Independent news from the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance

Gerard Baker on medical leave from Mount Rushmore

Gerard BakerBest wishes for a speedy recovery to Mount Rushmore Superintendent Gerard Baker, one of my Mandan and Hidatsa relatives from the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. It’s not up to me to report the details of his medical condition, but I can say he is at his home in Rapid City, S.D. and recovering. The Rapid City Journal on Friday reported that he is expected to be back to work within three weeks. “He did go to the hospital last week because he was not feeling well, and he is at home,” Nanvit Singh, a park spokesman said. “He has a lot of accumulated leave. And he’s going to be taking some time off. While he’s doing that, we have an acting superintendent.”

Gerard is a highly respected citizen of the Three Affiliated Tribes who has a tremendous depth of knowledge about the language and history of the Mandan and Hidatsa people. We all pray for a full and speedy recovery. Gerard has a legion of friends and relatives who expect him to fully regain his strength. I will report any information the family is willing to share in this healing process. Meanwhile, a salute to Gerard who is one of the real warriors of Indian Country. He has been a strong advocate for Native people during his entire career with the National Park Service. He’s come under fire by people who have a hard time including Native perspectives into park history, something Gerard has done at the Little Bighorn Battlefield and at Mount Rushmore. He also worked successfully to bring the Native view to light during the Lewis and Clark commemorations that took place across the United States in recent years.

Jodi Rave

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear is the founder and director of the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, a 501-C-3 nonprofit organization with offices in Bismarck, N.D. and the Fort Berthold Reservation. Jodi spent 15 years reporting for the mainstream press. She's been awarded prestigious Nieman and John S. Knight journalism fellowships at Harvard and Stanford, respectively. She also an MIT Knight Science Journalism Project fellow. Her writing is featured in "The Authentic Voice: The Best Reporting on Race and Ethnicity," published by Columbia University Press. Jodi currently serves as a Society of Professional Journalists at-large board member, an SPJ Foundation board member, and she chairs the SPJ Freedom of Information Committee. Jodi has won top journalism awards from mainstream and Native press organizations. She earned her journalism degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

2 Comments

  • (Mr) Carrol Cogburn

    I’ve said a prayer for Mr. Baker’s healthy recovery.
    I just listened to Mr. Baker on RFD, on Hidden Heritage hosted by Paul LaRoche tonight(12-07-09).

    Would someone who knows Mr. Baker suggest to him to write/record/dictate his story so that it can be
    preserved in book form for this and later generations?

    I hope he will consider such and undertaking.

    Sincerely and Respectfully,

    Carrol Cogburn

  • (Mr) Carrol Cogburn

    I’ve said a prayer for Mr. Baker’s healthy recovery.
    I just listened to Mr. Baker on RFD, on Hidden Heritage hosted by Paul LaRoche tonight(12-07-09).

    Would someone who knows Mr. Baker suggest to him to write/record/dictate his story so that it can be
    preserved in book form for this and later generations?

    I hope he will consider such an undertaking.

    Sincerely and Respectfully,

    Carrol Cogburn

Comments are closed.