Join us at the front entrance to dedicate a piece of Native American history within Pine Ridge, one of our beautiful marker trees. We will commemorate this dedication with a plaque to be displayed at the front entrance and will also have a special guest speaker and Native American, Vincent Schilling, and our local cub scout pack in attendance.
The plaque to mark this special tree was generously donated by long time Pine Ridge resident Sam Gassell.
**Rain date: Sat June 29, 10 a.m.
About our guest speaker, Vincent Schilling
Vincent Schilling began as a correspondent with Indian Country Today in 2008 and remained a consistent contributor of stories, photography and video, until 2015. That year Vincent Schilling was named the Arts and Entertainment, Sports and Pow Wows editor for Indian Country Media Network (formerly ICT). He is also the Executive Vice President and co-owner of Schilling Media, Inc. a Native American owned Media and Media Relations Corporation in Virginia. Vincent Schilling is an enrolled Akwesasne Mohawk, an Award-winning Native American author and an Award-winning Photojournalist; and a Public Speaker that has traveled all over the United States and Canada. In 2011, he was given a human rights award in the city of Virginia Beach by Mayor Will Sessoms Jr. for his work and programs created about Native American issues. Vincent Schilling is also the co-host of Native Trailblazers, an online indigenous radio program which airs every Friday at 7 p.m. EST. Native Trailblazers has twice been nominated for an Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Award for “Best Aboriginal Music Radio Station/Program.” As an Editor and Photojournalist, Vincent Schilling has contributed hundreds of articles to national publications – most notably Indian Country Media Network. Other publications include Arthritis Today, Woman’s World, Winds of Change, The Tribal College Journal, Children’s Digest and regional publications in Virginia Beach such as Inside Business, The Virginian-Pilot and Tidewater Parent. He has received a Bronze Editorial Excel Award for his article Conflict on the Mountain in Winds of Change magazine and two Native American Journalist Association Awards in journalism and photography. His first book, Native Athletes in Action won a Moonbeam Children’s award in multicultural non-fiction and acclaim as the book of the month on Native America Calling, a nationally syndicated Native American radio show. His books, Native Men of Courage; Native Musicians In the Groove; and his fourth book about Native Environmental champions entitled Native Defenders of the Environment are part of a growing Native Trailblazer Series. As an author and photojournalist, Vincent Schilling has met and spoke with a multitude of Native people in his adventures to include Retired Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Chris Eyre, Georgina Lightning and a plethora of award-winning Native American musicians and artists to include Wayne Newton, Felipe Rose, Mary Youngblood, Crystal Shawanda, and Michael Bucher. As a public speaker Vincent Schilling has shared his experience and expertise with public, private and tribal schools and colleges, The U.S. Military, Lockheed Martin and several other public, governmental and private entities to speak about diversity in the workplace and in schools, Native American history in the U.S. and in Virginia and ways to overcome the stereotypes of Native American people today. Vincent Schilling also loves photography and has had the pleasure of photographing notable people such as President Barack Obama, Former Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, Ed Begley Jr. as well as Governors, Senators, Tribal Nation Chiefs and many others. Vincent lives in Virginia Beach with his beautiful wife Delores. Vincent Schilling’s most noted work with ICT is as follows: 8 Myths and Atrocities About Christopher Columbus and Columbus Day The True Story of Pocahontas: Historical Myths Versus Sad Reality Paris Jackson Gives NoDAPL Shout-Out at Grammys Native Humor: 10 Native New Year’s Resolutions You’ll Probably Never See Free For Protectors: Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt Hosting Standing Rock Benefit Gil Birmingham Talks about ‘Hell or High Water” and Working With ‘The Dude’ NoDAPL Boycott: Indigo Girls Won’t Play Cherokee Creek Music Fest Again Magnificent Seven Actor Martin Sensmeier On Getting Chewed Out by an Oscar-Nominee Four Native Actors Blazing the Screens: 2016 Hot List Native Actors Walk off Set of Adam Sandler Movie After Insults to Women, Elders Connect with Vincent on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google+, and Tumblr.