BHSU American Indian Awareness Week concludes with Wacipi [Video]

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Black Hills State University celebrated American Indian Awareness Week, and the week of events concluded with the Lakota Omniciye Wacipi.

The 40th annual event is put on each year by Lakota Omniciye, a student-led organization working to bridge the cultural gap between Native and non-Native students.

The Wacipi provides an opportunity to learn the traditions of the Lakota and celebrate the rich cultural heritage in South Dakota.

Indigenous dancers, singers, and drummers from across the state were featured, and highlighted this year’s awareness week’s theme of “Transforming the Narrative of Native Resiliency.”

The Wacipi also had educational booths from organizations such as the Oyate Health Center.

“In Lakota culture, it’s very, very important for people to come together. That’s the whole thing about the Wacipi’s, everyone coming together and community,” said Cheree Ferguson, co-president of Lakota Omniciye.

Lakota Omniciye works all year to prep for …