The SMSC Wacipi Committee and Mdewakanton Public Safety are offering free child safety wristbands to visitors this weekend to safely reunite lost children with their loved ones.
Book your room now and enjoy the excitement and amenities of Mystic Lake Casino Hotel during your stay.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Dakota tribal government located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Following a Dakota tradition of generosity, the SMSC is one of the top philanthropists in Minnesota and is the largest contributor to other tribal governments and causes across the country. It is a strong community partner and a leader in protecting and restoring natural resources. The SMSC’s government, Gaming Enterprise and various other enterprises are collectively the largest employer in Scott County and attract millions of visitors to the region.
Ookiye Owas Iyekiyewicak̇iyapi
“Recognizing All the Staff Helping with the Wacipi”
Sizzortail - Invited Drum
"Sizzortail is a group of singers from many tribes throughout Oklahoma and the rest of the United States. They represent the Pawnee, Sac & Fox, Comanche, Kickapoo, Navajo, Delaware, Cherokee and Lumbee tribes.
All members have strong traditional backgrounds and their family members are very prominent in tribal activities, powwows, and traditional events. Sizzortail is known throughout Indian Country and has won or placed in numerous drum contests. As the years have gone by, we have been fortunate to watch our children grow up around the drum and now we get to share that experience with our children as they learn songs and proper singing etiquette.
Sizzortail enjoys singing and is always willing to share their singing whenever given the opportunity. `We hope our songs will bring you much joy and happiness and that the Spirit of the drum will be a blessing to you.` We would like to thank the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community for the invitation to come back to the SMSC Wacipi again this year."
Ookiye Owas Iyekiyewicak̇iyapi
“Recognizing All the Staff Helping with the Wacipi”
Kit Fox Society
"The Sisseton-Wahpeton Veterans Honor Guard, as they were known in the 1980s, was later inducted into what is now the Dakota Kit Fox Society in 1991. Since then, through the recruitment of younger veterans, the honor guard has come to consist mostly of veterans from the conflicts represented in the group photo."
Happy #TBT! Who knows which #SMSCWacipi these photos are from?
Ookiye Owas Iyekiyewicak̇iyapi
“Recognizing All the Staff Helping with the Wacipi”
Ho-Chunk Station - Host Drum
"Ho-Chunk Station was founded in 2007 by the late Rick Cleveland Sr., of the great Ho-Chunk Nation. Rick showed, taught, and instilled in his boys the same drum ways/morals he was raised with that brought Ho-Chunk Station to where it is today. Ho-Chunk Station started out as five Cleveland boys setting up in the non-contest section at powwows and eventually Rick, his powwow brothers, and uncles would join them as they began to compete at big contest powwows. Rick believed it was a blessing to have singers from other tribes sing with his boys, and he welcomed anyone willing to sing with them as well as inviting singers. Today, Ho-Chunk Station has singers from other tribes representing their own families, clans, and tribes. They are living the dream of their younger selves as they gain strength from every song they sing. Ho-Chunk Station is not defined by their wins or losses, rather it is their love for singing that does."
We are officially one month away from the 2026 #SMSCWacipi! Who’s ready?
Ookiye Owas Iyekiyewicak̇iyapi
“Recognizing All the Staff Helping with the Wacipi”
Iron Star - Invited Drum
"Iron Star Singers are from the Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico. Iron Star was originally formed in 2015 as a group of singers who represent their hometown and influence the younger generations by speaking our Keresan language. Iron Star Singers are an up-and-coming northern contemporary style singing drum group who express the language through songs of healing."
Ookiye Owas Iyekiyewicak̇iyapi
“Recognizing All the Staff Helping with the Wacipi”
Juaquin Hamilton - Master of Ceremonies
"Hello, my name is Juaquin Hamilton. I am an enrolled member of the Sac & Fox Nation of Oklahoma. I also represent the Cheyenne, Pawnee, Otoe-Missouria, Kiowa, Apache, and Tonkawa Tribes. I am originally from Pawnee, Oklahoma.
My folks raised me to be active in our cultural ways, starting with an introduction into the sacred circles at a young age. Whether it was the Native American Church, powwow arena, tail dance ceremony or sweat lodge—just to name a few. I have a love for this way of life. I am honored to have been hired for many different head staff positions throughout the United States and Canada. My favorite position as head staff would have to be a Master of Ceremonies. I am a big believer in keeping and practicing our cultural ways.
With my leadership skills, I have had many opportunities in coordinating powwows, dance troupes, cultural presentations, and assisted powwow committees with their budgets. I was able to travel all over the world, with my cultural experience. My dancing took me as far as Genoa, Italy. I am a six-time world dance champion in the men’s southern traditional category.
I am also part of a drum group, The YoungBird Singers. In 2002, our drum group was nominated for a Grammy in The Best Native American Music Album Category. One of the biggest highlights in my life was traveling to Paris, France. I was humbled to be chosen as one of the Native American singers who performed with Mumford and Sons, as well as Pharrell Williams. This took place at the Louis Vuitton Fashion Show in 2024.
I give thanks to the creator for the many blessings that have been bestowed upon me. I love being able to share with others, my knowledge in many different areas of my life."
Ookiye Owas Iyekiyewicak̇iyapi
“Recognizing All the Staff Helping with the Wacipi”
Wild Rose - Invited Drum
"Hello to all dancers, singers, head staff, and our hosts—the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.
We are honored to serve as an dnvited drum for this year’s SMSC Wacipi. Singing, for us, brings a lot of good feelings. Hopefully, the feeling the dancers and all the people listening get are just as good. The power of the drum and the spirit of the songs can change your whole day. We represent the Yakama Nation from Washington state. Wild Rose has been singing throughout the United States and Canada since 1997. Winning and being humbled throughout all our travels has given us great lessons. The main lesson being to honor the drum. "Take care of your drum, and it will take care of you and bring you to places you never thought you`d go." We invite you to come over and visit, have a few laughs, and share a story or teaching with us. We might look stoic and real warrior-like, but we`re some fun-loving guys who love to sing. By the end of the weekend, we`ll all have a great time together."
WRB
