The Sacred Sovereignty Pow Wow on Sunday, organized by the Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association, helped kick off the National Congress of American Indians mid-year conference in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Hundreds of dancers took part in the event at the Civic Center. "Powwows are a way for Indians to socialize, but they keep the foundation of spirituality involved in everything as well," Jesse Taken Alive of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe told The Rapid City Journal.

Tribal leaders will be at the center all week for the conference. They will hear from Obama administration officials, South Dakota officials and key members of Congress about law enforcement, health, education, land-into-trust, languages and other issues.

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Pow Wow keeps tradition alive (The Rapid City Journal 6/21)