A Ritual Completed

I think I accomplished my goal of honoring my father-so that made me feel that all of the work was worthwhile. I'm really, really glad we did it and really, really glad it's over. We gave away a total of fifty-four quilts, blankets, and throws, plus towels, sheets, yard goods, and fifteen small baskets for the elderly. These baskets each had a dish cloth, dish towel, wash cloth, hand towel, and other small, miscellaneous kitchen items in them. We were visited by an eagle during the ceremony itself, whom the Lakota elders present said was my dad's spirit. It was an emotional moment.

The other big highlight for me was the opportunity to dance in the grand entry of the United Tribes International Powwow. My husband and I had made a beautiful white deerskin/buckskin dress with all of the accessories! Being able to dance into the arena with all of the other 2,000 dancers was one of the biggest highlights of my entire life. Grand entry takes about thirty to forty-five minutes because there is a flag song that is played as well as a victory song, and all of the dancers participate in that. While I was out there in the arena, it was all I could do to keep from breaking down-to be a part of something like that, which is really old, kind of overwhelmed me. It was a dream come true for me. I danced for my parents as well as to honor my ancestors, and it brought home to me that I am part of a long-standing tradition of spirituality, respect, and honor. I am still in the process of sorting it all out. Your support through all of this has meant a lot to me and has enabled me to do something I never dreamed I would be able to do. Thank you for that.

Corrine KillsPrettyEnemy
Arlington, Virginia, USA



Last modified: 2022-12-25 10:17:04+00