- WHEREAS, Bryan served as president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe from 2012 to 2016, in
47-which he earned recognition as an environmental advocate, opposing the Keystone XL
48-pipeline, and securing a permanent shutdown of liquor sales in White Clay, Nebraska; and
49- WHEREAS, in 2018, the South Dakota High School Coaches Association created the Spirit
50-of Influence Award to be given annually in honor of Bryan to recognize his enduring legacy of
51-leadership and positive influence on students; and
52- WHEREAS, Bryan was inducted into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame in 2022, a
53-recognition of his monumental contributions to the state's athletic, academic, and cultural
54-communities; and
55- WHEREAS, Bryan’s unparalleled dedication to improving education, empowering youth,
56-and expanding opportunities for future generations serves as an inspiring example of
57-leadership and selflessness for all South Dakotans;
12+Introduced by: Senator Foster
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60-
61-
62-
63-
64- NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the One Hundredth Legislature of the State
65-of South Dakota, that Bryan Brewer, Sr., has made a positive difference to his community,
66-his people, and the state of South Dakota, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations
67-to come.
68-
14+ Underscores indicate new language.
15+ Overstrikes indicate deleted language.
16+A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION, Honoring Bryan Brewer, Sr., for his visionary 1
17+leadership, transformative impact, and unwavering dedication to advancing 2
18+athletics, academics, and community empowerment. 3
19+ WHEREAS, Bryan Brewer, Sr., was born in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, on February 4, 1947, 4
20+the son of Vincent and Alvina Brewer, and an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe; and 5
21+ WHEREAS, Bryan’s Lakota name, Ohiyaku, means, "returns victoriously", which has come 6
22+to symbolize his life of service, triumph, and leadership; and 7
23+ WHEREAS, Bryan served his country honorably as a United States Navy Seabee during 8
24+the Vietnam War, completing two tours and earning recognition as a combat veteran; and 9
25+ WHEREAS, Bryan is the proud father of four children and grandfather to four grandchildren 10
26+and two great-grandchildren, who have all been influenced by his vision and guidance; and 11
27+ WHEREAS, Bryan graduated from Black Hills State University in 1976 with a bachelor’s 12
28+degree in secondary education and dedicated thirty-three years to the education field as a 13
29+teacher, coach, principal, athletic director, and dean of students, serving at Pine Ridge and 14
30+Red Cloud High School, and at the Rocky Boy Tribal High School in Rocky Boy, Montana; and 15
31+ WHEREAS, Bryan’s most significant contribution to the state of South Dakota was his 16
32+founding of the Lakota Nation Invitational, an event that has grown from a small basketball 17
33+tournament to a celebration of athletics, academics, fine arts, and culture for the last forty-18
34+seven years; and 19
35+ WHEREAS, the Lakota Nation Invitational has become one of the most prestigious events 20
36+in South Dakota, fostering racial reconciliation, uniting the Oceti Sakowin tribes, and honoring 21
37+military service men and women, while highlighting the talents of the state’s youth; and 22 25.910.10 2 SC809
38+ Underscores indicate new language.
39+ Overstrikes indicate deleted language.
40+ WHEREAS, Bryan’s leadership in the Lakota Nation Invitational has led to recognition as 1
41+South Dakota’s premier event by Sports Illustrated magazine, and contributed to the 2
42+empowerment of youth for over four decades, creating a history of champions; and 3
43+ WHEREAS, Bryan served as a member of the South Dakota High School Activities 4
44+Association Board of Directors from 2004 to 2009, becoming the first Native American to hold 5
45+the position, and advocating for Native American students and increasing awareness of their 6
46+unique challenges; and 7
47+ WHEREAS, Bryan served as president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe from 2012 to 2016, in 8
48+which he earned recognition as an environmental advocate, opposing the Keystone XL 9
49+pipeline, and securing a permanent shutdown of liquor sales in White Clay, Nebraska; and 10
50+ WHEREAS, in 2018, the South Dakota High School Coaches Association created the Spirit 11
51+of Influence Award to be given annually in honor of Bryan to recognize his enduring legacy of 12
52+leadership and positive influence on students; and 13
53+ WHEREAS, Bryan was inducted into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame in 2022, a 14
54+recognition of his monumental contributions to the state's athletic, academic, and cultural 15
55+communities; and 16
56+ WHEREAS, Bryan’s unparalleled dedication to improving education, empowering youth, 17
57+and expanding opportunities for future generations serves as an inspiring example of 18
58+leadership and selflessness for all South Dakotans; 19
59+ NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the One Hundredth Legislature of the State 20
60+of South Dakota, that Bryan Brewer, Sr., has made a positive difference to his community, 21
61+his people, and the state of South Dakota, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations 22
62+to come. 23