After over 40 years of history in their current building, the voice of the Lakota Nation is starting the process of moving.
While the completed vision is still some time and fundraising away, ground has been broken on KILI radio’s new home.
Between the communities of Porcupine and Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Reservation is KILI Radio, situated at their longtime home on Porcupine Butte – but only for a little bit longer.
Bill Means is the president of the stations board of directors. He said it’s a multimillion-dollar project.
“Four to five million, and like I said every time it seems like we have a meeting it seems the price goes up," Means said. "Some of you who have been involved with building or been a part of a board building a facility, you know the price of materials has skyrocketed in the last two years.”
To donate to the fundraising campaign, you’re encouraged to contact the station. Radio announcements and direct fundraising mail to station supporters will also begin soon.
Means said as much as they need the newer space, they also want to create new opportunities for the community.
“We could run a good training program for the young people," Means said. "We also have schools in every district, so we’re looking at high school to start and college here to train some professional DJs. It’s been a hard road, but it’s a good one because the services we provide are very much needed.”
Everything, from the real-time happenings of tribal government to local high school sports, are broadcast live to the people of the reservation and Rapid City via transmitter.
Board member Tally Plume said the value of this kind of programming is incalculable to a community.
“It’s a clearinghouse for information of what’s going on with our tribal government, and it’s a vehicle for getting information out to people in addition to what’s already available with social media," Plume said. "We pride ourselves on representing things accurately as opposed to what happens on social media with rumors. I think the radio station tries really hard to report facts.”
Plume said the station has no plans to go off air at any point during the move.