Pony up at Kiza Park! 

KIZA PARK – Following two days of 100 degree temperatures, Tuesday was a relief in the high 80s with a wonderful breeze and mixture of sun and clouds. Everyone sitting on folding chairs and at picnic benches was poised for an afternoon of laughs, trills and surprises as the War Pony Races began at the White Plume racetrack in Kiza Park. The older men traded horse stories of their daring feats as they watched the races and feasted on stuffed fry bread, burgers, and walking nachos which was an ingenious way to cut down on paper plates. The long side of an individual bag of Doritos is opened up and the ingredients are added to the package – shredded cheese, beef, lettuce and tomatoes. What a treat!

In 1978 through 1979, a young Alex White Plume returned home from military service in Berlin. Arriving at the Pine Ridge Reservation, Alex was forced to confront the poverty that he had temporarily escaped by enlisting in the army. His homecoming including bonding with a little horse whose ears had been lost from frost bite in the bitter South Dakota winter. The name of the horse was Ornery as Hell (Ohansica) and he was a mean son of a gun at that. With his brother Percy, Alex began to race around the reservation on horseback at lightning speed. Even the tribal police could not stop them.

The year 1980 celebrated the marriage of Alex and Debra. The White Plume family made their home in Manderson, South Dakota, less than ten miles from the Wounded Knee Memorial. The couple soon decided they needed an activity for the nine children in their combined family. So pony races and games were started with their own kids, but soon grew into a community affair to celebrate the Native American victory over the US Calvary and General George Armstrong Custer on June 25^th, 1876. Lakota call this the battle of Greasy Grass but the majority of Americans refer to it as the Battle of Little Big Horn.

The pony races became a symbol of the resurgence of Lakota culture that was returning to Native life back in the 1970s. Categories were grouped by age and type of race. The culmination of the races had the riders chasing an impersonator of General Custer to capture his flag. The excitement, enthusiasm and fun experienced by the participants young and old as they compete for prizes surrounded by rolling hills draped in sunshine cannot be minimized.

The race track is surrounded by hemp plants. Alex White Plume fought the Federal government for sixteen years for the right to grow industrial hemp on the Pine Ridge Reservation. He is a hero around the world for being the warrior that he is. Debra White Plume was a hero in her own right as a Water Protector, for shutting down the uranium mines and for her activism. Deb joined the ancestors on November 10, 2020. Her spirit lives on in the 67 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren she and Alex share. And man o’ man, can they ride!

Here is a list of some of the competitions children and adults competed on at the War Pony Races:

Over and Back

Women’s War Hoop Contest

Capture the Flag (this is the race where the riders surround and take down a blond haired wasi’chu who is brave enough to volunteer to play General Custer)

Women’s Medley

Women’s  Half Mile

Men’s Mile Bareback

Over and Back Boot Race

Pull Your Horse

Hoop Threading

Women’s Stick Horse Race

Men’s Li Li Contest

Rescue Race

Drag the Hide

Women’s Medley in Honor of Brooke Camp

Adorned Horse Show in Honor of Alex White Plume

Women’s Half Mile Saddle in Memory of Andre Anne Iron Shell

The White Plume family honored those who have gone on to the ancestors as well as those whose lives have been taken in Gaza. In April of 2018, Alex White Plume traveled to Vermont to speak with Norman Finkelstein, the premiere expert in the world on Gaza, on the topic of “Genocide: In Gaza and on the Reservation.” That was six years ago. Who could have guessed the world would be witnessing the slaughter of the Palestinians in real time each day with no end in sight? “Free Palestine” signs and a Palestinian flag were present to remind the audience of the atrocities elsewhere in the world.

On the Pine Ridge Reservation, it is common for resident to go through a monthly cycle of having cash at the beginning of the month to almost none by the end of it. The White Plumes instituted a series of cash prizes for all of the riders who begin racing at the age of six and stop in their late teens. The races provide a celebration and community meal where families can honor their heritage, their relationship with their horses and a day of pride. $5,000 is raised each year for prize money. No one goes home empty handed. At the end of the day, everyone receives a gift.

Rosebud and Mato White Plume produced this amazing event down to the last detail. They had thought of everything for the safety and comfort of the riders and audience members. Rosebud was a proud mother when Mato, surrounded by all of his cousins, received his first eagle feather for acknowledging him stepping into his leadership role within the family and his community. The group, standing in a circle, prayed to each of the four directions representing the new generation coming forward.

The next generation of Alex and Deb’s grandchildren go charging off around the hills of Manderson. The tradition continues. Bragging is not allowed in Lakota culture except for June 25^th, when riders and their family members are allowed to boast of their bravery and skill on horseback. 

Antonio did not give up.  During the Pull Your Horse competition, his horse would not cooperate. Rather than quit, he went back to the starting line and got himself another horse.

Oyate White Plume speared all the rings at a high speed gallop and successfully made it to the finish line without dropping any of them.

Alex and her spirited horse had a great day of competing. She is an honored member of the White Plume tiospaye as it was her determination and horsemanship that broke the line of aggressors up at Standing Rock when, as a Water Protector, she ran through them on her horse.

The Master of Ceremonies kept the energy up and the audience laughing. After the boot race, where the riders add their boots to a bag then dash up to it on horseback, leap off of their horse and dump the contents of the bag out on the ground, find their boots, then get back on their horse and race to the finish line, the MC made the announcement that the riders needed to get their boots back on because he was standing down-wind. The audience roared.

Honored guests included environmental and human rights activist Winona La Duke who was warmly welcomed by everyone. She is a War Pony Race veteran, both as a rider and member of the audience. Breanna Brave Heart, the reigning Miss Oglala County, said a few words and encouraged everyone to register to vote. She mentioned that Governor Kristi Noem was interested in getting rid of the reservations in South Dakota. Perhaps that is because she has been banned from all of them within the state.

All are welcome at Kiza Park as long as there is no religious proselytizing. Bitter feelings remain from the time of the enforced enrollment in residential schools. So when you visit Kiza Park, leave your religion at home. Just by being there you will experience a sense of gratitude and Spirit.

(Contact Mia Feroleto at mia.feroleto@gmail.com)

The post Pony up at Kiza Park!  first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

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