Upcoming Events
Wounded Knee Memorial Ride ~ August 7 - 13th
http://www.koh-teh.com/woundedknee/
Hello Friends & Relatives,
I am sending this message with the most deepest, sincere, warm welcome. We are
planning a gathering of People here in "Cankpe Opi," Wounded Knee, this summer.
Our first and foremost purpose of this gathering is to Honor our Ancestors that
lay buried on this sacred ground. In the annals of history, one of the most
Heinous crimes ever committed happened here on these grounds. We are attempting
to bring awareness that atrocities like this should never ever happen again.
Today our people are confronted by many barriers that keep us oppressed. We hope
this gathering will open the doors to a new era of hope and understanding among
all people and create unity. It will bridge a gap between two different worlds.
"A Lakota Holy Man stated that the Sacred Tree had died and the sacred hoop had
shattered in 1890 at Wounded Knee. He said that the Sacred Tree will bloom again
in the future." That time in the future is here, now at Wounded Knee. It is not
the end of the trail, it is the beginning.
We will be conducting ceremonies at the Mass Grave during this event (August
7-13, 2006). Lakota medicine man, Leonard Crow Dog will be conducting the
ceremony. We will have a motorcycle ride from the Crazy Horse monument to
Wounded Knee massacre site. Chief Big Foot Memorial Riders on horseback will
lead bikers to the ceremony. All are welcome. Entertainment during the day will
include a Pow-Wow and a bull riders' only rodeo. In the evenings, we will have
live music. The music will include Native American performers (like Koh-Teh!) as
well as country and rock performers. We think we will even have a local "battle
of the bands" event so members of our community can showcase their talents, too.
We are just now in the planning stages and we are seeking support and donations
from anyone. Sponsors have been contacted and so far our major one has not been
located. Once we find our main sponsor, this event will begin to take shape very
quickly. Keep checking back here on Koh-Teh's site, as he has generously offered
us much help, one of the ways he is helping is to offer us a few pages here on
his web site. Until we can get our own site, checking this one is a good way to
stay updated on the event. So far, Koh-Teh's site is the ONLY approved forum for
the Wounded Knee Memorial Ride.
There will be plenty of camping space available as well as ample bike parking.
Horse rentals will be available for tours during the event. We plan to have some
VIP tipis, as well as others available for rental. Food vendors and t-shirts
will be available for purchase at the event. Food and other vendors please
contact me at growland2000@yahoo.com as well as anyone who would like to help
with donations of money or time. We need to build a stage, mow the grass, make
the ground level, there is much work to do and it takes funding and volunteers.
This is an event full of honor, respect, and love. It is not a money-making
endeavor. After we pay the entertainers, sound equipment, dumpster rentals, etc.
we will be lucky to break even. If there is any money left at the end of the
event, it will go into maintenance of the Wounded Knee Visitor Center and upkeep
of the Mass Grave site.
This is going to be an annual event, so let's work together to put Wounded Knee
back on the map this year and in the following years they'll know how to find us
and the event will only get bigger and better. All are cordially invited to be
part of honoring the past and healing the future. This is history in the making,
be part of the mending of the Sacred Hoop. So, "Meet me at the Knee."
Hokahey,
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,
Mitakuye Oyasin,
Garry Rowland
