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ELK POINT, SOUTH DAKOTA, USA, March 15, 2005: As far as Malathy Ramakrishnan knows, no immigrants from India live in Elk Point, a town of 1,800 people in the southeast corner of South Dakota. But that didn’t stop the Siouxland India Cultural Association from locating in the tiny hamlet. “We have a small community of Indians in this area that are scattered far and wide,” said Rama-krishnan, who lives in nearby Burbank. “Elk Point is a central place for all of us to meet.” The nonprofit association meets once a month in the former Immanuel Lutheran Church, which had moved to a new location a few years earlier. Last year, the Indian association bought the empty building, which stands two stories high and holds a kitchen, meeting hall and about eight other rooms. Members had previously congregated at each other’s homes. Participants were organized by a Yahoo group via e-mail and total about 100 families from Sioux Falls, Dakota Dunes, Vermillion and Yankton. Others come from parts of Iowa, including Sioux City, as well as Nebraska. At the monthly meetings, 30 to 50 worship together in a Hindu service called a pooja. “We wanted a place where we could get together and worship and impart our culture to our children and to others in our community,” said Ramakrishnan, an accountant who moved to South Dakota 12 years ago and has lived in the U.S. for 23 years. “Here, we are so far scattered,” she said. The children now “might be able to interact with other Indian children, other Indian families.” “They haven’t had any exposure to our culture,” she said. Her husband, Kumoli Rama-krishnan, is a dean in the University of South Dakota’s School of Business in Vermillion.



On a recent Sunday, the Ramakrishnans and 17 others gathered for a pooja and a meal. In the main sanctuary, pews were pushed aside to make room for quilts on which members sat and kneeled while they sang bhajans, or songs of worship. At the altar were statues and colorful pictures depicting the different Hindu Gods. After almost 45 minutes of singing, each group member approached the altar to give personal offerings to the deities. Following the ceremony, people adjourned to the common room for a gathering that Midwesterners know well – the potluck. Instead of casseroles and pie, however, vegetarian offerings of spicy lentils, turmeric-seasoned rice and savory potatoes graced the table.



The Elk Point group hopes to expand programs at the cultural association to include classes in yoga and public cultural celebrations. They also plan to establish a public library and historical archive, all within a year. So far, the group has heard little from the people who live near the association building on Douglas Street near the Elk Point-Jefferson High School. Judy Quam, an accountant who works with Ramakrishnan, said Elk Point residents are open-minded about different cultures. “Not many people know about it, but I’d like to think Elk Point is a friendly community,” Quam said. “We’re happy to have them.”



South Dakota ranks nearly last in the United States in the number of Indian-Americans, with 727. Montana has 521 and Wyoming has 429, according to 2000 U.S. Census figures (HPI adds: This isn’t particularly surprising, given that these three states are among the least populated in the country.)

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