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Oglala Sioux Tribe cancels 2025 Wacipi

The Oglala Sioux Tribe has voted to cancel the 2025 Oglala Lakota Nation Wacipi.

This comes after a shooting at last year's event killed 57-year-old Tom Thunder Hawk on Aug. 2, 2024. Despite concerns, the powwow continued after Thunder Hawk’s shooting.

Instead, the tribal council has allocated a small fund for each of the nine districts to host local powwows.

The yearly event, which includes several days of powwows, rodeo, food and other events, is a major economic driver for the reservation, drawing thousands of tourists from across the nation.

C.J. Keene is a Rapid City-based journalist covering the legal system, education, and culture