Educational Resources
As part of the premiere performances of Sun Dance the composer and librettist developed an educational packet to complement several workshop performances in New York State schools. It is based on the Wounded Knee scene from the opera. The packet contains background reading and information on the event, as well as discussion questions linked to specific learning objectives. You can read the packet here.
We are particularly committed to supporting performances of Sun Dance that engage school-age populations. If you would like to talk with Lenny Walton, the librettist, about developing an educational packet tailored to your area's educational standards and learning objectives, please email him at info@sundanceopera.com.
Further Reading
The original libretto for Sun Dance came directly from primary sources. If you would like to learn more, below is a list of some of references from which that libretto was drawn.
Allen, Charles W. 1997. From Fort Laramie to Wounded Knee: in the West that was. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
Arden, Harvey and George Blitch. 2004. Have you thought of Leonard Peltier Lately? Houston: HYT Publishing.
Brown, Dee Alexander. 2001. Bury my heart at Wounded Knee: an Indian history of the American West. New York: H. Holt.
Caldwell, E.K. 1995. “Relinquishing a Legacy of Hatred, Embracing Respect For All Life: Conversations with Dino Butler”.News From Indian Country. Available at: http://www.dickshovel.com/dino.html. [Interview Conducted by E. K. Caldwell (Cherokee/Shawnee, poet, lead interviewer for NEWS FROM INDIAN COUNTRY, author of BEAR, writer for New York Times Multicultural Syndication Service). Published in News From Indian Country in 1995 as a five part series of conversations with Darelle "Dino" Butler.]
Cheatham, Kae. 1997. Dennis Banks: Native American activist. Springfield, NJ: Enslow Publishers.
Churchill, Ward and Jim Vander Wall. 2002. Agents of repression: the FBI's secret wars against the Black Panther Party and the American Indian Movement. Cambridge, MA: South End Press.
Coleman, William S.E. 2000. Voices of Wounded Knee. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
Dewing, Rolland. 1995. Wounded Knee II. Chadron, NE : Great Plains Network.
Eagle, Adam Fortunate. 2002. Heart of the rock : the Indian invasion of Alcatraz. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
Flood, Reneé Sansom. 1995. Lost Bird of Wounded Knee: spirit of the Lakota. New York : Scribner.
Frazier, Ian.1992. Pine Ridge Reservation; yesterday and today. Interior, South Dakota, Badlands Natural History Association.
Gagon, Ellen and Ian Frazier. 1996. The Pine Ridge Reservation: a pictorial description. Kendall Park, N.J.: Lakota Books.
Jensen, Richard E., R. Eli Paul and John E. Carter. 1991. Eyewitness at Wounded Knee. Lincoln : University of Nebraska Press.
Johnson, Troy R. 1996. The occupation of Alcatraz Island: Indian self-determination and the rise of Indian activism. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
Johnson, Troy, Joane Nagel and Duane Champagne (eds.). 1997. American Indian activism: Alcatraz to the longest walk. Urbana : University of Illinois Press.
Lang, Debbie. Jan. 23 2000. "Reign of Terror After 1973 Wounded Knee - Resistance Stories of the Lakota People". Revolutionary Worker Online. Available at: http://revcom.us/a/v21/1030-039/1039/wknee2.htm.
Lauderdale, John Vance. 1995. After Wounded Knee. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press.
Matthiessen, Peter. 1991. In the spirit of Crazy Horse. New York : Viking Press, 1991.
Messerschmidt, Jim. 1983. The trial of Leonard Peltier. Boston: South End Press.
Mooney, James.1991. The ghost-dance religion and the Sioux outbreak of 1890. Lincoln : University of Nebraska Press.
Peltier, Leonard. 1999. Prison writings: my life is my sun dance. New York: St. Martin's Press.
Smith, Paul Chaat and Robert Allen Warrior. 1996. Like a hurricane: the Indian Movement from Alcatraz to Wounded Knee. New York: New Press.
Arden, Harvey and George Blitch. 2004. Have you thought of Leonard Peltier Lately? Houston: HYT Publishing.
Brown, Dee Alexander. 2001. Bury my heart at Wounded Knee: an Indian history of the American West. New York: H. Holt.
Caldwell, E.K. 1995. “Relinquishing a Legacy of Hatred, Embracing Respect For All Life: Conversations with Dino Butler”.News From Indian Country. Available at: http://www.dickshovel.com/dino.html. [Interview Conducted by E. K. Caldwell (Cherokee/Shawnee, poet, lead interviewer for NEWS FROM INDIAN COUNTRY, author of BEAR, writer for New York Times Multicultural Syndication Service). Published in News From Indian Country in 1995 as a five part series of conversations with Darelle "Dino" Butler.]
Cheatham, Kae. 1997. Dennis Banks: Native American activist. Springfield, NJ: Enslow Publishers.
Churchill, Ward and Jim Vander Wall. 2002. Agents of repression: the FBI's secret wars against the Black Panther Party and the American Indian Movement. Cambridge, MA: South End Press.
Coleman, William S.E. 2000. Voices of Wounded Knee. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
Dewing, Rolland. 1995. Wounded Knee II. Chadron, NE : Great Plains Network.
Eagle, Adam Fortunate. 2002. Heart of the rock : the Indian invasion of Alcatraz. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
Flood, Reneé Sansom. 1995. Lost Bird of Wounded Knee: spirit of the Lakota. New York : Scribner.
Frazier, Ian.1992. Pine Ridge Reservation; yesterday and today. Interior, South Dakota, Badlands Natural History Association.
Gagon, Ellen and Ian Frazier. 1996. The Pine Ridge Reservation: a pictorial description. Kendall Park, N.J.: Lakota Books.
Jensen, Richard E., R. Eli Paul and John E. Carter. 1991. Eyewitness at Wounded Knee. Lincoln : University of Nebraska Press.
Johnson, Troy R. 1996. The occupation of Alcatraz Island: Indian self-determination and the rise of Indian activism. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
Johnson, Troy, Joane Nagel and Duane Champagne (eds.). 1997. American Indian activism: Alcatraz to the longest walk. Urbana : University of Illinois Press.
Lang, Debbie. Jan. 23 2000. "Reign of Terror After 1973 Wounded Knee - Resistance Stories of the Lakota People". Revolutionary Worker Online. Available at: http://revcom.us/a/v21/1030-039/1039/wknee2.htm.
Lauderdale, John Vance. 1995. After Wounded Knee. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press.
Matthiessen, Peter. 1991. In the spirit of Crazy Horse. New York : Viking Press, 1991.
Messerschmidt, Jim. 1983. The trial of Leonard Peltier. Boston: South End Press.
Mooney, James.1991. The ghost-dance religion and the Sioux outbreak of 1890. Lincoln : University of Nebraska Press.
Peltier, Leonard. 1999. Prison writings: my life is my sun dance. New York: St. Martin's Press.
Smith, Paul Chaat and Robert Allen Warrior. 1996. Like a hurricane: the Indian Movement from Alcatraz to Wounded Knee. New York: New Press.