Matt Varilek spent the weekend hanging out with warriors at the 145th Annual Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Wacipi at Agency Village:
Varilek said a few words to the crowd, joined the Sissteon Wahpeton in ceremony, and visited with numerous Dakota neighbors. A local reader was impressed with the time candidate Varilek spent with the tribal members and the respect he showed for their traditions.
If nothing else, Varilek seems to have given the Sisseton Wahpeton more time and attention than Rep. Kristi Noem gave to her own party's convention the previous weekend.
Check out more videos of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Wacipi on R.N. Taylor's "South Dakota Channel" on YouTube. Here's an entry in the hand-drum competition (no, Matt did not enter!):
That guy's playing the equivalent of the kick (or bass) drum on a samba or bossa. Just ran some jazz rhythm changes (a la Antonio Carlos Jobim) aganst it and it sounded prety cool. Maybe I'll do a little Brazilian/Lakota secondline rhythm sample mix sometime to show how cool and smooth is sounds. Maybe add a cowbell or something. LOL. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QQ1kCucmc4
I attended the Wacipi many times and especially when I was serving in the legislature for District 1. It's a great event. I saw Tom Daschle there many times, also John Thune and Rep. Herseth. The place to see and be seen
Was there with Tonya and spouse Virginia to help the Lake Traverse organizer, Dustina, with the booth set up for Matt. The tourism besieged general population does not understand the power and significance of a wacipi. The SWO wacipi held annually since just after the Civil War, when negotiations were taking place about the Lake Traverse Reservation. It is a time for affirming identity and renewing the first community. Matt showed the interest and respect for that community, which is essential for any Congressional candidate who might represent them.
During the heat of the Civil War, the Minnesota uprising was also taking place. The SWO have never received full recognition for their role in moderating the uprising so that Lincoln and his administration could put the preponderance of their focus on preserving the union.
An interesting aspect was that a number of people looked at Matt's campaign signs and asked who he was and what party he's with. The common response was "Running against Kristi? Good."
I think his name is now known on Lake Traverse and will be better known from now on.
I've attended the event at Agency Village and had a great time. Pow-wows are lots of fun. Everyone ought to go at least once. A good share of the fun is in the crowds wandering about. Notice the little children. They are free to go wherever they want, with lots of adults keeping an eye on them. And -- you can get awesome fry bread!