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After a hot, yet exciting weekend full of dancing, drumming, and singing, we are glad to announce the winners of each category for this year’s SMSC Wacipi!
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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.
Have a wonderful #TinyTotTuesday everyone! #SMSCWacipi
Ookiye Owas Iyekiyewicak̇iyapi
“Recognizing All the Staff Helping with the Wacipi”
iCreeAzn - Tabulation
"Mike Manichanh and Ray Seto have been auditing and tabulating for over 50 combined years, ranging from small C-stores to federal government facilities. When Seto was travelling around the powwow (wacipi) circuit with his family, he noticed the prize money was going higher and higher and contestants were coming from long ways to compete for a piece of the prize money. There were maybe one or two tabulating services that were able to help with the tabulating needs. At that time, tabulators were using paper ballots to record the scores. We felt we could help out by providing an electronic tabulating solution. This solution minimizes potential human errors and expedites reporting, ultimately speeding up the winners’ payout. This is how iCreeAzn was formed—the only fully digital tabulating powwow (wacipi) service provider."
We are just two months away from our annual celebration! Who will you be attending with this year? #SMSCWacipi 💜🧡
Ookiye Owas Iyekiyewicak̇iyapi
“Recognizing All the Staff Helping with the Wacipi”
Indigenous Akicita Women
"Han mitakuyapi,
The Indigenous Akicita Women was started in 2019 by a group of honorably discharged women veterans who served in all branches of the military. Our goal is to be mentors to our young Native women within our communities since we all come from different tribes and reserves in both the United States and Canada. We have been actively involved in our communities by helping with repatriation, color guard for events, powwows and giving presentations at schools. Our main goal is to give outreach to other female veterans who served and need that extra support and to help our youth be good citizens within our communities. In November 2022, Stoney Park singers gifted our women warriors a women warrior song. That song was composed by Harlen Poucette in honor of their mother who raised 12 children when their father served in World War II. This song honors the backbone of our people--the mothers, sisters, daughters, and grandmothers that served. The women that fought, the women that gave their lives..that we can be here today, that we have our freedom. Also at that time, we were gifted a bow that we carry that has a plume at the end which honors all our women who have gone into battle and those who served and came home to still protect our families and our people to this day."
Danielle DeCoteau, Commander IAW and Denise Tiger-Haury, Vice Commander IAW
Women’s Traditional Dance embodies grace, modesty, and dignity. Dancers typically wear a breastplate and carry a shawl, often with a fan crafted from eagle feathers. Northern dancers move with intention, often staying in place as their fringe sways to the rhythm, while southern dancers travel the circle with smooth, flowing steps, their fringe moving gently back and forth. ✨🪶
Ookiye Owas Iyekiyewicak̇iyapi
“Recognizing All the Staff Helping with the Wacipi”
Hokah Sound
"Hello, my name is Dale Roberts, I am Choctaw/Chickasaw, and I make my home in Atwood, Oklahoma. I am the owner and operator of Hokah Sound, having been in the sound business for over 20 years. We travel extensively throughout the United States and also into Canada. Hokah Sound is a family based live sound business, mainly run by myself and my wife. We strive to be the best at what we do, to provide the best sound for the people. We have worked for most of the major powwows throughout powwow country and have worked alongside respectable individuals over the years. We are very thankful we are able to keep doing what we most enjoy doing, and that is to provide the best quality sound. Thank you to the SMSC Wacipi Committee for inviting Hokah Sound to once again provide the central sound for the powwow.
Yakoki
Thanks"
With just over two months until the SMSC Wacipi, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is excited to share the official 2026 SMSC Wacipi poster!
Learn more at and book your stay at @MysticLakeCasino Hotel with the link in bio.
Ookiye Owas Iyekiyewicak̇iyapi
“Recognizing All the Staff Helping with the Wacipi”
Joe Rainey Sr. - Head Singing Judge
Joe Rainey Sr. is a powwow singer and a proud member of the Red Lake Ojibwe Nation, hailing from Minneapolis, a city with a vibrant Native community. From a young age, Rainey immersed himself in the rich traditions of powwow music, honing his craft through years of recording and performing with groups like Midnite Express and Iron Boy. His debut album, “Niineta” showcases his deep respect for tradition, blending his powerful vocals with the experimental electronic production of Andrew Broder. In 2024, Rainey continued to push creative boundaries with his latest musical group, Bizhiki, releasing the album “Unbound”, which reflects an innovative collaboration deeply rooted in Ojibwe culture.
Photo credit: David Guttenfelder
