He Sapa Wacipi. Photo by Karin Eagle
He Sapa Wacipi na Oskate brings history to life
By Karin Eagle
Native Sun News Staff Writer RAPID CITY—The He Sapa Wacipi na Oskate begins this week in the foothills of the sacred Black Hills. The location of the Pow wow, right along Rapid Creek at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, is not only fitting but some would say quite appropriate. For thousands of years, the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota people would travel around their traditional homelands visiting other bands and tribes that camped along the creeks and valleys. When they arrived gifts were exchanged and songs were sung and all the finest garments that were made over the winter months were pulled out and worn with great pride. Stories of great feats or survival of harrowing episodes were recounted to the gathering; warriors who earned feathers or the right to paint themselves or their horses were honored; their women folk given the special honor of calling for songs and dances on their behalf. Children born over the colder months were presented for naming ceremonies; hunka, or adoptions, were performed, creating a wider reaching family web; weddings were performed and memorials held for those who had passed on the year before. In all of the activity, there were songs; the drum; dancing; laughter. These are all the elements that, despite years of outside influences, the Lakota people have held on to. Some of the worst times in the history of the tribes were survived because of the songs and stories and laughter. That is what can and will be found at the He Sapa Wacipi (Black Hills Pow wow) 2014 marks the 28th annual Pow wow; a Pow wow that has undergone many growth spurts and changes; a Pow wow that is now considered one of the bigger and more influential gatherings in Indian Country. The current day powwow is a direct link to those past gatherings; evolved and created into a less “traditional” version, the all important elements are still holding the entire event together. What Pow wows look like; the singing, dancing and colorful regalia, are merely the icing on the cake. The real substance of the Pow wow is the people involved: The Singers, the Dancers, the Spectators, the Elders, the Veterans, the Announcers and the Security (Akicita) that patrol the perimeter; another throw back to the past. A typical Pow wow starts on Friday evening with a single Grand Entry and preliminary contest dancing, as well as Intertribal dancing. Saturday has two Grand Entries, one in the afternoon and the other in the evening after a dinner break. Sunday usually has a single Grand Entry in the afternoon after which the final competitions are held for the contest. The dance arena is blessed before the dancing ever begins and is considered to be sacred ground for the duration of the celebration. There should be no drugs, alcohol, profanity, or bad intentions brought into the circle. The Grand Entry begins each session with a procession of dancers. The Flag Bearers lead the procession carrying the Eagle Staff, American Flag, Canadian Flag, and frequently, the MIA-POW Flag. Being a Flag Bearer is an honor usually given to a veteran, a respected traditional dancer, or a traditional elder. The host and visiting Royalty are next, consisting of tribal and organizational princesses and other dignitaries. These people are chosen to represent their organizations and tribes because of the character and talents that they exhibit. Everyone is asked to stand during the Grand Entry and men should remove their head coverings unless it has an eagle feather. After all the dancers are in the arena, a flag song is sung to honor the Eagle Staff and the flags. Then a respect person, usually an elder, offers a prayer. A Victory song is sung during which the Eagle Staff and flags are placed in their standards. The victory songs are once again throwbacks to those times when the gatherings were held to help welcome home the warriors and acknowledge their courage and commitment to protecting the people. At this time, the Master of Ceremonies will introduce the Head Dancers and Royalty. The MC helps to keep the gathering moving forward; announcing which category will be contesting next; explaining the ceremonies and honoring being held; entertaining the crowd with jokes and stories from days gone past. Ruben Little Head will be one of the MCs at this year’s Pow wow. One of the running jokes along the Pow wow trail in the Northern Plains is that you aren’t “somebody” until Ruben calls you out at a Pow wow and pokes fun at you a little bit. It is all harmless teasing and nobody takes it out of context or too personally. The Arena Director is another important person to be aware of. It is his responsibility to make certain the dancers and singers have the amenities they need and to organize the Grand Entry. One of his most important duties is to protect a feather if it drops to the ground and to assure the proper pick up ceremony for it. In the evolved version of the Pow wow, contest is divided into categories by age and style. The number of categories varies among regions according to local traditions and to the number of dancers. Dancers are judged on their regalia, as well as their dancing style. Dancing out of beat, losing regalia, or failing to stop on the fast drum beat can disqualify a dancer. The age categories being with Tiny Tots which are children five years old and under, Boys and Girls ages 6 to 11 are next, then Boys and Girls ages 12-17. The Adult categories are divided between men and women 18-39, and Senior Adults men and women 40-59. The Golden Age category is for men and women ages 60 and older. One of the most important things in the life of a Native American is the Drum. Our whole culture centers on the Drum. Without the Drum and the singers around it, the tribes could not have Pow wows. The Drum brings the heart beat of our Earth Mother to the Pow wow for all to feel and hear. Drumming brings everyone back into balance. Whether dancing, singing, or just listening, people around the Drum can connect with spirit. It is no wonder the Drum should be treated with great respect. The singers themselves are given special honors and respect by everyone; they have the very special honor of carrying on not only the songs themselves but the stories they contain, and possibly most importantly, the language they were originally told in. It is through the languages of all the tribes that the living thread exists of their culture, the spirituality, and their future. Just like a strong steady heartbeat represents a living being’s strength, so does the language of all the tribes, whether written or oral. Songs created to tell the origin stories; songs for spiritual ceremonies; songs of encouragement and prayer; songs that were created to amuse and entertain; not one single song is unimportant to the tribes. The He Sapa Wacipi na Oskate comes once a year. Every October without fail, there will be this returning to the Black Hills of the Lakota/Dakota and Nakota tribes, and all of their guests. The times spent in this contemporary city, in the contemporary building, will transcend all the new and evolved ways of the Pow wow and bring back the sacred elements that are available to everyone who attends. Native and Non-Native alike, the singing is for you; the dancing is done on your behalf; and the prayers and laughter are all yours to take home with you. Native Sun News welcomes all of the visitors to the sacred Black Hills and hope that you enjoy this time of family, fun and laughter, prayer and thanksgiving, with us all. (Contact Karin Eagle at staffwriter@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
Join the Conversation
