Donna Sitake

Growing up on a reservation in Peever, South Dakota, the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints found Donna Sitake’s family while tracting. Eager to listen, Donna begged her parents to let her listen to them and later on was baptized. This decision led her to change, describing the experience as coming “from a darkened room into light.” Later on, when Donna was 11 years old, she followed a prompting to participate in the Indian placement program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Through prayer and the teachings of her foster families, she learned more about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. With some help from the sister missionaries, she not only came to peace with her identity but also received the motivation to go out to Brigham Young University from her home in South Dakota.

BYU was not the easy experience Donna hoped it would be. Her hardest adjustment was not knowing anyone to turn to for help or an explanation. However, after immersing herself into the Indian Education Program and associated extra-curricular groups, Donna found her place within the large student population at the university. Looking back at her BYU graduation, she now refers it to be the most fulfilling moment of her life.

Tribe Affiliation: Sisseton-Wapehton Oyate.
Degree from Brigham Young University: BA Social Work (1982).

For a link to the full video interview and transcript, click here.