Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

This year the Annual Chief's Ride will be routed to Green Grass, SD, it will begin near Cannonball, ND on May 26th to June 1st. On June 1st and 2nd will be a gathering and meetings concerning culture and values about the Sacred C'anupa (Pipe). On June 2nd will be the ceremony to re-wrap the Sacred C'anupa brought by the White Buffalo Calf Woman.

We invite all those that believe in the Sacred C'anupa, it is important to attend with a good heart and good mind. Protocol is very important at this time. We would like to invite the Big Foote Riders and different Societies to assist in security. It is the responsibility of the people to assist in providing a feast and make this ceremony happen in a good way.

We are also requesting 4 days of purification prior to the re-wrapping, so people will be camping from the 29th of May to the 3rd of June, that will not be participating in the ride/run.

We give thanks to all dreams, visions and prayers that has made this ceremony possible. May we live in Peace.

Mitakuye Oyasin,

Arvol Looking Horse,
19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White
Buffalo Calf Pipe and Looking Horse Tiospaye.

Please bring your own plates and utensils, if possible. For further information about the Pipe Ceremony, please e-mail isco@efn.org. Thank you.

The Sitting Bull College is sponsoring the second Annual Honoring the Chiefs Ride Starting Saturday May 26 and ending on Wednesday May 30th, 2001. Youth are encouraged to participate. The Ride/run will start at the Medicine Rock located at the north entrance into Standing Rock near Cannonball N.D. at approximately noon on Saturday May 26th, 2001 -the riders will camp at the Jack Thomas ranch the night before. Members of the Chief Two Bears clan and other local chiefs will be on hand to talk to the Riders and visitors. The Thomas ranch is located five miles south of the Medicine Rock -The Prairie Knights casino has rooms available and is only located two miles south of the Thomas ranch, for those who prefer to sleep in a bed. The first days ride will end at the site of Sitting Bull's grave located at Fort Yates North Dakota- horses and camper may stay at the Fort Yates Rodeo arena located five miles south of Fort Yates. Relatives of local chiefs will be on hand to talk to the Riders and visitors. (Chief John Grass, Chief Rain-in-the-Face, etc.)

Sunday May 27th –Riders/runners will gather at the site of Sitting Bull's grave for ceremony at approximately 10:00 am cst-and will ride from there south 26 miles to Kenel SD- camping will be available at the Kenel Annual Pow-wow that will be in session. Horses will be kept at a nearby ranch not yet assigned-Monday May 28th- Riders leave Kenel at approximately 10:00 am cst and ride south toward the Wakpala district where the riders will stop at the gravesites of Chief Gall and possibly the Chief MadBear Camp- Riders will stay in Wakpala and horses will be kept at the Manaja Unjinca Hill horse compound located five miles east of Wakpala. Campers can stay in Mobridge at the Super 8 motel which is only seven miles from Wakpala- also the Grand River Casino is located only seven miles from Wakpala S.D.-

Tuesday May 29- Riders/runners will leave from the Sitting Bull monument located five miles south of the Grand River Casino at approximately 10:00 am cst and ride north west toward the Little Eagle District stopping at the Chief Running Antelope gravesite and offer prayers with the relatives. Riders will camp at the Little Eagle Pow-wow grounds and horses will be kept at the Ken Maxon ranch located two miles east of Little Eagle S.D. -Relatives of local chiefs will be on hand to talk to the Riders and visitors.

Wednesday May 30th- Riders/runners will leave Little Eagle and ride west along the Grand River to the site of the Sitting Bull' camp where he was killed in 1890- stopping along the way at the site of Chief One Bulls grave- camping will be at the Bullhead/Rock Creek pow-wow grounds and horses will be kept at the Ron BrownOtter ranch located five miles east of Bullhead. Relatives of local chiefs and headsmen will be present to talk to the riders and visitors.

Thursday May 31st- Riders/runners interested in continuing on will ride from Bullhead South Dakota south toward Timber Lake South Dakota. Riders will follow the Chief Bigfoot trail for a distance and then camp at the Jeff Weber arena and horses will be kept in the same arena.

Friday June 1st- Riders/runners will follow the Chief Bigfoot trail to Green Grass, South Dakota arriving in the evening and setting up camp there- Horses can be releases or penned up there.

Saturday June 2nd- Wrapping of the Sacred Canupa ceremony- Green Grass S.D.-

All Riders/runners and supporters are responsible for their own gear, food, feed, and sleeping arrangements. Please bring your camping equipment and your own gas money. The Chief's Ride will not be responsible for accidents or injuries. This is a spiritual ride -please respect the relatives and descendants of our Chiefs. For more information on the Chiefs Ride call Mr. Ron McNiel at the Sitting Bull College at Fort Yates, North Dakota 701-854-3861 or Bob Gipp at Fort Yates 701-854-3456 or Elliott Ward at Fort Yates 701-854-7463 days.