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
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Claude Tokala Two Elk, Sarah and Adele Good Morning Star Woman Zephier
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Beautiful Hair
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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
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Claude Two Elk and Mayor Elizabeth Bowling
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Sacred Eagle Staff Carrier and Veteran of Iraq, Dennis Quigley, came from the Sioux Falls Oyate. We are ever grateful for his presence.
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Group of approximately 40 people attended this year’s ceremony.
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Left back-Eva, JoAnah and Joshua Beeck (adopted children of Sunshine-Val Beeck), Liz Bowling, Val Beeck, Rani Yovetich with sage and unknown boy.
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JoAnah Beeck and Lavanah Smudging-Liz Bowling
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Group Walking Up to sacred burial site
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Lavanah, Edward Valandra, Ray Blackburn, Tokala Two Elk, Loren Zephier, Joe Plum, Gary Weddell ?, Sarah and Adele Zephier
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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
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Sherwyn and Estellene
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Sarah and Adele Zephier
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Walking to 2nd Phase of Ceremony
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Group Circle
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On to the 4th Phase and the Sacred Burial site.
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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