Spokesperson for the Standing Bear family, Dennis Compos is the grandson of Henry Standing Bear.

Today we are here to honor three great men. First, my grandfather, Chief Henry Standing Bear, next is Korczak. I guess [Chief Standing Bear’s] claim to fame is, he had a dream.

He dreamed about having one of our great heroes carved in the Black Hills, our holy land. He pursued this dream and he told me when I was a boy that he finely found somebody that could go ahead, and that he was a believer in dreams.

And so he talked with Korczak and persuaded him after ten years to pursue the dream. And they agree to have one of our great Oglala Lakota leaders, Chief Crazy Horse, as the one to carve.

So these two dreamers proceeded to carve the mountain and go on with this project. I know in my heart that the spirits of these three men are here today. In fact, if you look up there now you can see the spirits over the mountain. And these spirits are looking down on us today, and they are linked in everlasting brotherhood. They are saying to us, thank you for a job well done and never forget your dreams.

I would be remiss if I didn’t salute Ruth and her family for carrying on this dream.

We the Crazy Horse and Standing Bear descendants join the nation in stating: a job well done, a job well done. By carrying on this dream you honor all Native Americans, and we thank you.