DR. CHERIE  FARLEE  

I am the Office of Indian Education Programs Cheyenne River Agency Education Line Officer and my name is Cherie A. Farlee.  It is my responsibility to direct and provide technical assistance to the tribe and schools.   Our office believes that is our responsibility to provide life long educational opportunities to our children.

Cheyenne River is my home reservation.  I have a rich Native American heritage with a great grandmother, who was a survivor of the Battle of Little Big Horn and the Wounded Knee Massacre.  I attended the Dupree Public School, Soliday School (a small country school) and graduated from the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte High School in l966.

My early life was much like any other young person growing up on the reservation.  At an early age, my sister, Dr. Vicki Birkeland and I became ranch hands and cowgirls.  I dropped out of high school to become a domestic engineer and mother.  Realizing the need to complete my education, I returned to high school and  began my college education at Black Hills State University graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Education in l970.   My first teaching experience was with the Eagle Butte Public School as a 6th grade teacher.  I also taught business classes for  two years at the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte High School.

Accepting another challenge, I enrolled at the University of South Dakota receiving a Masters Degree in Secondary Administration in l980 and a Doctorate in Adult and Higher Education in l982.

I have a wide and rich variety of work experience.  My very first payroll check came as a receptionist for a local doctor's office.  I have taught elementary education, secondary education, and college classes.  I have been a principal, an executive director, a college admissions counselor, a social services supervisor and a sales person.

Family is very important to me.  My parents and grandparents taught me the importance of family.  I have 3 brothers, JD, Tom and Lynn Williams, 3 sisters, Vicki Birkeland, Patti Hathaway, and Lori Williams.  Also, included in my family is Cameron and Karlene Parker who were raised as a little brother and sister.    Many nieces and nephews enrich my life.

I have two sons and a daughter.  Robert Justin and his wife Nan have 2 children, Slade and Kayla.  They ranch near Dupree and are involved with Rob's father in a trucking business.  Johnna Rae has a daughter Cassandra.  Johnna is a registered nurse working as a home health nurse for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.  Enoch Justin is exploring different careers, working construction, traveling with a combine crew and now flatbedding across country in his father's truck.

My special friend and significant other for 15 years is Roderick Hall.  He is an enrolled member of the Crow Creek Tribe.  He works for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Aberdeen Area Office as a Facilities Engineer Technician.  He has four children, Carrie, Delano, Renee and Marie and eight grandchildren and one great grandson.  For enjoyment we raise and sell registered paint horses.  We have three beautiful paint stallions that stand in Aberdeen, South Dakota.  Casper Topsail is a chestnut overo, Casperswildcardman is a black and white overo and our newest is a black tobiano yearling with Summer Breeze bloodlines.  Our faithful companion and guard dog Cowgirl watches over the horses. 

Beside the paint horses, I enjoy reading biographies, romance, and horse books, rodeos, horse shows, and horse racing.  I love trees and flowers and do attempt to garden when there is time.  My biggest challenge is to learn how to quilt and use the computer.  Thanks to the support of my family, friends and staff  I am a breast cancer survivor.  I certainly have changed my perspective on life.   I live one day at a time, and my family is more important than ever.

In l998, I received two very special honors, Cheyenne River North American Indian Woman Educator of the Year and Office of Indian Education Programs Line Officer of the Year.

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"Some people succeed because they are destined to, most people succeed because they are determined to."  

-  Gods Little Devoted Book for Leaders

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