Help Support Lakota Ceremony and Community

Hello my relatives, I am Sungmanitu, I am an Oglala Lakota person who organizes to help people in need on my reservation; which is the poorest place in America. It is an 85-95% unemployment rate, so money is our biggest hurdle and one we constantly find ways to overcome. Our goal is to fundraise money for travel cost of organizers, food for the people, lumber to build a kitchen specifically to serve the kids and the rest of the materials needed for the adult kitchen. This is all for a annual ceremony we have, called Sundance, and the need for 2 kitchens comes from the traditions of who gets fed and when based on ceremonial roles. This leaves the kids hungry and parents with cranky kids, or having to drive half an hour away to get over priced gas station food.

Below is an itemized list of everything the money will be spent on and an awareness we are asking for less then we need in hopes we reach the goal in time (august) please share with your friends and family. This is so important to us and any help is beyond appreciated. Alongside this ceremony the supplies we bring will have double use in our land projects as we clean the creek, pick up garbage since there is no sanitation services, make paths, prune trees, and whatever else we can do with the amazing group of people coming out this year. From all around the world people come to this Sundance because it’s one of the longest running Sundances that comes from the original that was kept going throughout the ceremonies prohibition. Help keep this piece of history going, because our history is the future.

$2k to rent a mini van to bring 4 Lakota people to ceremony

$1600 for a Tipi for ceremonial use

$400 for the labor of drummers

$200 for the labor of a auntie who will be providing a wopila (thank you) meal for the dancers

$200 for sassafras (a medicine we are hoping to grow by next year)

5 cartons of cigarettes to be given to helpers and drummers

Paperware, trash bags and cans

Sealant and Red Paint for a picnic table

Extension Coords and Surge protectors

Igloo water coolers and regular coolers

$200 for a steam table

$200 for Propane oven

$100 for propane stove

$4-5k in lumber and materials for the camp this includes to make a dressing room for the women, new out houses, fix roofs and primarily the kitchens

and then the rest will go to food and travel costs of organizers

thank you for your time and consideration. Please don’t ignore this and at least share it