The Black Hills Powwow (He Sapa Wacipi Na Oskate) has always held a special place in Tanka Fund’s history. We first launched there in 2014, and returning each year is one way we express our Wóphila, or gratitude, to the community we serve and whose support makes our work possible.
This month, we returned for the 38th Annual Black Hills Powwow to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new friends, and celebrate the relationships that have sustained our mission over the years.
Throughout the weekend, we handed out plenty of Tanka Fund merchandise, including T-shirts and swag bags, while sharing our mission to return Buffalo to Native lands, lives, and economies. We also tried something new this year: a live photo booth! Visitors could pose in front of our Buffalo backdrop and take home a printed photo as a keepsake.
One of our favorite parts of the powwow is seeing so many familiar faces. Pictured above are our friends CeCe Big Crow, her husband, Bob Pourier, and her takoja (grandson), Cairo Crew, all Oglala Lakota. They had a blast at our booth and, like many other visitors, appreciated the opportunity to honor the Buffalo robe we had available for photos.
When we stepped away from the booth, we also enjoyed taking in the sights and sounds of the powwow and seeing how much it has grown. This year's event sold out, with more than 30,000 tickets sold and approximately 1,800 to 2,000 dancers filling the arena floor.
Wóphila to everyone who stopped by, shared a story, took a photo, or simply came over to say hello. We look forward to seeing you again next year!
