Honoring Youth
Through Native Heritage
By Mark Thiel

Overview

Famed singer and elder Nellie Two Bulls (Lakota) sings an honoring song with the Porcupine Singers, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, no date. Photo by Rev. Jim Strozk, S.J., Marquette University Libraries Special Collections.

•      Introduction: After arranging the circle (see Guidelines 1-4: Setting), the ceremony often begins with an explanation of its purpose followed by one or more speakers extolling the virtues of the honorees and their responsibilities for the future. Appropriate moral teachings or lessons are often included. (See Guideline 8: Talks)

•       Recognition: The honorees receive awards appropriate to their achievements. (See Guideline 6: Honors)

•      Honor Dance: The ceremony climaxes with friends and relatives joining honorees in a dance to a drum song. (See Guideline 9: Honor Dance)

•      Memorialization: Sponsors further memorialize the event by distributing gifts and if possible, by also serving a meal to the gathering. (See Guideline 7: Giveaway and Guideline 10: Feasts)

     An honoring dance with friends, relatives, and well-wishers processing sun-wise around the circle filled with gifts to be given to those gathered. In this ceremony, young Billy Menard (Lakota, center of first row) and Dave Petrush (non-Indian, first row on boy's left) were made nephew and uncle. Black Hills Powwow, Rapid City, South Dakota, 1999. Photo by Joe Whiting (Lakota).