Tokala Akicita escort in new OST President

 

OGLALA – As the trilling of Lakota Winyan and the Akisa of Lakota Wicasa resonated through the cold crisp morning air, excitement grew as an entourage of Tokala Akicita escorted the newly elected President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Frank Star Comes Out, toward the entrance of Isna Wicasa Owayawa in Oglala.

Hundreds gathered on Friday, Dec. 9 to witness this traditional Lakota Wicasa take on the leadership role of the largest of the Sioux Tribes, the Oglala Lakota Nation.

The entourage which began their trek at Wocekiya, the Jumping Eagle family ranch, included not only the Tokala Akicita, but also the Badd Werkz Motorcycle Club and the Si Tanka Wokiksuye Sungawanka Kan Akupi horseback riders.

A Peta Wakan (sacred Fire) burned at the entrance of Isna Wicasa Owayawa, where the Tokala Society brought Star Comes Out into the circle and conducted a Wocekiye na Tokala Ceremony and presented him with a Sag’ye, the Tokala Society sash, a Wambli Wiyaka and a Peji Hota bundle, as the drumbeat of the Creekside Singers reverberated in the background.

Star Comes Out was then escorted into the Isna Wicasa Owayawa gymnasium, where the inauguration ceremony was to take place. Before the ceremony began, the Tokala Society presented their new Itanchun with a Wapaha (War Bonnet) which his brother James Star Comes Out helped bestow upon him.

Guests were then treated to lunch and were served Wahunpi and sandwiches.

Eyapaha wicasa Robert Two Crow explained during the lunch break the importance of the Lakota societies. Two Crow emphasized the urgency of passing on knowledge about traditional societies which he said include the Tokala or Kit-Fox, the Kangi Yuha or Crow Owners, the Hoka or Badger and the Cante Tinza or Brave Hearts. In recent years there has been a revival of traditional warrior societies which was most evident at the Star Comes Out inaugural ceremony.

To the beat of one of the most renowned drum groups in Lakota Country, the Sons of Oglala’s, began the grand entry led by Star Comes Out and the Tokala’s. They were followed by former OST President Scott Weston, Vice-President Alicia Mousseau and visiting dignitaries Harold Frazier, former Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairwoman Janet Alkire.

Representatives from each of the nine districts of the Oglala Lakota Nation carried banners inscribed with the names of their district, followed by their OST Council representatives. Also in the grand entry were Tribal Royalty and members of the Tokala Society.

Introducing the newest Itanchun of the Oglala Sioux Tribe was Eyapaha Wicasa Chris Eagle Elk. 

Taking on his role as president began on Monday, Dec. 7 at a legal swearing in ceremony after which Star Comes Out was hit by tribal business matters that needed his immediate attention. With his head still swirling he said he did not have time to prepare a speech and would give the presidential address from his heart.

“I grew up here in Oglala, this is where it all started. This community has a rich history,” he said and that he attended grade school in Oglala and then went on to attend Red Cloud Indian School.

Growing up in a single parent family he said he understands what it means to grow up in poverty, “I know the struggle. It affects you every day,” but said the struggle made him strong. “But today I can do something about it. It’s all thanks to you – I can do something about it.”

During his campaign he said he visited all the districts and listened to the people’s concerns and that giving a voice to the people is how he is going to run his administration.

“Because they are crying, our people are crying to be heard, we need to listen to our people. It’s not going to be easy, but we need to support them. When I come out to the districts I want to see how many broken spirits we have, I want to listen to your ideas,” he said and that the people are the leaders and that council representatives are just that, representatives of the people. “Because the power is here with the people. I want to give power back to the people, so they can have a voice.”

He also emphasized that his administration needs to make better allies with the state, local city, tribal and the federal government, “We need to work together.” Star Comes Out also emphasized the importance of unity and a need to unite the Oceti Sakonwin.

Next to speak was Vice-president Alicia Mousseau, “Wopila to the people, wopila to our ancestors, wopila to the future generations. Wopila to our distant tribes the Lakota, Nakota and Dakota relatives and to the Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho relatives who always had our backs. And wopila to Tunkasila for making us Oglala Lakota.”

Mousseau said she learned a lot during her last term and “that relationships are the foundations of our lives.” She said as an anthologist she knows the importance of kinships and what it means to be a good relative.

“We don’t stand up here alone. We stand up here together,” she said and that together they stood up against the pandemic and protected each other. “We will continue to stand together to protect our sacred children against the Supreme Court who wants to take them away from us…Together we will stand as Oglala people and defend all that we know as sacred.”

Harold Frazier, former Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, told the hundreds gathered to witness the inauguration of a new President that one of the biggest challenges tribes face is to get the federal government to honor treaties.

“We hear President Biden say that he will honor the treaties,” Frazier said. “So we need to face them and make them honor our treaties.”

He also cautioned tribal leaders to be weary of signing new agreements, and the need to quit depending on the federal government.

“If you need to fix your roads, just do it. If you need better health care, just do it. That needs to be our new motto, just do it,” Frazier encouraged.

Also speaking was Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairwoman Janet Alkire who told the new OST President, “If we stand together as nations we can accomplish a lot.”

Also speaking was former OST President Scott Weston, elder Edward Star, youth speakers, and the SD Congressional Delegation via Zoom. 

The day ended with supper and a traditional wacipi.

(Contact Ernestine Anunkasan Hupa at anunkasanhupa@gmail.com)

The post Tokala Akicita escort in new OST President first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

Visit Original Source