Jessica Tezoquipa, contributor

This weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to see the Mahkato Wacipi powwow in Mankato, a weekend long event full with campers and nearby residents visiting, held on the Land of Memories Campground. This year was the 53rd annual Wahkato Wacipi and the fourth and final year of honoring Nytalia Isadora Ashes. Nytalia Ashes earned her Indian name Wachi Win (Dancing Girl) posthumously after she passed away in 2021 at the age of four, when a tree branch landed on her. The last four years had a mourning procession including gifts the family gave away before the grand ceremony, two push ups of a memorial song, then an encouragement song performed by the community to help guide the family towards healing and remembering. A beautiful display of affection and compassion was shown by the community as they slowly went through their dance in the center of the park. 

“Back in the day the ancestors lived separate, […] so once a year they’ll all come together. Meet relatives, meet a girl you can marry. [With] something like this, everybody comes together. Wacipi time,” shared one of the elders at Wahkato Wacipi when interviewed by the Echo. “It’s time to visit, [get to] know your relatives that live far away, to come together […] just to get together because you haven’t seen them all year,” they stated. 

This is what the Mahkato Wacipi powwow is all about: connection, getting to know your community and experiencing the Dakota communities. You do not need to be Indigenous to come out and celebrate and connect; it is a great place to connect no matter who you are.

The grand opening ceremony started at 7 p.m. on Friday night with music, cheering and dancing. This lasted until 10 p.m. when the Stadium Director had to call it a night. The grand ceremony starts off every day with music played by different families, like Noisy Bear, Red Tree, and Golden Wing. When the music begins, that is when the elders, who are veterans, bring out the flags and lead the dancing procession. The songs sung and played by these drumming groups are both rooted in tradition and arranged by contemporary composers. 

Dancing competitions follow next, sorted by age, gender and category. Categories included Fancy Dancing, Traditional, Bell Dancing, and Grass Dancing, which all held deep connections to tradition. For example, grass dancers are meant to resemble grasshoppers not only by the way they dance but with their regalia as well. Later on in the night, after competitions are over, anybody is allowed to join in.

The event was full of ceremonies that welcomed visitors from all around. Some were from close by, right in Mankato, while others traveled all the way from North Dakota. Offering many potential gifts for loved ones or yourself, Wahkato Wacipi is open and welcoming to everybody.