Byron Olson Obituary

You did good works during your time upon this earth. Thank you.

Byron, you did good upon this earth...rest easy now my friend...

Rest in Peace kola...

Byron,
Since high school, the years following, have we been friends in so much of life: our countless hours at chess, hiking the canyons and mountains; our marriages and children; our conversations traveling the world and all of its splendid questions delved and shared. And to this world and to me, this mind and heart of yours, small time ours, but in this small greatly lived this Michelangelo. Eternal blessings, always, whispered always when comes the warm Chinook of memories.
Your friend ever, Greg
Colorado Springs, CO

Byron, thank you for helping us down here at Yankton when we had arch questions and needed reassurance. I heard the story about your Indian name "Old son". Loved it!! Goodbye and happy spirit travels to you. Thank you for fighting for our people. Faith Spotted Eagle

December 9, 2009

To The Family and Friends of Byron Olson—Ciye, in the Lakota way, I called him my older brother,

I write to express my sympathies at the passing of Ciye Byron Olson. I remember many wonderful and encouraging conversations I had with Byron. He was an incredibly talented man, a true leader, a great human being and relative to all of us. Byron shared his knowledge and wisdom and was a great warrior in the battle to preserve the earth for future generations.

I well recall visiting with Ciye about the future. He spoke of the importance of Unci Maka (Our Grandmother the Earth) and how few resources were dedicated to preserving the archaeology and history of the ikceyapi (Common People). Ciye Byron and I shared an abiding interest in defending, protecting and preserving Unci Maka and all our relatives who share her.

Ciye loved his family and I know that he would want to encourage you so that you could strengthen yourselves despite your sorrow. For all of us who knew and loved Ciye, I offer the following prayer for the Creator to be with all of us during this difficult time.

I pray to the Grandfather who sits where the Sun goes down and paints his face black. I ask the Thunder Beings to be generous with their water as plants, animals and human beings need water to live and grow. May the Grandfather grant us the value of generosity so that we may share with our relatives and friends as Ciye Byron did during his life on this Turtle Island.

I pray to the Grandfather who sits in the northerly direction and paints his face white. The Grandfather’s breath is in the snow which cleanses the earth in the winter. I ask the Buffalo Nation to share their power of courage with us so that we may be able to defend and help the Ohunkesni, i.e., those who are unable to help themselves. I pray that we will always remember and help the Ohunkesni as Ciye Byron did during his life.

I pray to the Grandfather who sits where the Sun rises and paints his face red. I ask the Elk Nation to share their power of love with us so that we may share our love and compassion with the Family and Friends of Byron Olson. I thank the Daybreak Morning Star for giving us guidance in our lives and pray that the Family and Friends of Byron Olson will receive guidance as they continue their journey on the good Red Road of Life.

I pray to the Grandfather who sits in the southerly direction and paints his face yellow. I ask those who are not seen to help us so that we may always speak the truth as Ciye Byron did. I pray that Ciye Byron’s mother, sister and daughter will soon receive the comfort that the Creator gives us so that they may soon be healed in spirit. I pray that we may all have healthy minds and bodies so that we are better able to help those in need. I offer thanks for the healing of Ciye Byron; he is in perfect health now.

I pray to the Grandfather who sits above me and paints his face blue. I ask the Eagle Nation to help us so that our minds may soar with them as does Ciye Byron. I pray that we may all remember Byron’s dedication and understanding so that we may learn from him and make appropriate decisions in our lives.

I pray to the Grandmother who sits below me and paints her face green. She gives us everything that we need to live. I thank the Grandmother for giving us the value of respect for the environment so that we may work to ensure that all people, now and in the future, will have safe, healthy places to live as did Ciye Byron. I ask the Grandmother to give us a Red Day.

I ask for blessings and comfort for the Family and Friends of Byron Olson, their relatives and friends as we together pray for those who are in mourning, those who have been struck by tragedy, the orphans, the children, the elderly, those who cannot help themselves, those who are incarcerated, those who suffer in any way, our veterans and those in the military. Watch over us all so that we may help each other on our journey in this life and on the journey to the next.

To All My Relations.

Sincerely,

Steven C. Emery HLS ’89 (WicasItancan Mato Tanka = Chief Big Bear /
Whirlwind Chief = Naca Wamni Omni)

December 9, 2009

To The Family and Friends of Byron Olson—Ciye, in the Lakota way, I called him my younger brother,

I write to express my sympathies at the passing of Ciye Byron Olson. I remember many wonderful and encouraging conversations I had with Byron. He was an incredibly talented man, a true leader, a great human being and relative to all of us. Byron shared his knowledge and wisdom and was a great warrior in the battle to preserve the earth for future generations.

I well recall visiting with Ciye about the future. He spoke of the importance of Unci Maka (Our Grandmother the Earth) and how few resources were dedicated to preserving the archaeology and history of the ikceyapi (Common People). Ciye Byron and I shared an abiding interest in defending, protecting and preserving Unci Maka and all our relatives who share her.

Ciye loved his family and I know that he would want to encourage you so that you could strengthen yourselves despite your sorrow. For all of us who knew and loved Ciye, I offer the following prayer for the Creator to be with all of us during this difficult time.

I pray to the Grandfather who sits where the Sun goes down and paints his face black. I ask the Thunder Beings to be generous with their water as plants, animals and human beings need water to live and grow. May the Grandfather grant us the value of generosity so that we may share with our relatives and friends as Ciye Byron did during his life on this Turtle Island.

I pray to the Grandfather who sits in the northerly direction and paints his face white. The Grandfather’s breath is in the snow which cleanses the earth in the winter. I ask the Buffalo Nation to share their power of courage with us so that we may be able to defend and help the Ohunkesni, i.e., those who are unable to help themselves. I pray that we will always remember and help the Ohunkesni as Ciye Byron did during his life.

I pray to the Grandfather who sits where the Sun rises and paints his face red. I ask the Elk Nation to share their power of love with us so that we may share our love and compassion with the Family and Friends of Byron Olson. I thank the Daybreak Morning Star for giving us guidance in our lives and pray that the Family and Friends of Byron Olson will receive guidance as they continue their journey on the good Red Road of Life.

I pray to the Grandfather who sits in the southerly direction and paints his face yellow. I ask those who are not seen to help us so that we may always speak the truth as Ciye Byron did. I pray that Ciye Byron’s mother, sister and daughter will soon receive the comfort that the Creator gives us so that they may soon be healed in spirit. I pray that we may all have healthy minds and bodies so that we are better able to help those in need. I offer thanks for the healing of Ciye Byron; he is in perfect health now.

I pray to the Grandfather who sits above me and paints his face blue. I ask the Eagle Nation to help us so that our minds may soar with them as does Ciye Byron. I pray that we may all remember Byron’s dedication and understanding so that we may learn from him and make appropriate decisions in our lives.

I pray to the Grandmother who sits below me and paints her face green. She gives us everything that we need to live. I thank the Grandmother for giving us the value of respect for the environment so that we may work to ensure that all people, now and in the future, will have safe, healthy places to live as did Ciye Byron. I ask the Grandmother to give us a Red Day.

I ask for blessings and comfort for the Family and Friends of Byron Olson, their relatives and friends as we together pray for those who are in mourning, those who have been struck by tragedy, the orphans, the children, the elderly, those who cannot help themselves, those who are incarcerated, those who suffer in any way, our veterans and those in the military. Watch over us all so that we may help each other on our journey in this life and on the journey to the next.

To All My Relations.

Sincerely,

Steven C. Emery HLS ’89 (WicasItancan Mato Tanka = Chief Big Bear /
Whirlwind Chief = Naca Wamni Omni)

Byron
Now you have finished your journey here and are with your relatives and friends.... no more hardship, pain, cold, or hunger...you deserve to rest now!! Wopila Tanka for your work and help for the Nation!

Byron
You are missed by all of us. I have promised myself that you will not be forgotten....
toksa ake koda
Tamara St John

Byron will be greatly missed by the people he worked with at the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, especially me.
Blessings to his family.

Byron! We sure do miss you! We miss your laugh, your dancing, your quirky sense of humor... we just really miss you. You were a great ally for our people and our families. Until we meet again our dear kola/koda!!