Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Prior Lake, MN – Visitors to Mall of America will have the opportunity to watch Native American singers and dancers perform at a dance exhibition in the Rotunda at Mall of America on Thursday, August 18, 2011. Dancers from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and other Indian tribes from throughout the United States will perform in the dance exhibitions as a preview to the annual SMSC Wacipi (Pow Wow) which begins the next day on the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Pow Wow Grounds in Shakopee, Minnesota.
Traditional music will be provided by drum groups Mazakute and Thunderhill for dancers in full regalia. The exhibition dancing will be held at 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Wallace Coffey from the Comanche Nation will be on hand as the Master of Ceremony to explain to the crowd what is going on in the arena, and the drum groups will sing special songs for each style of dance. In addition to a Grand Entry Song, a Flag Song and Veterans Song will be sung.
Each dance exhibition will begin with a Grand Entry. Because Native Americans hold their veterans in high regard, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Vietnam Veterans will be present as well as other veterans. SMSC Vice-Chairman Glynn Crooks, U.S. Navy, Vietnam Veteran dressed in his traditional regalia, will enter first carrying a staff of eagle feathers along with veterans who will carry other flags and eagle feather staffs. Then all the dancers will file into the arena by dance category. During the dance exhibition there will be many types of dancing by both male and female dancers of all ages. They will wear spectacular, colorful regalia specific to their dance styles, which include feather bustles, bells, beadwork, buckskin, moccasins, shawls, and more.
In a special event at 3:30 p.m., there will be a program honoring veterans. During this special time, the story of Native Americans and their willingness to serve in the United States military will be featured, though all veterans will be invited to participate. The Sisseton Wahpeton Vietnam Veterans will participate along with SMSC Vice-Chairman Glynn A. Crooks.
Visitors to the MOA will also see a traditional Dakota tipi, which will be on display in the Sears Court from August 11th through August 18th. Wacipi buttons will be available for purchase at the Mystic Lake Store at Mall of America.
The Pow Wow Exhibition is free and open to the public. For more information about this event or the SMSC’s annual Wacipi, please visit http://www.shakopeedakota.org. Information may also be found at http://www.facebook.com/shakopeepowwow.
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