Public Invited to Free Performance by SMSC Youth at Prior Lake High School
Prior Lake, Minnesota – Wearing handmade regalia and dancing to traditional songs, more than 60 youth from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) will share their Dakota culture, traditions and spirituality at a free dance exhibition at the Prior Lake High School auditorium at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 9. The performance, which is open to the general public, will be followed light refreshments.
This event, now in its 16th year, will honor the seven Dakota values: Wowaokiya (generosity and helping), Woksape (wisdom), Wowaunsida (caring and compassion), Wowaohoda (respect), Wowahbada (humility), Wocekiya (praying), and Wowicaka (honesty and truth). Through song, dance, and the spoken word, the students will illustrate these important values, which have been of importance to the Dakota people throughout time and which continue to be important today.
Each performance begins with a prayer, followed by a grand entry in which the dancers enter in a procession behind flags and eagle feather staffs. The dance styles which will be featured include fancy feather, fancy shawl, traditional, grass, and jingle. The Hoka Hey intertribal drum group, including adults and youth from several tribes, will sing traditional songs. In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Dakota War and the mass hanging of 38 Dakota warriors in Mankato, the event will conclude with audience members being invited to participate in a round dance in memory of the warriors who were hanged while their names scroll across the backdrop.
Prior Lake High School is located at 7575 150th Street West in Savage, Minnesota.
About the performers
Young Native Pride, designed to instill pride and respect for American Indian values and culture, involves children from kindergarten through 12th grade. Participating students attend school at the SMSC Education Department – Home School as well as Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Lakeville, New Prague, Prior Lake, Savage, and Shakopee public and private schools. Older youth and Community members serve as role models and help guide the younger children in the program.
“We are very proud of our Community youth who demonstrate great pride in their heritage by participating in Young Native Pride,” said SMSC Chairman Charlie Vig.
The students’ families and program staff have been preparing for the event throughout the school year as a large Tiospaye (tee-osh-peye), or extended family. Their work includes creating beautiful Dakota dance regalia consisting of beadwork, appliqué, ribbon work, moccasins, bustles, shawls, and more. The dancers’ regalia has personal and symbolic meaning to each individual.
“Young Native Pride is one of a number of efforts we have to encourage our youth to practice their traditions,” said SMSC Vice-Chairman Keith B. Anderson, who serves on the tribe’s Education Committee. “The annual dance exhibition at Prior Lake High School exemplifies the success we want to continue to have in preserving our culture.”