Revisiting the legacy of “Dances With Wolves” in South Dakota

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - It’s been 35 years since actor Kevin Costner danced with wolves. The film began production in South Dakota in the summer of 1989.

“Dances with Wolves” is a title synonymous with the great films shot in South Dakota.

Its significance to the state can’t be understated.

“Just by sharing the whole story of the Native Americans. I mean they have a fantastic and amazing and beautiful culture and it really showcased that culture incredibly well. And showcased you know what happened to them and their culture,” Co-Owner of Fort Hayes Clint Jones said.

“It was one of the first movies that featured so many Lakota guys or, you know, Natives of any sort that spoke their own language. They went through a lot of trouble to do that,” Jim Hatzell, an artist with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), said.

The film was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won seven including Best Picture and Best Director.

“Dances With Wolves” was shot in the original Fort Hayes film set near Caputa as well as Spearfish Canyon.

Hatzell was an extra on the film and is proud of how the movie was made.

“Today, I can understand they might wanna do the buffalo hunting scene with a lot of computer-generated bison. They did it with the real thing,” Hatzell said.

Hatzell added the film’s legacy in South Dakota speaks for itself.

“We’ll just add that to the ‘Last Hunt’, and ‘How The West Was Won.’ If they want to have a really important epic film, come to South Dakota,” Hatzell says.

“I honestly meet people that come here to the film site to this day that are younger than me, that the movie wasn’t even out and they tell me it’s one of their favorite films. So, to see that happen with any movie is always a feat. You know, I mean there’s very few movies that can do that,” Jones says.

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