Reclaim land for buffalo and Lakota lifeways

MILA YATAN PIKA PTE OYATE OKOLAKICIYE (KNIFE CHIEF BUFFALO NATION ORGANIZATION)

Project Report

The summer has been extremely busy with two cultural spiritual camps that were held in June and July and a children’s cultural camp that was held in July also. Two young men went through the Wicasa Ihuni (Becoming a Man) ceremony at the first part of June. The purpose of the ceremony is for the young men to receive traditional teachings on becoming a man and more specifically, becoming a Lakota man. The young men go through four consecutive nights of Inipi (purification lodge ceremony) with other men who provide teachings, guidance and assist with the preparation for the buffalo hunt they do on the fifth day. During the preparation period, they are asked to make relatives with the spirit of the buffalo they are going to kill so that there will be a spiritual bond between them. The buffalo provides nourishment; sustenance and spiritual teachings for the young man to emulate and these teachings are intended to provide a path for the young man. For example, the Pte Oyate (buffalo nation0 protect their young by placing them in the middle of the herd when danger is imminent. Likewise, the young man is taught that when he has children, he must protect them at all costs. This is a very important teaching given contemporary times and situations where the father is absent is too common.

The children’s camp was a great success! There were 22 children and their parent/guardians for a total of 45 people participating in the camp on July 17-20, 2012. The children’s camp focused on the ages of 7-10 and those who experienced grief, trauma and major loss. 19 of the children experienced the “wopakinte” (spiritual purification) by Elders, the intent of the ceremony is to provide an opportunity for the children‘s spirit to be wiped with sage which represents medicine for the spiritual wound they carry from the trauma, grief and loss they experienced. The Lakota belief is that only sage and eagle feathers can wipe away the spiritual residue left from the trauma; in this case sage was used. 9 children received a Lakota spirit name which is an important milestone in their lives as the Lakota people believe that the Lakota spiritual name anchors one more solidly to the earth and strengthens the cultural and personal identity. Another healing activity for them was the horseback riding provided by Bamm Brewer who did an excellent presentation and was very patient and kind while teaching the children who did not know how to ride. It was extremely hot during the camp, the temperature exceeded 100 degrees every day. Thankfully, there was a swimming pool for the children and one day Dr. Mark Butterbrodt treated them to the water slides in Rapid City. This camp would not have been possible without the prayers and hard work by all the volunteers as well as the people who donated to this camp. Lila Wopila Tanka (thank you very much)!! The children and their parent/guardian wrote such beautiful words about the camp and that they hope there will be another; one little girl said she had prayed for a camp where “ we sleep in tipis, where everyone loved each other, where we had good food , ride horses and where we went swimming and my prayers were answered”. She seemed amazed that her prayers were answered; her mother commented that the camp was a blessing for her family. It is hoped that we can offer another opportunity like this; we received a request from a neighboring Tribe to have a similar camp for their community. Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to offer such a camp on a regular basis. The ideal situation would be to offer a camp like this on a quarterly basis so that the children can stay connected to an important resource. With the suicide attempts and completions among our young people (there were 2 completed suicides of young men, both age 22 on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in the first two weeks of August!); a regular and ongoing camp would be an important suicide prevention resource.

The adults participating in the camp also benefited, they participated in Talking Circles, participated in the Inipi (purification lodge) ceremony with their children and had Dr. Larry Burke share his Emotional Freedom Tapping (EFT) approach with them as a response to depression, diabetes management and obesity prevention/intervention. Hmuya Mani (Richard Two Dogs), Lakota Traditional Healer, provided immeasurable help not only in conducting the spiritual ceremonies for the children but he and Tony Bush, a local Porcupine community member and Vietnam Veteran made sure the arbor was covered with pine boughs. Gene Kolaczkowski, Psychotherapist from Gunderson Lutheran in Wisconsin provided great therapeutic activities for the children and Dr. Elizabeth Warson from George Washington University brought some Art students and did art therapy with the children. The volunteers were exceptional – Gina Good Crow, Susan Hawk, Savannah Jensen, Tamara Red Owl, Johnnie Big Crow, Dawn Frank, Jolene Martin, Wilma Kills In Water, Bev Tuttle, Mary Iron Cloud, Santee Baird, Chris Valandra, Brice Valandra, Elder Isaac Last Horse, Stella Iron Cloud, Laura Wilcox, Cindy Giago, Forrest Calhoun, Eugene Giago Jr., Bamm Brewer, Mark Butterbrodt, Yamni Frank, Ed Iron Cloud, Eileen Iron Cloud, Ramona White Plume, Tilda Long Soldier , Elizabeth, the Art Students, Uma, Peter, Gene, Larry and the ladies and gentleman from Gunderson Lutheran who helped with the sewing of the Inipi dresses for the little girls – all truly amazing in their caring and hard work!. I hope I did not forget anyone! All in all, it was a great experience for many; this quote from one of the volunteers says it all:

“I will never forget this experience. All of the children were/are so special and unique in their own little way. I saw them experience unconditional love from family, Grandparents, Aunties, Uncles and Community Members. I also saw that for the children whom did not have a sense of identity, they left with a stronger sense of self and who and where they come from.”  

Future Events

We hope to start the fencing of the additional pasture so that the buffalo will have more land to graze and roam; and so that the current pasture does not get overgrazed. We hope to be working with Wild Idea Buffalo and their affiliates on this project. 7-8 miles need to be fenced and it will take about a mile a week to complete so the entire project should take about 7-8 weeks. We are also planning an Ista mni Wicakici Pakinta Pi (Wiping of Tears) ceremony for the Porcupine community on Saturday, September 1, 2012. There have been many deaths in the community over the past year and this ceremony is a way to acknowledge the loss, provide comfort through prayer, song, words of encouragement and food. The Lakota belief is that this signifies a way to strengthen fellow community members as they adjust to the absence of their loved one but does not mean it is the end of the mourning period or grieving. Traditionally, Lakota people have a dinner and giveaway upon the one year anniversary of their loved one’s passing. The Wiping of Tears ceremony is the Lakota way of saying “we know you are hurting, here are some encouraging words, food and prayers to help you on your journey without your loved one here on earth”.

Closing

Wopila (thank you) to all the people who have contributed to Knife Chief Buffalo Nation Organization, your generosity is most appreciated and have made it possible to continue with our work!

Links:

• Knife Chief Community Bison Project Summer Youth Camps

Mila Yatan Pika Pte Oyate Okolakiciye (Knife Chief Buffalo Nation Organization) Updates

Greetings from the Knife Chief Buffalo Nation organization in Pahin Sinte (Porcupine), SD! It is beautiful and green in the buffalo pasture and the sight of buffalo keeping a close eye on their new calves brings to mind the teaching to always look out for our young. As a volunteer organization, our goals include preserving and implementing the teachings from the buffalo nation so that our children and future generations will always have a connection to our relatives the buffalo. This is an update on our activities in the past couple of months and a forecast of our future activities.

On April 7, 2012, we co-sponsored an event, Sunkawakan Ta Woonspe (Teachings from the Horse Nation) which was held at the Knife Chief Buffalo Pasture on April 7, 2012. This was a healing event designed to connect and reconnect the community with the healing powers of the horse nation. We began the event with a Wocekiye (opening blessing) by our esteemed Spiritual Leader, Hmuya Mani (Walking with a Roaring – Richard Two Dogs) and a presentation on the sacredness of horses with an emphasis on our relationship with them as relatives. Historically, horses were and still are used for healing based on the belief that that they are a mirror ourselves as the humans or two-legged. Also, Lakota people believe that they can take physical and mental and emotional illness from us as humans.

After the presentation, a naming ceremony was held for one of the horses who carried the spirit of our great Warrior and Spiritual Leader, Tunkasila Tasunke Witko (Grandfather Crazy Horse) during the Crazy Horse Ride that happens every June in Pine Ridge, SD, to honor his leadership, and great feats in the battles and wars to protect his people and fight for their rights. The horse was covered with a beautiful star quilt as part of the naming ceremony.

Natan Hinapa (Comes Charging, Bamm Brewer), who is an organizer for the Crazy Horse Ride recounted how knowing that the spirit of Grandfather Crazy Horse rides with them every year has strengthened the riders and how it has impacted him spiritually. Natan Hinapa presented a beautiful horse mask to Hmuya Mani as a gift, the mask was worn by one of Natan Hinapa’s horses in the Crazy Horse Ride and also in the Sunkawakan Ta Woonspe event (see photo 1).

Oglala Hanska (Percy White Plume), of the Wacinhin Ska Tiospaye (White Plume Family) and Nata Hinapa brought their horses to bless the people. The people gathered in a circle and the horses were led in while the drum group sang songs in their honor. While the horses were led around the inside of the circle of people, everyone raised their hands to receive the blessings from them (see photo). There were about 75 people present and it was a beautiful day in the Knife Chief Buffalo pasture. The event ended with a great meal, buffalo soup that was cooked by one of our great outdoor chefs – Anthony Bush of Porcupine, SD, an Elder and Vietnam Veteran. Many other people donated food and supplies for the meal, great thanks to all of them. Tasunke Wakan Okolakiciye (Medicine Horse Society) assisted with securing donations for the portable out houses, which were a necessity given the remoteness of the Knife Chief Buffalo Pasture (several miles out in the beautiful rolling hills east of Porcupine, SD).

Other News

Mahpiya Maza (Iron Cloud), one of our Buffalo caretakers, secured and hauled posts that will be used for the hay yard and sorting pen for the buffalo. He was assisted by relative and community member, William Locke. This project will continue as we move toward gathering resources to fence the additional acreage leased by Knife Chief Buffalo Nation Organization.

Upcoming Events/Activities

We are in the process of preparing two young men for a Wanasa Pi (buffalo hunt) which is the traditional Lakota way to mark the rite of passage into manhood. The young men go through four days of purification in the Inipi (purification lodge); commonly known as the Sweat lodge. As in all important ceremonies, a four day purification process is observed. Offerings are made to the spiritual entities for a successful hunt, to ask forgiveness for taking the buffalo’s life and to make a connection with the spirit of the buffalo so that the people will receive nourishment, both physically and spiritually. During the four day preparation period, the young men are given guidance by the older men and through spiritual guidance, the importance of the Wanasa Pi ceremony is stressed and teachings on the role of the Lakota man are also provided. The ceremony will be held at the Knife Chief Buffalo Pasture on May 18, 2012.

We are also preparing for our two annual Sundance ceremonies, one of which is held at the Knife Chief Buffalo pasture. Two years ago, at sunrise on the first day of the Sundance ceremony, the buffalo came to the top of the hill on the east side as the Sundancers were making their prayers to the east and gave them a blessing. We hope to be blessed by them again at this year’s Sundance ceremony.

Knife Chief Buffalo Nation organization is also co-sponsoring a Wakanyeja Wicoti (children’s camp) that will be held the week of July 16-20, 2012 in Porcupine, SD. This camp will focus on the needs of Lakota children who have experienced grief, loss and trauma. We are in the process of securing additional sponsorship and partnerships to assist with this much needed camp. There are people that have committed to volunteering their time at this camp and we have received word that a most generous person is assisting with securing camp supplies. The people of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation have a very high death rate from illness and accidents and many families are under severe stress from this as well as from living in poverty and/or living with violence and/or addiction. These stressors can cause children to have needs related to grief, loss and trauma and this camp is one small effort that Knife Chief Buffalo Nation Organization can help with to address some of the needs of our Wakanyeja – a Lakota term for “sacred beings”.

Thank you for your support of the Mila Yatan Pika Pte Oyate Okolakiciye (Knife Chief Buffalo Nation Organization) and we look forward to sharing future updates with you all. For more information about anything in this article, contact Ethleen, eictd@gwtc.net. Lila Pila Unyapi Ye (We thank you very much).

Links:

• Knife Chief Page on Village Earth's Site