{"id":31319,"date":"2021-08-26T16:20:38","date_gmt":"2021-08-26T21:20:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/inmate-healing-at-prison-pow-wow\/"},"modified":"2021-08-26T16:20:38","modified_gmt":"2021-08-26T21:20:38","slug":"inmate-healing-at-prison-pow-wow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/inmate-healing-at-prison-pow-wow\/","title":{"rendered":"Inmate Healing At Prison Pow-Wow"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Prisoner Healing: More than 220 inmates form a healing circle at Mike Durfee State Prison on August 7th during a memorial and honoring song for all those lost during the covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

SPRINGFIELD\u2014\u201cWelcome everybody to our first pow-wow in 18 months. At this wacipi <\/em>we would like to remember all those we lost during this 100-year pandemic. My heart goes out to all those who lost family members,\u201d\u00a0 said the Sicangu Lakota<\/em>, president of the Lakota Council of Tribes, Inc. (LCT) at Mike Durfee State Prison (MDSP).<\/p>\n

Remembering Those We Lost Wacipi, was the appropriately-themed gathering held on August 7th<\/sup> here in southeastern South Dakota. Typically there would be 450-500 combined inmates and outside family members and guests in attendance 4 times annually, however it was decided that an \u201cinmates only\u201d pow-wow would be held to kick start 18 months of limited services and activities.\u00a0 With the covid-19 pandemic that hit in early 2020 the American Indian prisoner group was only able to hold prayer circles and smudging services. Everyone was ready to enjoy a Pow Wow.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday is a day to enjoy and laugh with one another along with other stories we have to share from our experiences, \u00a0said the Oglala Lakota<\/em>, LCT secretary. \u201cIt\u2019s been a long year for us all during this pandemic and we have more in common than we know.\u201d<\/p>\n

The LCT group is representative of the largest American Indian population system-wide in South Dakota, nearly 300 Lakota\/Dakota\/Nakota brothers from all nine tribes of the Oceti Sakowin<\/em> (Seven Council Fires), and sponsors the largest prison pow-wows in the U.S. The year 2020 proved to be a tough one with challenges and hardships including many covid cases.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease remember all of our relatives and spiritual leaders we have lost this year,\u201d said the Kul Wicasa\/Santee<\/em>, vice-president of LCT. \u201cToday we honor them, so hoka hey, sing loud and dance hard my people.\u201d<\/p>\n

A large banner was hung on the wall and inmates wrote the names of all covid-19 deceased friends, family and tiospaye<\/em> (extended family). Then a large healing circle was formed\u00a0 and a memorial song by inmate drum group Ho Maza<\/em> singers was sung to honor and remember those who journeyed on to the spirit world. A hand-drum contest and dancing contests were held with inmates receiving commissary tokens as prizes. The brothers were also treated to a wild round of men\u2019s fancy shawl dancing which created much needed laughter and healing.<\/p>\n

The South Dakota Dept. of Corrections is very supportive \u00a0of American Indian healing and self-rehabilitation at Springfield and the Cultural Activities Coordinator, \u00a0Brian Foley, \u00a0works very well with LCT to ensure the pow-wows are safe, fun and properly organized and carried out. The inmates ate two meals during the day, one of Indian tacos and wojapi, and ending with a supper of buffalo stew and fry bread.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis day was really needed to help heal our brothers inside the prison setting here,\u201d concluded \u00a0the LCT president. \u201cWe all survived an emotional and physical illness of some kind during this time of sickness, now we can move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Remembering Those We Lost Wacipi was made possible in large part due to a $6000 grant from Running Strong for American Indian Youth and National Spokesperson Billy Mills, Oglala Lakota<\/em>.\u00a0 Mills and his foundation recognize and support LCT, a 501\u00a93 non-profit, who are fully responsible to fundraise for all their spiritual and cultural activities. Helping fellow inmate brothers become better Indian men is the fundamental goal for the leadership of LCT to assist indigenous inmates in rehabilitative endeavors during their incarceration period.<\/p>\n

Other donors for this pow-wow were Connie Hopkins (buffalo meat and botanicals), Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe ($800), Roger and Heather \u00a0Vearrier (firewood), Pastor Dan \u00a0Ebbens (firewood), Yankton Sioux Tribe (buffalo meat), and\u00a0 Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation ($200).<\/p>\n

For more information about the Lakota Council of Tribes, Inc at Mike Durfee State Prison you can contact C.A.C Brian Foley or the LCT\u00a0 President at MDSP, 1412 Wood St., Springfield, SD, 57062,<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(Editor\u2019s Note: Per prison policies the names of the LCT council members providing quotes were not able to be used.)<\/em><\/p>\n

(Story and photo courtesy of the Lakota Council of Tribes, Inc.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The post Inmate Healing At Prison Pow-Wow<\/a> first appeared on Native Sun News Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Prisoner Healing: More than 220 inmates form a healing circle at Mike Durfee State Prison on August 7th during a memorial and honoring song for all those lost during the covid-19 pandemic. SPRINGFIELD\u2014\u201cWelcome everybody to our first pow-wow in 18 months. At this wacipi we would like to remember all <\/p>\n

Read More<\/a>
Shared by Native Sun News Today<\/a> August 26, 2021<\/p>\n

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