This report covers the Fall season of 2017. Mila Yatan Pika Pte Oyate Okolakiciye (Knife Chief Buffalo Nation Society) continues to provide a pasture/home for members of the Pte Oyate (Buffalo Nation) and the community continues to reap the benefits in terms of spiritual nurturing through their teachings and physical nourishment from them. Here’s a summary of our activities for this period.
The Lakota people follow a spiritual calendar in which offerings of natural tobacco and spiritual food are made when the sun passes through a particular constellation throughout the year. On October 21, 2017, offerings were made in observance of when the traditional time the buffalo returned to the sacred Black Hills. The next offerings will be made on December 21, 2017 for the Wanicokan (mid-Winter) ceremony which marks the beginning of the time to prepare for the Spring and Summer ceremonies, including gathering red willow branches to prepare to make the natural tobacco used in the ceremonies.
Koskalaka Wicayuwita Pi (Young Men’s Gathering) Cultural Camp November 9-13, 2017
Tipis Young Men’s Camp Nov 2017 Porcupine SD
Mila Yatan Pika Pte Oyate Okolakiciye (Knife Chief Buffalo Nation Organization partnered with the Tasunke Wakan Okolakiciye on a cultural camp for boys and young men on November 9-13, 2013.. Knife Chief Buffalo Nation Society board member Richard Two Dogs and Gene Giago, Elder of the Tasunke Wakan Okolakiciye (Medicine Horse) led the planning and implementation of this effort, with the help of male relatives volunteers, the event was a huge success! The age group was age 12–17 and there were 12 boys that participated. The focus on the camp was on the Lakota traditional teachings on becoming a man. The importance of Lakota kinship, protecting the people and providing for the people were major themes.
Figure 2 Boys and Young Men’s Camp, Porcupine, SD Nov 2017
The boys and young men were also taught how to hunt in a safe and respectful manner emphasizing that the deer and buffalo that were hunted also have a spirit and that an offering be made when taking their lives. Wopila tanka (a big thank you in the Lakota Language) to all the volunteers for the camp including Richard Two Dogs, Gene Giago, Joe Giago, Richard Giago, Mac McFarland, Santee Baird, Matthew Shoulders, Eugene Giago Jr., Stan Holder Jr., Randi Boucher Giago, and Hail Baird. A big thank you to Mark Butterbrodt, Linda Two Bulls, Michelle Curry, Cindy Giago, Gene Tyon Jr., Jennifer Tomac, Colleen Ragan and Chris Eagle Hawk for their part in making this camp a success. Appreciation goes to Elton Yellow Boy for providing the first aid/cpr training for the volunteers. There may be someone we’ve not included, it was not intentional!
Spiritual Calendar Observance – Pte Ta Tiopa – (Doorway to the Black Hills for the Buffalo), October 21, 2017
The Lakota people follow a spiritual calendar in which offerings of natural tobacco and spiritual food are made when the sun passes through a particular constellation throughout the year. On October 21, 2017, offerings were made in observance of when the traditional time the buffalo returned to the sacred Black Hills. The next offerings will be made on December 21, 2017 for the Wanicokan (mid-Winter) ceremony which marks the beginning of the time to prepare for the Spring and Summer ceremonies, including gathering red willow branches to prepare to make the natural tobacco used in the ceremonies.
Star in Quilt Represents Relationship between Lakota people and Star Nation
Preparing a New Pasture for the Buffalo Relatives
Unloading posts for buffalo fence, Porcupine SD
In the Spring of 2017, we began preparing a new home for the buffalo relatives which involves fencing nearly 5 miles and installing a solar powered well for their water source. We had help from Jeremy Langdeaux, Jeremy Glasgow, Tekuani, Donavon Thunder Hawk, Jr., William Locke, Adrian Yellow Boy, James Bush, Richard Two Dogs, Ed Iron Cloud III (who heads up the project), Bob Iron Cloud, Jeff Iron Cloud, Lucille Contreras to name several. This is an ongoing project due to the financial expense. We thank our supporters for the ongoing quest to make the new home for the buffalo a reality.
