Public Invited to Shakopee Mdewakanton Pow Wow

The invites the public to attend their annual Wacipi (Pow Wow) on August 17, 18, and 19 in Prior Lake.  

A homecoming of sorts, a Wacipi is a social gathering where American Indian friends and relatives come together to celebrate their culture and way of life. Many choose to return every year to enjoy the dancers in their regalia, the singers at the drum, good food, and booths with arts and crafts for sale. Traditional moccasin games will also be played by Native American teams. The word Wacipi [wah-chee-pee] in the Dakota Language translates as “they dance.” A more common term is “Pow Wow.”

The Wacipi will feature vendors with arts, crafts, beadwork, jewelry, quillwork, and traditional foods for sale, including frybread, wojapi (berry pudding), wild rice, hominy soup, buffalo burgers, Indian tacos, and much more.

Host drums at this year’s Wacipi are Wahpekute (South Dakota) and Mazakute (Nebraska). Invited Northern Drums are Young Kingbird (Minnesota), Young Bear (North Dakota), Rocky Boy Agency (Montana), Iron Boy (Minnesota), Meskwaki Nation (Iowa), Blackfoot Crossing (Alberta), and Mountain Soul (Alberta). Invited Southern Drums are Young Bird (Oklahoma), Yellow Jacket (Colorado), and Sizzortail (Oklahoma).

Grand Entries will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Fireworks will be held at 10 p.m. on Saturday, August 18, at the Pow Wow Grounds and a church service will be held on Sunday, August 19, 2012, at 10 a.m. at nearby Tiowakan Spiritual Center.

Pow wow buttons will be available for $5 at the gate.  Buttons include admission for the entire weekend and two free meals:  an evening meal on Saturday served from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and lunch on Sunday from noon to 1:30 p.m. 

Admission is free to elders 60 and older and children 10 and under. Parking is free with shuttle service from Mystic Lake Casino also provided.

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Event Details:

The SMSC Wacipi Grounds are located just north of Mystic Lake Casino and south of County Road 42 between County Road 83 and County Road 17 (Marschall Road). The address is 3212 Dakotah Parkway, Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372.

Fireworks on Saturday, 10 p.m.

Flag Raising & Giveaways
9 a.m. Saturday & Sunday - Vietnam Veterans’ Color Guard, Sisseton-Wahpeton. Giveaways on Friday noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday after 9 a.m. flag raising.

For more information visit ShakopeeDakota.org.