Event Reminder: South Dakota Native Nations gather for Oceti Vote Fest in Rapid City this weekend

Hosted by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Lakota People’s Law Project, and Thunder Valley CDC

Author:
Press Pool
Publish date:
Oct 21, 2022

(Image: courtesy Lakota People's Law Project)

Hosted by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Lakota People’s Law Project, and Thunder Valley CDC

News Release

Lakota People's Law Project

Oceti Vote Fest begins with a Grand Entry at 10 a.m. MT on Saturday, October 22 and features an intertribal basketball tournament on Saturday, Thunder Fest Concert Saturday night and Oceti hand games, singing contest, and family activities on Sunday.

People from across the Great Sioux Nation will gather together at the Rapid Skillz 360 athletic training facility in Rapid City, S.D. this weekend for two days filled with music, games, culture, and voter empowerment at the Oceti Vote Fest. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Lakota People’s Law Project, and Thunder Valley CDC will host Lakota Country’s first intertribal three-on-three basketball tournament, an Oceti hand games competition and singing contest with cash prizes and Thunderfest Saturday Night concert.

The concert lineup includes a who’s-who of notable Indigenous artists: Scotti Clifford, Indigenous, Terrance Jade, Spur Pourier, Nataanii Means and J. Waylon and His Miller Light Orchestra are all slated to appear.

This massive Native voter registration drive for Lakota Country will begin with a Grand Entry with Lakota dancers and drummers at 10 a.m. MT on Saturday, October 22, followed closely by an invocation and then an opening address from Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairwoman Janet Alkire.

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A Census Bureau plan to move up the deadline to end “enumeration,” the process of counting U.S. residents, from Oct. 31 to Sept. 30 was put on hold by a federal judge. Critics, including the Navajo and Gila River tribes, had sued to block the move, which they said would lead to an undercount, particularly for minority communities. (Photo courtesy U.S. Census Bureau)

While the boys work with the horses, Dr. John Spence, an elder and consultant to NARA NW, tells them, “You’re getting in tune with another spirit.” (Elyse Wild/Native News Online)

Both days will feature a wealth of colorful cultural activities, and tribal and organizational leaders will be available onsite to answer questions, conduct interviews, and talk about why it’s so important to support voting rights and voter empowerment for Native — and all — people.

More information is available, and portions of the event will be streamed live at give.lakotalaw.org. Free tickets, event flier, and registration information are available at the event’s website — OcetiVote.org — or at the door. We invite one and all to come cover and experience this special weekend.

The Lakota People's Law Project operates under the 501(c)(3) Romero Institute, a nonprofit law and policy center. It has been authorized to assist with press outreach on behalf of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairwoman’s office.