Native Tradition Brings Community Together
The rich culture of Native American traditions were celebrated at the 51st annual Wacipi. Hosted by the Tiospaye Student Council and Native Student services, the Wacipi offers an immersive experience into Native American cultural heritage.
Kylie Parisien, Co-President of Tiospaye Council, describes the Wacipi as a celebration and gathering that involves dancing, singing and traditions. She believes it is a beneficial experience for community members as “it allows you to gain a better understanding of the history of Native Americans.”
“Before coming to USD, I did not know much about the Native American culture since I did not grow up in a traditional family,” Parisien said. “Even though I have attended powwows in the past, I didn’t truly understand the meaning behind it until I became more involved on campus with Tiospaye and Native Student Services events.”
The weekend was packed with music, food and other festivities hosted by Natives across the region. Native attendees showcased their culture and participated in competitions throughout the weekend. Community members engaged in the culture by viewing grand entrances and competitions to gain insight into Native traditions.
The 51st Wacipi was celebrated with the theme “Education as the seed for a thriving future, rooted in tradition.” USD incorporated their objective of promoting higher education to Native American Students with a Building Bridges Conference and an alumni dinner to kick off the weekend.
The Wacipi is hosted in pursuit of diversifying the student body through the celebration of culture. This event provides a platform for Native attendees, alumni and students to engage with one another and serves as a recruitment event for prospective students.
USD hosted their first Wacipi in 1971. This annual celebration has since become the longest-running student and campus powwow in the state. Parisien believes it is crucial to continue this tradition due to its educational value for the community.
“It’s insightful to see how much growth we have accomplished in the past few decades that we are still going to be doing in the future,” Parisien said.
The Wacipi is the largest university event promoting the significance of Native American culture. As it continues to grow and evolve over the years, the core objective of bringing people together to honor and celebrate Native Culture remains the same.
