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Sacred Nations Sundance welcomes public during Lakota ceremony
BAINBRIDGE -- The Sacred Nations Cultural Center invites the community to the fifth annual Sacred Nations Sundance, led by Chief Michael Vargas.
The Sundance will begin Friday, June 22, and the public is welcome June 25-29 from early morning through early evening.
Sundance is an eight-day event for the ceremony of the Seven Sacred Rites of the Lakota tradition. It is designed to bring family and people together and is a time of celebration, thanksgiving, sacrifice and personal growth through prayer.
The Sundance will occur at 8674 N. County Road 500 East, Bainbridge.
The first three days are a time of purification as dancers prepare physically, mentally and spiritually for the nafive-day ceremony.
The following is a brief overview of the days open to the public.
• June 25: Tree Day - The tree, once selected, is considered a fallen warrior and cannot touch the ground. The Tree Ceremony will begin late afternoon as the tree is erected in the Sacred Circle.
• June 26: Sundance Ceremony begins -- The dancers are obligated to walk in a sacred manner, no speaking to or looking at others as they focus on prayer and commitment. Public supporters are encouraged to come under the arbor to add prayers and agreement to the dancers in the Sacred Circle.
• June 27-28: Sundance Days -- Dancers will dance from sunup to sundown. Public supporters are welcome to watch from the arbor.
• June 29: Healing Day and final Sundance Day -- Dancers will dance from sunup to sundown. Public supporters may be ushered through the Sacred Circle to the tree to receive blessing or healing. This is also a day of celebration and feast as the dancers experience a time of renewal and new beginning for their spiritual journey that will continue throughout the year.
For more information, persons may contact Sundance Chief Michael D. Vargas 812-327-0206 or lead helper Michael Vargas Jr. 219-306-3823 or visit the facebook page Sacred Nations Cultural Center Inc. (www.facebook.com/sacrednationsculturalcenter/) for further details on customs, rules and expectations during the sacred ceremony.
Anyone planning to attend should note that it is customary for women to wear long skirts and men to wear long pants. No drugs, alcohol, firearms, pets, photography, cell phones or recordings are allowed.
The Sacred Nations Cultural Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to create a landmark cultural center to bring indigenous people worldwide together to share their ethnic and cultural heritage and spiritual traditions with all people. It works toward this mission with its largest annual event, the Sacred Nations Sundance, as well as other educational events.