Mahkato Wacipi

This weekend was the the 36th Annual Mahkato Wacipi, more commonly know as a Pow-wow, held every year just outside Mankato, MN. I wasn't able to make it for the full weekend, like much of my family did, but Inara, Mum, Marlys and I made the trip down there on Saturday. It was a lot of fun! Not only did we get to enjoy the dancing and great music (wacipi means "they dance"), but we got see many of our relatives, some of whom had come from quite some distance away!

Inara did really well, considering how many strangers were around (and how many family members were crowded around her that she barely remembered), and I think she enjoyed it. By the end of the day she was really getting into the drums. She'd make such a good jingle-dress dancer!

Below you'll see my aunt Jeanine (Grandma NeNe to Inara, as aunts and uncles are known as grandparents in Lakota culture) in her traditional dress. To see more of her, the whole family, and many of the participants of the Wacipi, go here.

Unfortunately, I arrived to the Meetup quite late, so there were only a few stragglers(/drunks) still there. They entertained me by pretending not to care as I blasted high powered flashes in their faces in the low light outside Herkimer's Bar in Uptown Minneapolis. Afterwards, several of us migrated over to Bryant Lake Bowl on Lake St. I drank a tad too much, and neckro's bike shorted out the electronics in the back of my car so I no longer have turn signals, brake lights or reverse lights. Fun times!

Last Wednesday I got the chance to hang out with the always lovely Heather of Scoundrelle's Keep. She was showing off one of her many wonderful creations with this outfit, managing to look delightfully gothic lolita/steampunk, while still keeping it practical. She was lots of fun to hang out with and is very photogenic! If only it hadn't been so windy and cold, I think there would have been lots more images taken! Oh well, I guess that means she and I will have to get together again some other time for another shoot! :)

To see the whole set, go here.

To take a look at Heather's amazing work, go here.