Reflections on the Lakota Sundance

Traveled to South Dakota with the family this week. Took about 12 hours driving from Wisconsin to South Dakota, the Rosebud reservation. I was prepared this year to submit completely to the teachers at the dance, and was happy to be completing year four of my commitment to fire work for the dance. I returned today, and have noted the following:
1) There is a sense of panic present. The elders are afraid that their teachings will not be carried on in a correct manner. The teachings had to be transmitted quickly and I had the sense that “time was running out”. Whether this portends something global, or just reflects the age of the elders leading the ceremony is not clear to me.
2) There is some sexism and racism present in the circle. Some men want women to “move correctly”, “traditionally”, and to serve them. Further reflection has deepened my understanding of this. White people were only recently allowed to be present at the sun dance ceremony, and there’s a spirit in the air asking why whites, who had committed genocide, would want the knowledge of the Lakota people. There’s a sense of resentment. The people there really aren’t racist per se, but really want to know why you are there, and what your intentions are. This is fair, and I have approached the ceremony quietly, respectfully and with great care. I feel integrated into the community, while ancestral spirits continue to bemoan the horrors of the past. I did notice, too, that there is a women’s warrior society present, though it is diffuse and not consciously organized. This society holds a great deal of power, and brings balance to the community. I witnessed the compassionate guidance this society offered to the people and it was beautiful. I offer thanks for the opportunity to work with such beautiful, powerful women.
3) It feels like an atomic bomb had dropped on the reservation, as if the program of genocide enacted by the U.S. government long ago, was successful, and what remnants remained were not really of much concern to prevailing government interests. Poverty is rampant. Spiritual poverty is rampant. Children speak in the sacred sun dance circle (9 years old) of how many different ways a person can be killed. The American Indian Movement is present, but reserved, in that advocacy work is done as needed. Large media spectacles are not necessary.
4) Spotted eagles were seen regularly, and the chief songs my mind noted related to the the wamblee gleska (spotted eagles). Strange, as I had dreams before going that the eagle songs would be chief on my mind this year. Last year, heyoka energy was strong there (at least from my perspective).
5) Many dancers do not know why they are there. This is a problem. Male macho energy was present among some.
6) Thunder beings were seen. Hundreds of Inipi ceremonies were run safely and without injury. Good.
7) There was an uproar about the proposal to take pictures during the dance. Pictures were taken of tree day, but threats from attendees against the camera man scared him from pursuing it further. Fine with me, except for the threat part.
Lots of Vietnam vets…lots of PTSD around…the warriors shape the dance…

More later as I am off to think and dream more about what I saw…

For those interested in learning more about the Lakota sun dance, start here: The Sun Dance and Other Ceremonies of the Oglala Division of The Teton Dakota by J. R. WALKER