Lakota Spirituality and Science: Respect for Water at Rowe Sanctuary

At the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary, 44450 Elm Island Rd in Gibbon, Nebraska, an afternoon with Jerome Kills Small reframes water as both a living presence and an ecological system. This free, one-hour speaker session—part of the Rowe Audubon Speaker Series—brings an Oglala Lakota voice to the Platte River valley, where braided channels, cottonwood groves, and shallow sandbars have long supported migrating sandhill cranes and a host of prairie species. Kills Small blends Lakota ceremonial knowledge with accessible science, tracing the spiritual place names of western Nebraska and the living memory those names carry.

Jerome grew up visiting Lakota sacred sites and learned water place names that map human relationships to springs, creeks, and rivers. In conversation he moves between song, story, and explanation—demonstrating how ceremony and observation point toward the same truths: water shapes landscape, community, and cultural continuity. For visitors who arrive after crane season or before peak migration, the talk offers a different kind of field trip: a cultural ecology lesson that deepens any future walk along the Platte’s island-choked channels.

This program is excellent for families, students, and birders who want context for the place’s natural rhythms. The center itself sits where cottonwood-lined riverbanks give way to mixed-grass prairie, and staff often pair public programs with guided walks to nearby viewpoints. The talk is wheelchair accessible; attendees are asked to register in advance and check in at the Welcome Desk on arrival. Children under 8 are not permitted unattended—minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Practical details are simple: arrive 10–15 minutes early, bring water and weather-appropriate layers, and consider a notebook to capture song phrases and place names you’ll hear. The talk is free, but space is limited, so registration preserves your seat and ensures organizers can arrange accommodations if requested. For travelers planning a stay, nearby Gibbon and Kearney provide lodging and dining options, along with opportunities to see the Platte River’s seasonal wildlife.

Why this program matters: it stitches together ecological observation and indigenous knowledge in a place where both have coexisted for generations. Jerome Kills Small’s voice is a local bridge—he explains Lakota ceremonial forms, language, and song while connecting them to watershed science and conservation. For anyone looking to understand the Platte River beyond sightlines and species lists, this session offers history, meaning, and a renewed respect for water that you’ll carry back into the field.

Plan ahead if you want a specific date: this session is scheduled for Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 2:30–3:15 pm. Cost is free but registration is required. Check the Welcome Desk when you arrive, and note the center can provide accommodations on request—indicate needs during registration so organizers can prepare.