Lavanah asked me to add these pictures of Hiawatha Indian Insane Asylum gathering.

This is the first time there has been a ceremony in a long time. If you can make it next year to this very sacred ceremony that would be good. I know I’m going to try and get there in May. Sharon

CLAUDE TOKALA TWO ELK FROM ROSEBUD

Claude Tokala Two Elk, Sarah and Adele Good Morning Star Woman Zephier

Beautiful Hair

Back to Front-Rani Yovetich, Edward Valandra, Sarah & Adele Zephier, John “Chief Walking Staff” Zephier , Estellene “Walks with New Beginning Woman”, Loren “Chief Black Spotted Horse” Zephier and Sherwyn “Chief Blue Star Eagle” Zephier

Claude Two Elk and Mayor Elizabeth Bowling

Sacred Eagle Staff Carrier and Veteran of Iraq, Dennis Quigley, came from the Sioux Falls Oyate. We are ever grateful for his presence.

Group of approximately 40 people attended this year’s ceremony.

Left back-Eva, JoAnah and Joshua Beeck (adopted children of Sunshine-Val Beeck), Liz Bowling, Val Beeck, Rani Yovetich with sage and unknown boy.

JoAnah Beeck and Lavanah Smudging-Liz Bowling

Group Walking Up to sacred burial site

Lavanah, Edward Valandra, Ray Blackburn, Tokala Two Elk, Loren Zephier, Joe Plum, Gary Weddell ?, Sarah and Adele Zephier

Loren “Chief Black Spotted Horse” Zephier and Shannon “Many Lightnings Woman” Campbell

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Sherwyn, Estellene and John Zephier

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Lavanah, Eagle Staff Carrier, Dennis Quigley and Mayor Elizabeth Bowling

Sherwyn and Estellene

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Sarah and Adele Zephier

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Walking to 2nd Phase of Ceremony

Group Circle

On to the 4th Phase and the Sacred Burial site.

Plaque left with ceremony gifts, food and token rocks.

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We all left Canton and caravaned back to the Yankton Rez (Greenwood) to finish two leftover 3 ft long Subway sandwiches and attend the sweat lodge in the evening. Sarah, Adele and I visited the Greenwood Cemetery and thought we should try to clean it up a bit. We did the following Tuesday.

All in all, it was a perfect day and an honor for me to be a part of this ceremony.

Lavanah