On Saturday, August 2nd, my family and I had the opportunity to be in Pine Ridge for the parade and the 21st Annual Oglala Nation Pow Wow. I was reflecting back on how wonderful an experience it was. Julie, Annie and I were invited to participate in the Grand March Ceremony that afternoon. As we lined up, waiting for the procession to start, I couldn’t help but be impressed with the Native American veterans ahead of us serving as flag-bearers. Just behind them was an active duty Native American military member and, behind him, the young members of the Pow Wow Royalty.
As a family, we followed this group and were situated just ahead of the Pow Wow dancers displaying all of their colors, history, and heritage. If you’ve never seen the Grand March it is truly amazing. The participants dance into the arena, proceeding along the perimeter of the grounds. The flag bearers, military members and royalty then stand in the center as the dancers circle around the interior ring, three-deep.
I can’t begin to tell you what an honor it was to be in the center of all the color, culture, and history. When I asked one of the participants what the day meant to him, he simply replied, “Family, pride, and heritage.” And as I stood there holding hands with Julie and Annie, I realized that, today, all of us were not so different. For, at the moment, we were all at the center of just that: family, pride and heritage.
Throughout this opening ceremony, it was obvious to all who were there that we were witnessing a celebration of the Lakota Nation’s past, present, and future; from the veterans dancing alongside the active military member, to the youngest of children.
On the drive home, Julie, Annie and I talked about the experience and how we would never forget it. We also talked about the need to remind ourselves of the importance of everyone’s past, present and future. And as we walk (or dance) through life, it is incumbent on all of that we ensure those who make up the past and present do everything they can to make things better for our future.
That’s why this journey is so important to me, and that’s why I’m thankful I had an opportunity to learn such an important lesson from yet another viewpoint I could only experience firsthand in the state of South Dakota.
-Chris
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