Wacipi honors local veterans

At the Veterans Day wacipi in Eagle Butte, three veterans salute during the Lakota flag song. On the left is Ford Lee Hill. In camouflage is Jeryn Big Eagle. (Photo by Chayo Makesroomforthem.)

On Veterans Day, 2025, a coalition of organizations came together to honor all veterans with a wacipi (pow wow) complete with great food, culture, and the Lakota language. About 65 relatives gathered at the Old Bingo Hall in Eagle Butte to pay tribute and show appreciation to veterans for their service.

Co-sponsors who contributed to the event included the West River Eagle; the CRST Game, Fish, and Park Department; the CRST Telephone Authority; Prairie Edge; the City of Eagle Butte, the Plains Indian Store, Verizon Health, Chelsie’s Chuck Wagon, the Margie Cuts the Rope family; and the Waniyetu Rose family.

Traditional dancers in adult, youth, and tiny tots categories danced with or without regalia. Four drum groups attended and participated in ceremony.

Don Roy Makesroomforthem told the story of the Code Talkers, the name given to Native Americans who used their tribal language to send secret communications on the battlefields of both World War I and World War II. He then sang an honor song he wrote about the Code Talkers.

Bill Stam, 88, a Lakota Air Force veteran who fought in Korea and Vietnam, told AARP Veteran Report in a 2022 interview, “Native Americans have fought in every war that the American flag has flown in. … We have more volunteers in the military than any other group of people.”

According to the National Indian Council on Aging, Native Americans have served in the U.S. military at a higher rate than any other cultural group, with a record of 50% enlistment among American Indians and Alaska Natives. This rate is five times the national average. The high enlistment rate is attributed to Native Americans’ core beliefs, the importance of protecting family and community, and their warrior ethos.

To date, 33 Native Americans have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor.

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