South Dakota is celebrating 125 years of statehood. SDPB honors that milestone with stories that explore the state’s identity and heritage through unique ideas, people and places.
Our state is rich with Native American culture and pow wows are one of the most recognizable aspects. In our next series “Landscapes of South Dakota,” SDPB’s Amy Varland experienced the Oglala Nation Wacipi and Rodeo in Pine Ridge and reports what locals are saying today about the centuries old ceremony.
A pow wow is a long-held sacred tradition of Native Americans across South Dakota and across the country. It is a celebration – a gathering of families, friends, and communities.
One of South Dakota’s many pow wows, the Oglala Nation Wacipi and Rodeo takes place every summer on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in southwest South Dakota.
The streets of Pine Ridge are busy during the event. There is a steady stream of traffic – people of all ages arriving in cars, on foot - some even arriving on horseback.
Scores of locals and tourists gather at the pow wow grounds to take part in the festivities – to visit, eat traditional foods, and get a seat to watch the pow wow’s grand entry.
Bright colors abound – red, blue, black, and white. The smell of funnel cakes mixed with South Dakota wildflowers lingers in the air.
Manuel Marshall lives on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation and has been going to pow wows his whole life. He says the Oglala Nation Wacipi and Rodeo is Pine Ridge’s main event.
He says pow wows are a celebration of Native American heritage and culture with music, dance, food, and togetherness.
“Well to explain all of this, you literally cannot put it into words, it’s just something you have to come down and experience. I mean it’s a feeling, it’s not something you see, it’s not something you know you can grab and hold, it’s something that you experience, it’s something on the inside,” says Marshall.
People from across the globe come to South Dakota to experience a pow wow.
“It’s more of an experience than an activity because you come down here, you’re going to meet some people, and it’s really going to change your perspective of life. It is, it’s deep,” says Marshall.
Marshall says family is an important aspect of pow wows.
He says he comes from a family of dancers and spends much of his time at the pow wow supporting them and cheering them on.
There are several dances associated with Native American pow wows including the jingle dance, fancy dance, traditional dance, and the grass dance – each with it’s own costume and music.
Adam Hill also grew up going to pow wows on the Pine Ridge reservation.
“For me, I grew up dancing grass, and the pow wow is just another way to escape and to dance for your family, the hills, medicine, and basically it gives you something to do and it kind of keeps the culture alive, and it’s fun dancing and when you’re dancing it’s not easy, it’s kind of like cardio, and you’re out there dancing for your people and it’s nice to see the community come together,” says Hill.
Dance competitions and big payouts for the winners are a big draw for pow-wow attendees, but this year in Pine Ridge, like many other pow wows across the nation, there are other activities too - like a rodeo, skateboard competitions, language competitions, softball and basketball games, parades, mud volleyball, horse shoes, a run, and water activities for children.
Pow wows are often multi-day events and organizers say they are good for communities because they are drug and alcohol-free events.
Manuel Marshall says the traditional parts of pow wows like drum groups are his favorite but he says he also likes some of the more modern activities - like the skateboard competition.
Marshall says Native American pow wows have been taking place in South Dakota for centuries.
“The concept of it has changed quite a bit – it used to be for praying for food or family and all that, it still is I guess, but in a different sense because of the commercialism that’s here. So you know, we don’t have to pray for the buffalo to come because there’s a supermarket right down the road, so it’s become more of a competition, I guess, between dancers, and all that but, just keeping it alive and keeping it going is like awesome,” says Marshall.
Keeping pow wows going lies in the hands of the youth - organizers say it is young people that are the future of the pow wow.
There are several opportunities to experience a pow wow at locations across South Dakota. Bring good walking shoes and a big appetite. Grab an Indian taco. Shop the vendor booths. Take in the elaborate and colorful costumes, the friendly faces, and feel the heartbeat of Mother Earth through the rich pow wow drum beats.
