Doris Jean (Brewer) Giago was born on Jan. 23, 1945, in Pine Ridge, SD, to David O. Brewer and Barbara P. (O’Rourke) Brewer, and began her journey to the Spirit World on Sept. 20, 2023, at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
Funeral services were held at Batesland, SD, on Sept. 23, and burial was at the Knight Family Cemetery near Batesland. Doris was a force for change and an inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing her.
In her early years, Doris joined a convent, and she worked at Holy Rosary Mission, where she was a greatly appreciated high school typing teacher and a volleyball coach. Having left the convent, Doris’s career in journalism began in 1981, when she co-founded The Lakota Times. Her vision and determination shone brightly there until 1986, when she made the decision to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Journalism at South Dakota State University. She was a devoted mother of two young children, but also passionately committed to her pursuit of knowledge and excellence.
After completing her undergraduate degree in journalism, Doris went on to the University of Kansas, where she obtained her Master’s Degree in 1992. Having increased her expertise and having further pursued her passion for storytelling, Doris returned to Brookings to become a member of the SDSU Journalism Department. At SDSU, Doris soon became an admired and respected professor, always having an enduring impact on her students and her colleagues.
As director of the South Dakota High School Press Association, she recognized the importance of providing opportunities for Native American students and helped them feel at home in a new environment. She dedicated herself to breaking down barriers and bridging cultural gaps, and she was remarkably successful. Doris’s dedication to promoting diversity in scholastic media programs earned her numerous accolades and distinctions. For example, in 2009, she was awarded First Place by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications for her innovative journalism program titled “High School Journalism for South Dakota Indian Students.”
Her commitment to giving tribal stories prominence in the curriculum ensured that indigenous students found representation and validation. Beyond her work in the classroom, Doris extended her advocacy to the larger community.  She was recognized with the Dorothy and Eugene T. Butler Human Rights Award in 2017 for her unwavering commitment to fighting for the rights of Native Americans in South Dakota. Her passionate spirit was also exemplified through her involvement with groups such as the Brookings Reconciliation Council and SDSU’s Native American Advisory Committee, where she continued to champion social and political causes affecting tribal communities.  While Doris poured her heart into her professional endeavors, she also cherished her personal life. She found solace and joy in her hobbies of quilting, gardening, crocheting, and baking — her culinary skills were renowned among her loved ones. She was a devoted fan of SDSU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, and she was also always a Jayhawks fan as well. Doris’s greatest love was spending time with her beloved granddaughter, Juneau.
Doris is survived by her daughter, Marie Giago of Lawrence, KS; her son, Timothy Giago of Brookings, SD; her siblings, Dennis Brewer of Pine Ridge, SD, and Richard Brewer of Tulsa, OK; her grandchild, Juneau Gallagher of Lawrence, KS., and many other relatives and friends.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents, David O. and Barbara P. (O’Rourke) Brewer; her sisters, Colleen M. Brewer and Judith E. Clifford; and her brothers, David L. Brewer, Charles “Dean” Brewer, Duane Brewer, Sr. and Delmar “Fudd” Brewer.
A scholarship fund for Native American journalism students is being established in Doris’s honor at SDSU. Donations can be made to the Doris Giago Memorial Fund, SDSU Foundation, 815 Medary Ave., Brookings, SD 57006.
There will be a celebration of life gathering in Doris’s memory in Brookings in the spring.