HURON - Julie Garreau of Eagle Butte, who has been the executive director of the Cheyenne River Youth Project for 21 years, became the 21st winner of the Spirit of Dakota award Saturday night in the Huron Event Center.

Garreau, who volunteered with the project for 12 years before becoming a full-time paid employee in 2000, was selected over nine other nominees for the award.

In accepting the award, Garreau said, "I love South Dakota, and I love my home.

"I come from good people," she said.

She has always spoken out for the needs of others, especially for children.

Garreau has seen the Eagle Butte youth project through its development from a one-room youth center to a comprehensive youth and family services organization that includes The Main Youth Center, for children ages 4-12. The Cokata Wiconi facility that serves teens 13-18 is a Family Services program and a Volunteer Service program.

Garreau was the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe's Education Services Specialists for 15 years. She served for five years on the tribal police commission, three of those years as chairwoman.

Garreau has received many honors for her work and support of Native American children. In 2005, she was invited to Washington, D.C., to speak before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs about positive youth initiatives and youth suicide-prevention efforts on the reservation.

Garreau was one of 10 nominees for the award. Other West River women nominated were Judy Brengle of Belle Fourche, Carol Foster of Hot Springs, Hazel Heil of Newell and Darleen Young of Spearfish. The other nominees were Margaret Hunhoff, Yankton; Jeanne Pattison, Sioux Falls; Carol Peterson, Brookings; Katie Swift, Dell Rapids; and Leta Trusty, Howard.

The nominees attended a tea earlier Saturday. There also was an art show held in the afternoon for the public at the Huron Event Center, where each nominee received a picture of herself taken with the Dale Lamphere 9-foot Spirit of Dakota statue, a corsage centered around a Spirit of Dakota pin and a booklet of her nomination.

The Spirit of Dakota award plaque is a piece of art itself, each individually created by Lamphere. A one-foot bronze oval is graced with the pioneer women sculpted upon its facade. To further illuminate the award, the bronze oval is mounted on a black background, which is etched with the award inscription. The final element of the honor is a burnished gold wooden frame which securely holds award.