Duane H. Mackey

VERMILLION - Duane H. Mackey (Waktaya Naji-Stands on Guard), 71, Vermillion, passed away on Thursday, March 11, 2010, in Lincoln, Neb., from pulmonary fibrosis. Duane was born on Sept. 5, 1938, in Niobrara, Neb. He was son of John B. and Rachel W. (Frazier) Mackey. Duane was an enrolled member of the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska and was honored in Who's Who Among the Sioux. Duane married Jan Taylor on July 1, 1961. They had one child, Terrell Mackey. They later divorced. In 1957, Duane joined the 185th Air National Guard Squadron. He was honorably discharged in 1963 after attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. Duane graduated from Niobrara High School in 1956. He received a bachelor's degree in business education from Wayne State College in 1960. Duane obtained a master's degree in educational psychology in 1971 and a doctorate in educational psychology in 1979, both from the University of South Dakota. After graduating from Wayne State, Duane taught high school in Clearwater, Wakefield, and Stanton, Nebraska. In 1971, Duane became director of guidance and counseling services for the Winside (Nebraska) Public Schools. Duane also coached junior and senior high school sports, including football, basketball, cross country and golf. In 1972, Duane moved to Sioux City where he was as a guidance counselor at West Junior High School. In 1974, Duane was named the first Director of Indian Education for the Sioux City Community School District. Duane returned to Vermillion in 1976 to finish his doctorate degree. During that time, Duane was also Director of Career Development for Native American students at USD. From 1997 to 1984, he was an Assistant Professor of Education at USD. In 1984, Duane was once again became the Director of the Office of Indian Education for the Sioux City public schools. From 1985 to 1990, Duane was a private consultant providing counseling and educational services concerning the Native American and developmentally disabled communities. In 1990, Duane went to work as an educational psychologist for the Indian Health Service Hospital in Winnebago, Neb. In 1999, Duane accepted a position as an Assistant Professor with the Alcohol and Drug Studies Department at USD. In addition, Duane was the Regional Coordinator of Native American Programs for the Prairielands Addiction Technology Transfer Center. Duane was a published author in the field of Indian Education, Native American parenting, counseling Native people; mental health and alcoholism. Duane developed several diabetes assessment and testing protocols. He helped develop Wellness centers on the Omaha and Winnebago Reservations. Duane was instrumental in focusing on the relationship between the co-occurring diseases of diabetes and alcoholism in the Native American community. Duane also collaborated on the film "Nagi Kicopi: Calling Back the Spirit", which was nominated for an award at the 2001 Annual American Indian Film Festival. Duane conceived and co-developed "The Heart Room Concept," a culturally sensitive alcohol and substance abuse outreach prevention/intervention model focusing on the psycho-social, emotional and cultural "unmet needs" of Native youth within the school setting. In 2006, USD named him the Addiction Professional of the Year. In 2007, Duane received an award for Innovation in Workforce Development from the Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce in recognition of a Native American Curriculum he developed for non-Tribal substance abuse programs in South Dakota. In 2009, Duane received an Outstanding Service Award from the South Dakota State Division of Alcohol/Drug Abuse for his "commitment to the infusion of Native American Cultural principles into the treatment system of South Dakota." Duane was a member of the Council of Indigenous Advisors for the Clinical Psychology Training Program at USD; the South Dakota Division of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Advisory Council; the Professional Advisory Council of Journey to the Heart; the Native American Advisory Committee for Sioux Valley Hospital; the Native American Nursing Education Advisory Committee, USD School of Nursing Program; and the Advisory Committee for the Native American Women's Resource Center, Lake Andes, SD. Duane also served on the Building Bridges and Red Road Gathering Communities for several years. He was an elder in the Wasa Wakpe Community (the Vermillion Native community). Duane is survived by his daughter, Terrell Mackey, a granddaughter, Kenan Mackey, a brother, Clement Mackey, and several nieces and nephews. Duane was predeceased by his parents; brothers Robert B. Mackey Sr., Willard P. Mackey Sr., John E. Mackey Sr., Norman J. Mackey Sr.; sister Loraine Mackey; nephew Blue Mackey; and niece Rachel Mackey. A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. CDT Wednesday, March 17, at Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory in Yankton. The service will be conducted by the Rev. Steve Miller and the Oyate Drum will be present. Duane's body will be returned to the Santee Sioux Reservation for internment. Prayer services will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 18, and Friday, March 19, at Oyate Oyanke Community Center in Santee, Neb. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 20, at Oyate Oyanke Community Center. Father David Hussey, Dr. Wayne Evans, and Mr. Gene Thin Elk, with be co-officiants. The Maza Kute Drum Burial will be present. Burial will follow at L'Eau Qui Court in Niobrara. Pallbearers are nephews Robert B. Mackey II, John E. Mackey Jr., James Mackey, Steve Frazier, and Anthony Graham,; and friends Manuel Valladolid, David Alexander, and Sam Begay. Honorary pall bearers include his nieces and nephews, Prairielands ATTC staff, the Wasa Wakpe Community and the Niobrara High School Class of 1956.