About the Artist

My name is Stanley George Charging. I am from the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, which is located in north-central North Dakota. I was raised on a working ranch and learned to work hard at an early age. I grew up at a time of great change with the building of the Garrison Dam. Many reservation communities were relocated from the rich, self-sustaining communities along the Missouri River to isolated areas on the higher plains. The loss of basic infrastructure forced many children on our reservation to attend Indian Boarding schools.

I attended Wahpeton Indian School, about 300 miles away from my home. Like most children I knew, we were picked up by bus each fall at the nearest town and did not return until spring. I graduated from White Shield High School in 1977. That same year, my father passed away. I joined the Army that year and went through basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After I left the Army, I worked in road construction for the next 35 years and retired in Twin Cities, Minnesota.

I have always enjoyed art and take pleasure in creating pieces that represent my culture and perspective.