PINE RIDGE, S.D.(KOTA)- At the Red Cloud Indian School, a group of kindergartners are learning their colors in Lakota.

Rilda Means, director of community relations and marketing for the school, provided the group the context of Red Cloud’s presence.

Matt Rama is a teacher and director of immersion and a teacher at Red Cloud, and said the schools immersion program began with a desire to improve education for his own children.

Rama said students are still learning English successfully at home.

A group of Rapid City lawmakers, business leaders, and media were invited to tour the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation Thursday, with the first stop being Red Cloud.

The tour was organized before the incident at the Grand Gateway Hotel, but many in attendance couldn’t help but note the timing of the two events.