Prior Lake, Minn. – Drawing nearly 1,000 dancers and thousands more visitors annually, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Wacipi will unite the people and traditions of Indian Country from Friday, Aug. 14, through Sunday, Aug. 16. The public is invited to join in this Pow Wow celebration at the Wacipi Grounds, located at 3212 Dakotah Parkway in Shakopee, near Mystic Lake Casino Hotel.

A Wacipi (a Dakota word that means “they dance,” pronounced “wah-chee-pee”) originated from traditional gatherings of tribes held to celebrate the end of a season, a good hunt, or another positive event. The SMSC Wacipi includes a variety of competitive Pow Wow dance categories, such as Fancy, Jingle, Traditional, and Grass, as well as vendors of Native American crafts and food, such as wild rice and fry bread.

Dancers and drum groups from around the United States and Canada will take part in this year’s Wacipi. Sisseton-Wahpeton Vietnam Veterans (Kit Fox Society, South Dakota) will provide the Color Guard. Glynn A. Crooks, a member and past Vice-Chairman of the SMSC, will celebrate 25 years as the Pow Wow Committee chairman.

The Wacipi weekend includes:

Aug. 14
Pow Wow Grand Entry at 7 p.m.
Aug. 15
Grand Entry at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Evening meal (included with $5 button) at 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Fireworks at 10 p.m.
Aug. 16
Grand Entry at 1 p.m.

Wacipi buttons will be available for $5 at the gate. The button will cover admission for the entire weekend and an evening meal on Saturday. Admission and the Saturday evening meal will be free for everyone ages 60 and older or 10 and younger (no button required). On-site parking will be free, and golf cart shuttles will be available to help attendees who need transportation to the gate. For more information and directions, visit smscwacipi.org or facebook.com/shakopeepowwow.

About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Indian tribe located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. With a focus on being a good neighbor, good steward of the earth, and good employer, the SMSC is committed to charitable donations, community partnerships, a healthy environment, and a strong economy. Together the SMSC and the SMSC Gaming Enterprise (Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Little Six Casino) are the largest employer in Scott County. Having donated more than $325 million since opening its Gaming Enterprise in the 1990s, as well as providing more than $500 million in economic development loans to other tribes, the SMSC is the largest philanthropic benefactor for Indian Country nationally and one of the largest charitable givers in Minnesota.